Vocabulary Learning By English Department Students At Satya Wacana Christian University

Abstract

Vocabulary learning is one of the most important challenges that learners will face throughout language learning process. Vocabulary has been considered as important to language use in which lack of vocabulary knowledge of learners can lead to difficulties in learning. Furthermore, utilization of vocabulary learning strategies also affects students' performance. So it was important to investigate the utilization of vocabulary learning strategies by learners. The general purpose of this study was to describe strategies used by students in learning vocabulary. Based on the purpose of this study, the method for this research was descriptive. A total of 50 English department students from different academic years responded to a 33-item vocabulary learning strategies questionnaire which was designed based on theory proposed by Stoffer (1995), Schmitt (2000), Grabe (2009). Finally the results showed the most frequently used strategies, such as learning for meaning, having the need to acquire new vocabulary, finding opportunities to use and practice the new words, memorizing the meaning of the words when there was a test, and uttering that the teacher helped them individually to comprehend new vocabulary.