THE USE OF PUZZLE GAME AS LEARNING MEDIA TO IMPROVE

VOCABULARY MASTERY

A PROPOSAL

Submitted impartial fulfillment of the requirements for proposal writing

By

Ulfi Nurul Destriyanti

NIM : 0142.S1.C.018050

ENGLISH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

SCHOOL OF TEACHER TRAINING AND EDUCATION
SEKOLAH TINGGI KEGURUAN DAN ILMU
PENDIDIKAN (STKIP) MUHAMMADIYAH BOGOR
1443 H/2022 M
 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Research

Mastery of vocabulary is very important in every

language learning. Mastery of language requires the provision

of a lot of vocabulary and adequate grammatical form. Mastery

of vocabulary will affect sentence structure, content suitability

and expected explanation in English. Anwar stated that

vocabulary is one of the most obvious components of language

and one of the first things that an applied linguist pays attention

1
to. In learning, vocabulary is one of the materials taught to

students. If vocabulary is not taught with good learning media,

it is likely that students do not have a lot of vocabulary. Thus,

students will have difficulty in expressing their ideas when

they do not have enough vocabulary. because vocabulary is

one of the supports for students in understanding and speaking

English.

Based on the problems above, then by creating a new

and interesting learning atmosphere there must be a change in

the way the material is delivered so that students are more

enthusiastic about learning and easier to understand. Mastery

of students' vocabulary, Teachers should try other learning

methods to avoid monotonous situations when in class and

students can be interested in learning English, so that they will

acquire the vocabulary that must be learned. One of the media

that can be used in teaching English is to use puzzle games.

1
Anwar, Y. T. (2018). TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY USING CROSSWORD. 01(03),
235–240
 Puzzle games or crossword puzzles are fun games or activities

in the classroom and can help students improve vocabulary

mastery. Crossword puzzles can make the teaching and

learning process more interesting than before. In addition, A

2
puzzle is still the most popular word game. Crossword

puzzles are a type of game that can be used to improve

students' vocabulary mastery. Crossword puzzles will help

students to improve their vocabulary. Crossword puzzles can

help students to put more effort into guessing the answers so

they can finish the game quickly and correctly so they want to

be winners. Therefore, they have to memorize the vocabulary

related to the questions and fill in the puzzles. 3 Crossword

puzzles help students to learn vocabulary mastery. In the

application of crossword puzzle media, it is expected that

learning can increase students' enthusiasm for learning.

This study aims to determine the learning method using

crossword puzzles to improve students' vocabulary mastery. As

happened to seventh grade students at SMP Cipta Insani, the

purpose of students learning English is to fulfill the school

curriculum. There are still few students who choose to study

English because of their desire and awareness of the

importance of English. The low interest of seventh graders at

SMP Cipta Insani to learn English, low interest in learning

English because it is difficult, unpleasant and teachers rarely

2
Siliwangi, I., & Siliwangi, I. (2019). IMPROVING ENGLISH VOCABULARY MASTERY BY
USING CROSSWORD PUZZLE. 2(2), 9–13.

3
 use new learning methods. in the means to learn English.

Based on observations and interviews, the students are seventh

grade. Students have difficulty in memorizing the meaning of

words. For example, the teacher asks one of the students to say

the meaning of the word “Table” and he is still confused and

asks his friends to answer it. Students also don't have a lot of

vocabulary in English so this is what makes students difficult

in learning English. Based on the explanation above, the writer

are interested and curious to conduct research and set the title:

"Using Puzzle Games As Learning Media To Improve

Vocabulary Mastery At Seventh Grade Students Of Junior

High School".

B. Indentication of the Problems

Based on the background described above, the identification of the problems in

this study are:

1. Students have difficulty in mastering vocabulary.

2. Students are still confused about using vocabulary in their

writing.

3. In the teaching and learning process teachers rarely use the media

4. The low interest of students in learning English

5. Students are less active in learning

6. Students are less interested in learning English in adding vocabulary

C. C. Limitation of the Problem

The wrtiter focuses on the study of increasing students vocabulary by using puzzle

games as learning media.

D. Formulation of the Problem

The formulation of the problem in writing this proposal is whether the use of

crossword puzzles could improve students' vocabulary mastery?

