Improving Student Vocabulary Mastery Through Application Duolingo Game At Second Semester Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang
Keywords:
:Duolingo, vocabulary mastery, vocabulary learning, game-based learning, English language learningAbstract
This study investigated the effectiveness of the Duolingo application in improving the vocabulary mastery of second-semester students at Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidenreng Rappang. Vocabulary is an essential component of English language learning because adequate vocabulary knowledge supports students’ ability to understand and use English effectively. The study involved 28 second-semester students and employed vocabulary tests consisting of a pre-test and a post-test to measure students’ achievement before and after the implementation of Duolingo as a learning medium. The students received learning activities using the Duolingo application, while the collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings revealed a substantial improvement in students’ vocabulary mastery. The students’ mean score increased from 50.17 in the pre-test to 81.60 in the post-test, while the standard deviations were 7.51 and 6.94, respectively. Furthermore, the statistical analysis showed a p-value of 0.00, which was lower than the significance level of 0.05. Therefore, the null hypothesis was rejected and the alternative hypothesis was accepted, indicating a statistically significant improvement in students’ vocabulary mastery after the treatment. These findings demonstrate that the Duolingo application can serve as an effective technology-based learning medium for improving students’ English vocabulary mastery. Its interactive and game-based activities provide students with opportunities to practice vocabulary in a more engaging learning environment. Therefore, Duolingo can be integrated as a supplementary learning tool in English vocabulary instruction at the university level.
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