The Implementation of a Word Chain Game to Teach Vocabulary in an Islamic Junior High School

Abstract

Vocabulary is a fundamental element and the most essential thing learned in the English language. However, the students still encounter problems in learning vocabulary that was also worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study investigated the implementation of a Word Chain Game to teach vocabulary in an Islamic Junior High School. The aims were to find out the teacher’s strategies for the implementation of the Word Chain Game in teaching and learning vocabulary and to analyze the teacher and student’s perceptions of the implementation of the Word Chain Game in teaching and learning vocabulary. This case study was carried out on the English teacher and 22 students in the seventh grade of an Islamic Junior High School in Tasikmalaya. Three instruments in form of the observation, the interview, and the questionnaires were triangulated. The findings indicated that Word Chain Game was conducted by the teacher in teaching and learning vocabulary through ten steps. It also indicated that the teacher and the students had positive perceptions of the implementation of the Word Chain Game in teaching and learning vocabulary because it enhance their knowledge, mastery, participation, interest, and motivation in learning vocabulary. Even though some students still found it hard to implement the Word Chain Game, the teacher could overcome them.