E. Objectives of the Research

Based on the problem formulation, the purpose of this study is to find out whether

the use of crossword puzzles could improve students' vocabulary mastery.

F. Significance of the Research

1. The English Teacher

The writer hopes that the results of this study can help teacher and provide

solutions in learning English to problems related to students' vocabulary

mastery.

2. The Student

The writer hopes to improve students' vocabulary mastery and students can be

more active and participate in learning.

3. The Writer

The writer can use information and references in the process of learning English,

for those who want to do research, especially in the use of puzzle games to

improve vocabulary mastery.

G. Organization of the Writing

The writing of this proposal consists of three chapters, as follows:

Chapter I Introduction : This is related to the research background, problems

identification, problem limitation, problem formulation, research objectivites,

research significance, and writing organization.

Chapter II Literature Review : Theory description, conceptual framework, and

hypothesis.

Chapter III Research Methodology : the time and place of research, population and

sample, research methods, data collection technique, research instruments, and

data analysis techniques.

 CHAPTER II

LITERATURE REVIEW

A. Description of Theory
1. Definition Vocabulary
Vocabulary is the basis in learning a language and is one of the most
important aspects in learning English. A vocabulary has to be learned from the
simple to the difficult word. Starting from listening to the word, understanding it

and then speaking it.4 Mastery of vocabulary will affect a person's ability to
communicate with others in spoken and written form.
As stated by Astriyanti and Anwar that Vocabulary is needed to improve
four English skills; listening, speaking, reading, and writing. 5
which means that
vocabulary is one of the most important elements in learning English. Before
studying the four aspects of language, students must master the vocabulary first,
to make it easier for them to learn it.
As quoted from Sadiyah, Septiani, and Kareviati, vocabulary is one of the
most obvious components of language and one of the first things that an applied
linguist pays attention to. 6 Vocabulary has an important role in language teaching,
because vocabulary mastery is very influential in language skills. Vocabulary is
the number of words that people know and use in their language activities, a
group of words and meanings to communicate with others as the main part of
language. 7
Murcia in Parmawati stated that vocabulary learning is the center of
language acquisition, be it the first, second, or second language. and foreign
languages.8 From the above definition, vocabulary can be defined as the most
important part of learning English and as the basis for learning to listen, write, and
speak in English. It is
because vocabulary is something that affects a person's ability to communicate
well, both in spoken and written form.
2. Vocabulary Mastery

4
Teaching, L., & Mataram, F. I. (2018). THE EFFECT OF DEFINITIONS TOWARD STUDENTS ’ VOCABULARY.
6(1).37
5
Astriyanti, D., & Anwar, K. (2016). Improving Students ’ Ability In Vocabulary Mastery Through Index
Card Match.
6
Sadiyah, W. H., Septiani, W., & Kareviati, E. (2019). Improving English Vocabulary Mastery By Using
Crossword Puzzle. PROJECT (Professional Journal of English Education), 2(2), 110-114.
7

