THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE METHOD TO IMPROVE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY MASTERY (An Action Research at the Third Grade Students of SDIT Al Kamilah Semarang, Academic Year 2011/2012)

Abstract The problems were that the third grade students of SDIT Al Kamilah Semarang, in the academic year of 2011/2012, seemed to have no interest during the learning process because the English teacher’s way of teaching was monotonous for children. In this case, the writer did an investigation to identify the problems of the third grade students of SDIT Al Kamilah in mastering vocabulary. Then, the writer applied the Total Physical Response (TPR) method, so that students can learn English by doing physical movements at the same time. It helped them memorizing new vocabularies easily since they got pleasing classroom atmosphere. Accordingly, the teacher proved that teaching English vocabulary using TPR method could improve the interest and the mastery of the students in learning vocabulary. It was an action research which also used media that help teacher to make teaching and learning process was going on effectively. The data were got from some instruments such as tests, questionnaires, and observation checklists and then were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. From the observation, the writer found that students’ scores of behavior improved from cycle 1 to cycle 2. The range score of the improvement was between 0.5 and 1.5 for all kinds of behaviors. Meanwhile, the average of students’ vocabulary score also showed a good progress. The mean score was 74.06 in pre-test then increased slightly in cycle 1 became 74.50. Yet, the mean score was getting higher in cycle 2, which were 80. In post-test, it increased significantly. The students’ average score became 97.63. From those results, the writer summed up that TPR method can improve the students’ interest and the students’ vocabulary mastery. Keywords: vocabulary, TPR method, Action Researc