Spelling Bee Game to Enhance Vocabulary among First-Semester Economics and Business Students
Abstract
This study aimed to improve students’ vocabulary mastery through the Spelling Bee Game. It employed Classroom Action Research (CAR), consisting of one cycle with four stages: planning, implementation, observation, and reflection. The participants were 128 first-semester students of the Faculty of Economics and Business at ITB Widya Gama Lumajang. The preliminary average score was 75, below the minimum standard of 85. Learning activities included identifying unfamiliar vocabulary in Recount Text, discussing difficult words, and practicing spelling through the game. The study was considered successful when the average score reached at least 85. The results showed that the students’ mean score increased from 75 to 85, representing a 10-point improvement or 13.33%. These findings indicate that the Spelling Bee Game can be an effective alternative method for teaching vocabulary through Recount Text. Further research should compare its effectiveness with other vocabulary teaching techniques in various educational contexts and among different students.
Keywords
References
Achmad, S. (2013). Developing English Vocabulary Mastery through Meaningful Learning Approach: An Applied Linguistics Study at Competitive Class of Junior High Schools in Gorontalo City, Indonesia. International Journal of Linguistics, 5(5).
Anderson, M., & Anderson, K. (1997). Text Type in English 2.
Annisa, I. (2011). Improving Students Vocabulary Mastery Using Experiential Learning. Sebelas Maret University of Surakarta.
Bin-Hady, W. R. A. (2023). The Role of Games in Enhancing EFL Students’ Vocabulary Acquisition. Journal of the Faculty of Education, 11(17), 48–58. https://doi.org/10.60037/edu.v1i17.1178
Chen, H.-J. H., & Hsu, H.-L. (2020). The impact of a serious game on vocabulary and content learning. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 33(7), 811–832. https://doi.org/10.1080/09588221.2019.1593197
Fauziati, E. (2010). Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Muhammadiyah University Press.
Latief, M. A. (2011). Research Methods on Language Learning: An Introduction. UM Press.
Mawar, P. B., & Anggreni, A. (2025). A pre-experimental study: Spelling bee game to elevate vocabulary mastery of Gen Z students. Measurement In Educational Research, 5(1), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.33292/meter.v5i1.375
Nation, I. S. P. (2013). Learning vocabulary in another language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Sari, A. P., Afrianto, & Azhar, F. (2018). The Effect of Using English Spelling Bee Game to Enrich the Vocabulary of the Second Year Students of SMPN 40 Pekanbaru. Jurnal Online Mahasiswa (JOM) Bidang Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 5(2). https://jom.unri.ac.id/index.php/JOMFKIP/article/view/22046
Schuna, C. (2015). The Advantages of Playing Learning Games with Kids. http://www.livestrong.com/article/214084-the-advantagesoflearninggamesforkids/
Scrivener, J. (2016). Learning Teaching: The Essential Guide to English Language Teaching (3rd ed.). Macmillan Education.
Smith, G. G., Li, M., Drobisz, J., Park, H.-R., Kim, D., & Smith, S. D. (2013). Play games or study? Computer games in eBooks to learn English vocabulary. Computers & Education, 69, 274–286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2013.07.015
Thompson, C. G., & von Gillern, S. (2020). Video-game based instruction for vocabulary acquisition with English language learners: A Bayesian meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 30, 100332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2020.100332
Triana, A. (2013). Teaching Students’ Vocabulary Using Spelling Lotto Communication Game. Tanjungpura University.
Uberman, A. (1998). The Use of Games for Vocabulary Presentation and Revision. http://eca.state.gov/forum/vols/vol36/no1/p20.htm
Uranga, R. (2003). The Word Is Opportunity: Spelling Bee Helping Kids Bound by Disadvantages. https://thefreelibrary.com/the+word+is+%27opportunity%27+spelling+bee+helping+kids+bound+By
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i5.3270
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohammad Noor Khairullah, Sukma Irdiana, Kurniawan Yunus Ariyono
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