8
Aseptiana Parmawati. (2018). Using Magic Sentences Technique to Improve Students
Vocabulary. Lingual Jorunal Udayana Bali, 6(November), 28
 Mastery of vocabulary is very important in learning English.
Zimmerman in Anisa states that vocabulary is the center of language and is
very critical of the importance of learning a distinctive language. Vocabulary
should not be neglected by those who are learning a language. It even needs
to be mastered if one wants to master the four language skills. 9 To support the
four language skills, students must master or have a broad vocabulary.
Vocabulary is knowledge that learns about words, parts of words
that provide clues about the meaning of the whole word. Having knowledge
of words is not as simple as we always think. 10 Therefore mastering academic
vocabulary helps students understand class material and can improve their
scores on certain tests. Students can speak, write, read, and can listen in
English, of course they must master a large vocabulary as well as possible
because if they want to communicate with other people in a particular
language, they must master sufficient vocabulary. As stated by Zeni Safirah
that vocabulary mastery is a
gradual process. To achieve good vocabulary mastery one needs to
follow a process.11
Learning vocabulary is not only memorizing words but also
understanding their meanings. As quoted from Bimas Reskiawan and Hariadi
Syam, vocabulary mastery is important because it is one of the four
interrelated elements of four skills such as reading, listening, writing and
speaking. Without vocabulary there is nothing we can say.12 Mastery of
vocabulary can help students understand the material in class. Students will
find less difficulty when they master enough vocabulary compared to those
who have little vocabulary. The more vocabulary the students master, the
better their language skills will be. By having a limited vocabulary, students
will have difficulty in mastering English skills. Thus, vocabulary mastery is a
very important factor in learning a language so that students need a lot to
improve their vocabulary.
3. Crossword Puzzles
9
Anisa, I. (2016). The Vocabulary Mastery of the second Semester Students of Widya Dharma
University in academic Year 2015/2016. Magistra, (98), 60–70
10
Dairaby, A. A. (2020). THE CORRELATION BETWEEN STUDENTS' VOCABULARY MASTERY
AND THEIR READING SPEED AT THE SECOND SEMESTER OF THE EIGHTH GRADE AT SMP N
03 MULYA KENCANA IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 2019/2020. Thesis (19). 1-55
11
Safirah Zeni (2016). IMPROVING VOCABULARY MASTERY THROUGH VOCABULARY
11CARDS OF GRADE VII STUDENTS AT SMP INSTITUT INDONESIA YOGYAKARTA IN
THE 2015/ 2016. Thesis (12). 1-284
12
Bimas Reskiawan & Hariadi Syam (2019). Exploring the Correlation of Students’ Vocabulary
Mastery and Reading Comprehension at the Second grade of SMP Negeri 1 Kolaka. Universitas
Sembilan Belas November. ELT Worldwide Volume 6 Number 1 (2019) P-ISSN 2203-3037; E-
ISSN 2503-2291(93)93-104
 Crossword puzzles are an interesting way to improve students'
vocabulary mastery and students can learn vocabulary more easily because
they will learn by playing puzzle games. The word cross game, according to
Dhand is a puzzle with a set of boxes to be filled with words or numbers,
one letter/number for each box. The numbers in the boxes correspond to the
synonyms or meanings of the terms. Letters/words have been installed into a
pattern of numbered squares in response to clues.13 Meanwhile, according to
Moursund, word cross game is a general puzzle game in which the puzzle
solver's goal is to solve certain difficult mental problems or complete certain
mental problems on difficult missions.14 Then the word cross game is useful
in teaching and learning because it helps maintain one's vocabulary.
Crossword puzzles are an interesting way to improve students' vocabulary
mastery and students can learn vocabulary more easily because they will
learn by playing puzzle games.
According to Widyasari, there are several types of crossword
puzzles that can be done in the process of teaching and learning vocabulary
in the classroom by using crossword puzzles, namely:
a. Oral Puzzle. These are puzzles given orally by the teacher, and
students are only given a blank crossword puzzle without any
clues. Giving verbal instructions can train students' hearing. Tell
students to fill in what they can and then repeat the instructions
again until they understand.
b. Picture Puzzle. This is a puzzle using pictures as clues. And just
give students puzzles without clues. For each clue, it is replaced
with a picture. This works especially well with units that involve a
lot of new vocabulary.
c. Object Puzzle. This is a crossword puzzle in which the object is
written a clue. give students a blank riddle without a clue. The
items are placed around the room, each labeled with a clue
number. Then the students were asked to go around in different
d. stations; let them pick up objects while they complete the puzzle.15

13
Dhand, Harry.(2014). Technique of Teaching. New Delhi. APH Publishing
Corporation
14
Moursund , Dave . (2013). Introduction to Using Games in Education: A Guide for Teachers
and Parents. Oregon.
15
Widyasari, Z. (2010). THE USE OF FLASHCARDS TO IMPROVE VOCABULARY (A
Classroom Action Research for the Fourth Year Students of MI Duren Bandungan in the
Academic Year of 2009 / 2010). STATE ISLAMIC STUDIES INSTITUTE (STAIN) SALATIGA
 4. The Advantages of Crossword Puzzle
Plaister in Rimbayanti stated that in teaching vocabulary there are
several advantages of crossword puzzles that can be taken, namely:
a. Learn vocabulary by doing, because taking action will be more
meaningful and motivate students.
b. By working on puzzles, students are trained to engage in problem
solving.
c. It is interesting and challenging for students. This can avoid students'
boredom of monotonous learning. In this case, puzzles try to improve
students' attention, their learning materials and these procedures are
better learning.
d. Puzzles in group discussions or class students are trained to think more
critically.
e. Puzzles in groups will make students feel happy, enjoy in learning
their English. This means and helps students in learning English. This
can encourage students to participate in their English learning.16

B. Previous Study

The writer has found two relevant studies to support this

research. The first is written by Rona Estonia Hartani, published in 2017.

