DEVELOPING STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THE USE

OF MEMRISE APPLICATION IN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL.

A PAPER

Submitted to the English Language Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and
Educational Sciences, Pakuan University, as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the
Sarjana Pendidikan Examination.

Ahmad Kabir Rifai

031115046

ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM

FACULTY OF TEACHER AND TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES PAKUAN

UNIVERSITY

2019
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the study

Vocabulary is the essential point which can influence four skills of English
language such as listening, reading, speaking, and writing. It means, if students have no
vocabulary, they cannot express something. In other words, they cannot master four skills
of English language. It shows that the first that to be mastered for language learner in
learning language especially English is vocabulary.

Moreover, learning vocabulary is not only memorizing the words, but it is also
understanding it, because there are a lot of meaning in a word, so students have to know
how to use the word accurately. Unfortunately, most of the students have lack of technical
vocabulary (the words or phrases which are used primarily in a specific line of work or
profession), because they do not know how to learn vocabulary in an enjoyable way. There
are many ways that teachers can use in this era. They can use some applications to facilitate
students how to learn vocabulary effectively, and one of the applications that teachers need
is Memrise application. It is an online educational tool that facilitates students to
understand their technical vocabulary. Therefore, using Memrise application can develop
their vocabulary understanding.

According to the problem above, the solution has been found by the writer to solve
students’ problem. In this case, students hard to learn vocabulary effectively. The writer
brings Memrise application as a solution. It is because the program of Memrise application
is designed to build up long-term memory of vocabulary through systematic and frequent
testing of vocabulary items. It means students will memorize and understand the
vocabulary as long as possible.

In brief, students in vocational high school still have lack of technical vocabulary.
Hence, using Memrise application is suggested by the writer for teachers and students to
learn vocabulary effectively.
B. Reason for choosing the topic
Vocabulary is the collection of word that an individual knows. It becomes a crucial
part in learning English language, because it has an important role in students’ language
learning. In vocational high school, students learn some technical vocabulary. Hopefully,
Students are not only able to memorize vocabulary, but they are also able to understand it.
However, students often find difficulties in understanding technical vocabulary. According
to the problem above, this following paragraph is the reasons why this research is
conducted.
Problems in learning and teaching English still exist at school, because English
language is completely different from the Indonesian language in the system of the
structure, pronunciation and vocabulary. Hence, the students feel unfamiliar to the
vocabulary. They have no idea to develop it. Moreover, the students are not interested to
learn technical vocabulary. They also feel bored learning English vocabulary, because they
always learn English vocabulary in motononous way. It makes them just memorizing the
vocabulary, not understanding vocabulary. By finding this reason, the writer assumes that
teachers should facilitate students to use Memrise application in order to make them
develop their technical vocabulary.

In conclusion, to develop students’ vocabulary understanding, they need to use

Memrise application, because it can facilitate students how to learn vocabulary effectively.
For that statement, Memrise application has an effect on students’ vocabulary
understanding.
C. Statement of the problem

The writer formulates the question: Does Memrise application affect students’
vocabulary understanding in vocational high school?

D. Hypothesis

The writer states the alternatives hypothesis (Ha) : Memrise Application affects
students’ vocabulary understanding in vocational high school.

E. Aim(s) of the Research

The aim of this research is to investigate whether Memrise Application affects

students’ vocabulary understanding in vocational high school or not.

F. Limitation of Study

The problem is limited by only investigating the use of Memrise Application in

developing students’ vocabulary understanding. In this research, some tasks in Memrise
Application are given to develop students’ vocabulary understanding. The types of the
tasks are translating and matching. Noun and Adjective are emphasized in this material.

G. Operational Definitions
A. Technical vocabulary
Technical vocabulary is the words or phrases which are used primarily in a
specific line of work or profession. Technical vocabulary is closely associated
with learners who have a specific purpose in language learning.
B. Memrise
Memrise application is an online educational tool that facilitates students to
understand their technical vocabulary where the students can do the exercises
that will help them to build up long-term memory of technical vocabulary.
H. Research Significance(s)

This research is expected to give significance in English teaching and learning

process. The first significance is for the English teachers. It will be references for them in
order to improve their quality of teaching vocabulary in the classroom. The second
significance is for students in order to increase their technical vocabulary well and also to
gain their interest in learning English. The last is for the further researchers with the
relevant problems. This research might be useful as the source for further researcher.
 CHAPTER II

