Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the role of vocabulary-building on language acquisition among junior high school students. Through a comprehensive analysis of demographic profiles and vocabulary skills across listening, reading, writing, and speaking, along with an examination of vocabulary-building exercises and their correlation with language acquisition, several significant findings emerged. Firstly, the majority of respondents were female, aged between 14 and 15, with an even distribution across grade levels. Regarding vocabulary skills, students exhibited high proficiency across listening, reading, writing, and speaking, indicating the effectiveness of employed vocabulary exercises. Among these exercises, "Word Games/Puzzles," "Charades," "Contextual Reading," and "Pictionary" were identified as highly utilized and effective methods, while others like "Word Wall" and "Gallery Walk" were less favored. Furthermore, the study highlighted the crucial role of vocabulary building in language acquisition. It found strong agreements among respondents regarding the benefits of diverse vocabulary in understanding colloquial speech, comprehending complex ideas, enhancing writing fluency, and participating in conversations. Additionally, a small positive correlation was identified between vocabulary-building activities and language acquisition, emphasizing the importance of integrating effective vocabulary instruction into the curriculum. Based on these findings, several recommendations were proposed. For administrators, there is a call to encourage the integration of effective vocabulary-building exercises into the curriculum and provide support for varied vocabulary enhancement methods. English teachers are urged to utilize identified effective exercises, integrate vocabulary-building activities across language skills, and continuously assess and adapt instruction methods. Finally, researchers are encouraged to further investigate the impact of vocabulary-building techniques on language acquisition, explore long-term effects, and conduct comparative studies to evaluate effectiveness in diverse educational settings. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the significant role of vocabulary building in language acquisition among junior high school students, providing valuable insights for educators, administrators, and researchers aiming to enhance language proficiency through targeted vocabulary instruction.
