THE POLITICS OF LANGUAGE IN MULTILINGUAL EDUCATION: A Case Study from Timor-Leste
-
Ana Joana dos Reis(1)
English Study Program, Universidade Dili - Timor Leste
-
Tans Feliks(2)
English Study Program, Nusa Cendana University - Indonesia
-
Dias Pora Tualaka(3)
Linguistics Program, Nusa Cendana University - Indonesia
(*) Corresponding Author
Abstract
This study investigates the effectiveness of the Game-Based Learning (GBL) approach in
improving young learners’ vocabulary skills. The research was conducted at Pondok Pesantren
Darul Amin Palangka Raya, involving 25 seventh-grade students selected through purposive
sampling. A quantitative research method with an experimental group design was employed.
The instrument used was a vocabulary test consisting of 15 questions covering five topics:
Greetings, Colours, Counting, Telling Time, and Simple Present Tense. Students’ performance
was measured through a pre-test and a post-test. The results showed a significant improvement
in students’ vocabulary achievement after the implementation of the Game-Based Learning
approach, with the average score increasing from 66.92 to 87.12. Statistical analysis, including
the t-test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test, confirmed the effectiveness of the
treatment. These findings suggest that Game-Based Learning is an effective and engaging
method for enhancing vocabulary acquisition among young learners. The study supports the
integration of game-based strategies as a meaningful and enjoyable alternative to traditional
vocabulary instruction in English language learning.
Downloads