Under the title "The Use Of Crossword Puzzle In Vocabulary Mastery

To The Eighth Grade Students Of Smpn 5 Kediri In Academic Year

2016/2017". This study used the design of pre experimental as one group

pre test and post test design. The subject of this research is the eighth

grade students of SMPN 5 Kediri that uses as the sample class and

consists of 35 students. The result of the test was analyzed by using

SPSS 21.0. The result reports that the t-test was higher than the t-table

showed t- test is 25,286 and the t-table with degree of that Freedom 35 is

12,099 at the level of significance of 5%. It means t-test was higher than

16
Rimbayanti, D. (2016). Teaching English Vocabulary using Puzzle Game at Seventh
Grades of SMPN SATAP RIMBAKARYA. STKIP Siliwangi Bandung.
 t- table (12,099 > 2.032) and Sig. (2-tailed) is 0.000 was lower than

0.05. Then, the means differences between pre-test and post-test score

was 25,286. It means Ho was rejected and Ha was accepted. It can be

defined that there was a significant effect of the crossword puzzle on

vocabulary mastery than teaching vocabulary without crossword puzzle,

alternative hypothesis (Ha) was accepted and the null hypothesis was

rejected. It can be concluded that the research will use in teaching

vocabulary to improve students' vocabulary mastery.

The second, research is written by Melasari, Krisna Ismawati,

and Deri Sis Nanda, in 2019. Under the title "The Effect of Using

Crossword Puzzle Towards Students' Vocabulary Mastery in the

Eleventh Grade Students of SMA Muhammadiyah 2 Bandar Lampung in

Academic Year 2017-2018". This study used an experimental design.

The research subjects were 68 students who were divided into the

experimental group and the control group. The research instrument used

a test consisting of a pretest and a posttest. The result of the study is the

mean scores of the experimental and control group students in the post-

test were significantly different. It shows that the t-count is higher than

the t- table (4.454> 1.9966) and significant. The 2-tailed value is lower

than significant. Levels (0.000> 0.05). Thus the null hypothesis (Ho) is

rejected and the alternative hypothesis (Ha) is accepted. The researcher

found that there was an effective impact of using crossword puzzles

towards students' vocabulary mastery. From the conclusions above, the

researcher suggests the use of crossword puzzles as a technique in

teaching English in general and teaching vocabulary in particular.

C. Conceptual Framework

The use of this crossword puzzle game is important in word use,

 understanding, and word formation. Besides that, crossword puzzles are

simple games because they don't require a lot of material to work on the

game. TREATMENT (The OUTPUT (The

Use of Puzzle Improvement of
INPUT (Vocabulary)
Games (Crossword Students
Puzzle)) Vocabularies)

Noun Adjective Verb Adverb

INPUT (Vocabulary)
TREATMENT (The Use of Puzzle Game(Crossword
puzzle)
Noun
Adjective
OUTPUT (The Improvement of Students Vocabularies
verb
Adverb

Figure 2.1 Framework of research on Vocabulary and Crossword Puzzle

The procedure in this game is quite simple. Students have to fill in the blanks to

make a word using some of the clues that have been provided. Thus, students

know the use of the word because they read the instructions. Therefore crossword

puzzles can improve students' vocabulary mastery because they get or find new

words.

D. Hyphotesis

A hypothesis is a provisional conjecture about the results of the study.

Based on the state of the research conditions above, a hypothesis will be

determined. As follows:

a. Ha (alternative hypothesis) = there is a significant improvement

between of crossword puzzle learning media on student vocabulary

mastery at seventh grade at SMP Cipta Insani

b. H0 (null hypothesis) = there is no significant improvement between of

crossword puzzle learning media on student vocabulary mastery at

seventh grade at SMP Insani