OPTIMIZING YOUTUBE VIDEOS TO ENRICH STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY (An Action Research at the 5th Grade Students of SD Negeri Sanggrahan Surakarta in Academic Year 2009 / 2010)

The objectives of the research are: (1) to identify whether or not and to what extent YouTube videos can enrich the students’ vocabulary; and (2) to describe the situation when YouTube videos are applied during the teaching learning process. This research was carried out at SD Negeri Sanggrahan Surakarta. It was conducted from April up to June 2010. The subject of the research was the fifth grade students of SDN Sanggrahan Surakarta in the academic year of 2009 / 2010. The research method was Action Research and it was conducted in two cycles. In collecting data, she used interviews, observation, diaries, document, and test. Having collected the data, she analyzed them both qualitative and quantitative data. To identify whether and to what extent YouTube videos can enrich the students’ vocabulary and to describe the situation, the research findings show YouTube videos can enrich: (1) The students’ vocabulary which includes: (a) The students could ponounce some English words correctly; (b) The students could mention words they already learn before; (c) The students could spell some English words correctly; (d) The students could recognize words well and (e) The students know the meaning of some English words well; and (2) Classroom situation. The classroom situation shows that: (a) The students do not make noise in the class; (b) The students be active in answering tasks given by teacher; (c) The students take note to the important things taught; (d) The students give their attention to learn English and; (e) The students are not busy doing non academic things anymore. The students’ achievement also increased. The enrichment of the students’ achievement can be seen from the students score from pre-test until post-test 2. In pre-test, they scored only 42.64 in average; in post-test 1 they scored 56.17 in average; and in post –test 2 they scored 74.64 in average, it is higher than the English passing grade (KKM /Kriteria Ketuntasan Minimal), that is 60. This research also showed that there is an enrichment not only in the students’ vocabulary but also the quality of teaching-learning process. It can be stated that the vocabulary is increased and the situation became alive when the researcher optimizes the YouTube videos as an appropriate media in teaching vocabulary. Therefore, it is recommended that the English teacher should be active to create an interesting atmosphere because YouTube videos can build up the students’ interest and make the process in teaching and learning learnable and enjoyable