The Effectiveness of Wordwall Games in Developing the Vocabulary Mastery of Seventh Grade Students at SMP Negeri 19 Palu

Authors

  • Nurwirda Nurwirda Universitas Tadulako, Indonesia
  • Jamiluddin Jamiluddin Universitas Tadulako, Indonesia
  • Grace Novenasari Manurung Universitas Tadulako, Indonesia
  • Nur Sehang Thamrin Universitas Tadulako, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v7i2.3726

Keywords:

Wordwall Games Vocabulary Mastery English Learning Quasi-Experimental Design

Abstract

Vocabulary mastery is a fundamental aspect of English language learning that enables students to comprehend and use language effectively. However, seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 19 Palu still experience difficulties in understanding word meanings and using vocabulary appropriately in sentences. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the Wordwall game on students’ vocabulary mastery, particularly in terms of word meaning and word usage. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group design involving 60 students divided into an experimental group and a control group. Data were collected through vocabulary tests administered before and after the treatment and were analyzed using an independent sample t-test. The findings revealed that the experimental group achieved a mean post-test score of 82.47, while the control group obtained a mean score of 71.15. Statistical analysis showed a significance value of p = 0.001 (p < 0.05), indicating a significant difference between the two groups. These findings demonstrate that the Wordwall game is effective in improving students’ vocabulary mastery compared to conventional teaching methods. Pedagogically, the study suggests that Wordwall can be utilized as an interactive learning medium to enhance students’ motivation and vocabulary achievement in English language learning.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alqahtani, M. (2015). The importance of vocabulary in language learning and how to be taught. International Journal of Teaching and Education, 3(3), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.20472/TE.2015.3.3.002

Andayani, T., & Kurniawan, E. (2022). The use of Wordwall as a digital game-based learning platform improves students’ vocabulary mastery and learning motivation in English classrooms. Indonesian Journal of EFL and Linguistics, 7(2), 309–325.

Arikunto, S. (2013). Prosedur penelitian: Suatu pendekatan praktik.

Chapelle, C. A., & Sauro, S. (2017). The handbook of technology and second language teaching and learning. In Wiley Blackwell.

Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. In Sage.

Creswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2018). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. In Sage.

Febriani, E., & Syafryadin, S. (2021). The implementation of Wordwall in English language teaching during online learning. Journal of English Education and Teaching, 5(3), 421–432.

Harmer, J. (2007). The practice of English language teaching.

Nadeak, B., & Naibaho, L. (2020). The effectiveness of digital learning media in English language learning.

Nation, I. S. P. (2013). Learning vocabulary in another language. In Cambridge University Press.

Nation, I. S. P. (2022). Teaching and learning vocabulary. In Routledge.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital game-based learning.

Putri, A. R., & Fitrawati, F. (2021). Digital game-based learning in EFL classroom: Students’ motivation and engagement. Journal of English Language Teaching, 10(4), 512–520.

Reinders, H., & Benson, P. (2017). Language learning beyond the classroom. In Routledge.

Sari, N., & Wahyuni, S. (2022). The effectiveness of Wordwall application on students’ vocabulary achievement. English Education Journal, 13(1), 45–56.

Schmitt, N. (2008). Review article: Instructed second language vocabulary learning. Language Teaching Research, 12(3), 329–363. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168808089921

Schmitt, N. (2010). Researching vocabulary: A vocabulary research manual. In Palgrave Macmillan.

Thornbury, S. (2002). How to teach vocabulary.

Wang, A. I., & Tahir, R. (2020). The effect of using Kahoot! for learning: A literature review. Computers & Education, 149, 103818.

Downloads

Published

05-06-2026

How to Cite

Nurwirda, N., Jamiluddin, J., Manurung, G. N., & Thamrin, N. S. (2026). The Effectiveness of Wordwall Games in Developing the Vocabulary Mastery of Seventh Grade Students at SMP Negeri 19 Palu. Journal of Education Research, 7(2), 727–733. https://doi.org/10.37985/jer.v7i2.3726

Issue

Section

Articles

Categories