Students’ Difficulties in Mastering Vocabulary in Eighth Graders at SMPN 06 Kaur

Febra Hernandes, Syamsul Rizal, Feny Martina

Abstract


This study investigates the challenges faced by eighth-grade students at SMPN 06 Kaur in mastering English vocabulary, with a particular focus on identifying underlying factors that contribute to their difficulties. Employing a quantitative descriptive method, the research involved distributing a 25-item questionnaire to one class. Responses were analyzed using SPSS 26 to assess the students’ vocabulary comprehension. The findings reveal that, among 30 respondents, only a few achieved a score of 84—classified as “very good”—while the majority scored between 70 and 74, indicating a generally “good” level of vocabulary mastery. Despite this, the average frequency score across categories remained low, with only 1% of students reaching the maximum score. The data suggest that while most students possess a satisfactory understanding of English vocabulary, a subset continues to struggle, particularly with grammar and pronunciation. These challenges underscore the need for targeted pedagogical strategies that address specific linguistic weaknesses to enhance overall language proficiency.

Keywords


Vocabulary mastery; English comprehension; junior high school; language difficulties; quantitative research.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30743/bahastra.v9i2.10556

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Bahastra: Jurnal Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia

Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia, FKIP - Universitas Islam Sumatera Utara
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