Enhancing English vocabulary skills through storybooks at Kartini elementary school, Medan

Andi Nadira Mutia; Misla Geubrina

doi:10.32734/ijlsm.v5i1.22007

Authors

Andi Nadira Mutia Faculty of Language and Communication, Universitas Harapan Medan, Medan, Indonesia
Misla Geubrina Faculty of Language and Communication, Universitas Harapan Medan, Medan, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32734/ijlsm.v5i1.22007

Keywords:

Storybook, Vocabulary Skill, EFL Learners, Elementary School

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the use of storybooks to enhance English vocabulary skills among young EFL learners at SD Kartini Medan (Kartini Elementary School, Medan). The research involved three different grade levels: grade 3, grade 4, and grade 5. This research focused on how storybooks support vocabulary recognition, retention, and usage. In examining this study, the researcher employed Krashen's (1982) theory on the use of additional media in learning a foreign language, namely English, and Nation's (2001) theory as a reference for providing repeated exposure to media to increase English language acquisition. The research employed a qualitative descriptive method, combining pre-test and post-test assessments with classroom observations during the treatment process. A total of 25 students participated in both the pre- and post-test phases. The results indicated that storybooks significantly improved students’ vocabulary scores and engagement, with percentage increases in class 3 (20.76%), class 4 (7.79%), and class 5 (21.88%). Story illustrations and contextual repetition helped lower-grade students grasp new words effectively, while guided reading and retelling activities supported upper-grade students in applying vocabulary in context. Although challenges such as language limitations and reliance on translation were observed, the overall findings support integrating storybooks into EFL vocabulary instruction at the elementary level.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alqahtani, M. (2015). The Importance Of Vocabulary and How To Be Taught. International Journal of Teaching and Education.

Arsyad, A. (2015). Media Pembelajaran. Jakarta: Rajawali Press.

Astuti, S. (2021). Pengaruh Media Storytelling Terhadap Penguasaan Kosakata Bahasa Inggris Siswa Kelas IV SD Negeri Ngemplak 1 Tulung Kecamatan Tulung Kabupaten Klaten Tahun Ajaran 2020/2021. Skripsi Sarjana, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta. Diambil kembali dari https://eprints.ums.ac.id/89322/

Baddeley, A. (1997). Human Memory: Theory and Practice. Psychology Press.

Brewster, G. E. (2014). The Storytelling Handbook for Primary English Language Teachers. British Council.

Brown, C., & Hatch, E. (1995). Vocabulary, Semantics, and Language Education. Cambridge University Press.

Cameron, L. (2011). Teaching Languages to Young Learners. Cambridge University Press.

Chomsky, N. (1978). Language and Responsbility and Reflections on Language. Cambridge, Mass.

Coady, J., & Huckin, T. (1997). Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition. Cambridge University Press.

Creswell, J. (2014). Research Design Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (4 ed.). University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Elley, W. B. (1989). Vocabulary Acquisition from Listening to Stories. Reading Research Quarterly, 24, 174–187. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/747978

Ellis, R. (2008). The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford University Press.

Gapur, A., Taulia, & Wardana, M. K. (2024). Exploring the linguistic landscape of public elementary schools in Medan: Understanding forms and functions. International Journal of Cultural and Art Studies, 8(1), 55–73. https://doi.org/10.32734/ijcas.v8i1.16989

Hakim, A. R. (2022). Pengembangan Buku Cerita Anak Berbasis Bahasa Inggris Terhadap Budaya Literasi Siswa Kelas 4 MI Darul Ikhwan Karang Anyar. Jurnal DIDIKA : Wahana Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 13.

Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (2002). Instructional Media and Technologies for Learning (7th ed.). Merrill Prentice Hall.

Hiebert, E. H., & Kamil, M. L. (2005). Teaching and Learning Vocabulary. Routledge.

Isbell, R., Sobool, J., Lindauer, L., & Lowrance, A. (2004). The Effects of Storytelling and Story Reading on the Oral Language Complexity and Story Comprehension of Young Children. Early Childhood Education Journal, 32, 157–163. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-004-0359-1

Krashen, S. (1982). Principle and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. University of Southern California.

