THE USE OF CROSSWORD PUZZLE IN TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to find out how crossword puzzle learning media is used in the teaching of English vocabulary. The method used in this study is qualitative descriptive approach. Qualitative descriptive approach is a series of activities to obtain data that is as it is without existing under certain conditions whose results further emphasize the meaning. The study is based on secondary data that are collected from a variety of sources. Data are composed of various books, journals, research papers, and other print media, on the use of crossword puzzles as a learning medium for teaching vocabulary. The results of this study show that crossword puzzles can be used by teachers as ideas for learning media because this crossword puzzle media can enliven the learning atmosphere in the classroom, build new vocabulary and can attract the attention of students in teaching-learning activities. Adapted from Paralleling Weisskireh’s (2006) results, the students deemed the use of crossword puzzle exercises as a fun way to learn the material (4.143 mean) and asked for more of them for subsequent chapters’ vocabulary (4.459, the highest mean score). The overall mean score for all sections and questions was 4.23 out of 5.