Theoretical Foundation

A. Vocabulary
Vocabulary is the central to language. It means vocabulary is the main element of
English language. Richards (2000:70) stated that vocabulary is the most obvious
component of language. It is a core component of language proficiency and provides
much of the basis of how well learners speak, listen, read, and write. From Averil
(2006:1) vocabulary is a central part of language. The more words students know well
and can use, the more meaning they can communicate in a wide variety of
circumstances.
Moreover, technical vocabulary is very important in learning English especially for
students who have a specific purpose in language learning. Chunk and Nation
(2003:15) declared that technical vocabulary is vital for English language learning,
especially in ESP classes. It is suggested that there are considerable researches about
high frequency and academic words, but there has been a few about technical
vocabulary. Nevertheless, technical vocabulary is widely used by people working or
studying in a specialized field which has been recognized as a pivotal part in ESP
learning.
As the experts mentioned, it concluded that the writer has opinion that vocabulary
is one aspect of language which is important in learning language and technical
vocabulary is closely associated with learners who have a specific purpose in language
learning.
B. Memrise Application
1. Definition of Memrise application
Memrise is an online educational tool that facilitates students to understand their
technical vocabulary. Walker (2015:14) claimed that Memrise is an online program
which used to learn vocabulary. Its main benefits for students were its portability,
accessibility (via computers and Apps on smartphones and tablets) and ease of use.
Created by researchers in psychology and languages, the program is designed to build
up long-term memory of vocabulary through systematic and frequent testing of
vocabulary items. Łuczak (2017:141) noted that Memrise is an online educational tool
available on the website www.memrise.com as well as in a mobile version provided by
Apple Store and Google Play. Memrise uses flashcards combined with mnemonics to
teach foreign languages and to build up long-term memory of vocabulary.
As three expert mentioned about Memrise application, it can be concluded that
Memrise application can facilitates students to develop their vocabulary understanding
and to build up long-term memory of vocabulary.
2. Step to use Memrise application
Therefore, there are some steps to use Memrise application based on Alexandra
Łuczak instructions. In order to start using memrise:
a. Go to www.memrise.com.
b. Create an account by signing up
c. Or quickly sign up with your Facebook account
d. When your account is ready, you can login
e. When you are logged, you can:
• start using Memrise by browsing the existing courses created by Memrise
users, e.g. Legal English courses created under my supervision by
Kozminski University students available to study on:
http://www.memrise.com/user/LegalEnglish/courses/teaching/
• Use Memrise on your mobile devices (iPhone and Android); courses can
be downloaded and studied offline – or create your own course.
f. If you want to create your own Memrise course:
 • When you are logged in, from the top toolbar at Memrise main page
choose CREATE
• Complete the required information and click CREATE COURSE when
you finish.
• Now it is time to ADD WORDS to teach/learn by filling the boxes
• To add more words click PLUS
• You can delete columns you do not need by clicking them and following
instructions. E.g. if you do not need AUDIO column, click it and follow
the instructions in a pop up window
• If you want to add more words at once, it is easier to prepare the list in
Excel.
g. If you want to add audio to your Memrise course:
• Go to http://soundoftext.com/
• Type the word or phrase the pronunciation of which you want to hear in
the search box (you can type longer phrases up to 100 characters), choose
the language your word or phrase is in and click SUBMIT. Now you can
play the sound or
• Save the result (i.e. mp3 file with the recording) on your disc
• Go back to editing your course on Memrise
• Upload the mp3 file to AUDIO column on Memrise.

Chapter III

Research Methodology
 A. Method and Design

The method used in this research is Pre – Experimental which is used One Group
Pre – Test Post – Test design. In this method and design. It means that there only one group
as sample. Moreover, the method and design can be seen as follow:

Group Pre-test Treatment Post-test

Experiment T1 X T2

First, they will be given pre-test to know their vocabulary understanding. After
collecting the result of the pre-test, the students will be delivered the treatments. Memrise
application will be given to do the treatment. The last is they will be given the post-test to
check whether there is an effect of using Memrise application in developing students’
vocabulary understanding or not. For the research design, pre-test and post-test will be
compared using t-test formula and to find out whether this technique effect to the students’
vocabulary understanding or not.

B. Population and Sample

The research is conducted at SMK IBNU AQIL, Laladon Bogor. The population of
the research is the tenth grade of vocational high school. There are three classes of them,
so the writer uses Random Sampling technique to eliminate specialized class. The sample
used in this research is one class of the tenth grade which has 30 students.

C. Research Instrument(s)
The instrument uses to collect the data of this research is vocabulary test. In the
pre-test, the students will be given vocabulary test that consist of 20 question. The
objectives of pre-test is to identify their vocabulary understanding before they are given
 the treatments. Then, the students will be given treatments for fifth times. After that, it will
continue by giving students post-test of vocabulary test that consist of 30 question.

D. Data Collection Techniques

There are some steps in conducting this research to find out the effect of using
Memrise application. First, pre-test will be delivered to do vocabulary test and the students
should answer the question given. The treatment that will be applied is Memrise
application. After the treatment has finished, post-test will be provided to get result from
the effect of using Memrise application in developing students’ vocabulary understanding.
After that, the result score of post-test and pre-test will be compared to know whether
Memrise application has an effect or not.

E. Data Analysis
In analyzing the data, some steps are used. The first is scoring students’ work, both

pre-test and post-test. The second is calculating the mean.

• Calculating the mean

Md =
 d

Note: Md = Mean different

∑d = total different between Variable X and Y

N = Number of students

The third is calculating the standard deviation

 • Calculating the standard deviation

(∑𝑑)2
SDX = ∑DX2 − 𝑛

The fourth is calculating the t-test value based on Arikunto (2002:208). The formula of the

t-test are as the follows:

• Calculating the t-test

Md
t=
x 2
d

n(n − 1)

Note: Md = Mean of the difference

∑𝟀d = Deviation of the difference

N = Number of students

The last is finding the degree of freedom

• Calculating the degree of the freedom

 df = N − 1

Note: Df = Degree of freedom

N = Number of students