Laufer, B. (1997). The lexical threshold of second language reading: Where it is and how it relates to reading comprehension. Cambridge University Press.

Mahajani, T., & Muhtar, R. H. (2018). Pemerolehan Bahasa dan Penggunaan Bahasa Anak Usia Sekolah Dasar . Jurnal Pendidikan Ilmiah, 171.

Margono, V. A. (t.thn.). The Use of Storybooks to Bridge Young Children in EFL Context Learning English. Diambil kembali dari https://repository.uksw.edu

Maulidia, A. (2023). The Impact Of Short Stories In English Language Learning Classroom. Journal of English as a Foreign Language Education.

Maulidya, A. (2019). Children’S English Vocabulary Acquisition at Dewi Sartika Kindergarten School.

Nation, I. (2001). Learning Vocabulary in Another Language. Cambridge University Press.

Nombeko, P., & Mashiya, N. (2021). The impact of storytelling on vocabulary acquisition among Grade 3 learners. Journal of Language Teaching and Education, 10(1), 45-58.

Nushi, M. (2016). Teaching and Learning Academic Vocabulary.

Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know. Newbury House Publishers.

Paivio, A., & Clark, J. M. (1991). Dual Coding Theory and Education. Educational Psychology Review .

Piaget, J. (1969). The psychology of the child. Basic Books.

Pujiani, T., Zuhrufillah, I., Sukmawati, I. D., & Listiani. (2023). The Effectiveness of E-storybook in Improving Young Learners’ Vocabulary Mastery. English Education International Conference (EEIC), 3. Diambil kembali dari https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/EEIC/article/view/37157

Putri, S. W., & Tiarina, Y. (2021). The Effectiveness of Storybook on Students’ Reading Comprehension on First Grade Student of SMPN 2 Padang Panjang. Journal of English Language Teaching, 10 (1). doi:10.24036/jelt.v10i1.111679

Quimosing, A. (2022). Learning English as A Foreign Language (EFL): A Narratology. Southeast Asia Language Teaching and Learning (SALTeL) Journal.

Sari, S. N., & Aminatun, D. (2021). STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON THE USE OF ENGLISH MOVIES TO IMPROVE VOCABULARY MASTERY. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning (JELTL), 2 (1). Diambil kembali dari http://jim.teknokrat.ac.id/index.php/english-language-teaching/index

Saville-Troike, M. (2012). Introduction Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press.

Schmitt, N. (2000). Vocabulary in English Teaching. Cambridge University Press.

Schmitt, N. (2019). Understanding Vocabulary Acquisition, Instruction, and Assessment: A Research Agenda. Language Teaching, 52(2), 261-274.

Schmitt, N., & McCharty, M. (1997). Vocabulary: Description, Acquisition and Pedagogy. Cambridge University Press.

Scott Thornbury, 1. (2007). how to teach vocabulary. Harlow: Longman.

Susilowati, Ifadah, M., & Mulyadi, D. (2019). The Effect of Picture Storybook on Students’ Vocabulary and Motivation. Retrieved from http://prosiding.unimus.ac.id

Susilowati, Ifadah, M., & Mulyadi, D. (2019). The Effect of Picture Storybook on Students’ Vocabulary and Motivation. Prosiding Mahasiswa Seminar Nasional Unimus, 2. Diambil kembali dari http://prosiding.unimus.ac.id

Tamaño, L. D. E., & Lopez, R. D. M. (2026). Voices of the Filipino diaspora: Communication and cultural identity among Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Stockholm, Sweden. Humanities & Language: International Journal of Linguistics, Humanities, and Education, 3(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.32734/w5d3r513

Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in Society. Cambridge University Press.

Wati Bhakti, S. O., & Marwanto. (2018). Vocabulary Mastery by Using Storytelling. Script Journal. Journal of Linguistic and English Teaching. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.24903/sj.v3i1.146

Wood, D., Bruner, J., & Ross, G. (1976). The role of tutoring in problem solving. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17(2), 89-100. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.1976.tb00381.x