Efforts and Difficulties in Teaching Vocabulary

Abstract

This study aims at investigating teachers efforts as well as difficulties in helping students learn English vocabulary in context. Interview was used to collect data. Three English teachers at one junior high school in Tondano were involved in this study. Teacher’s efforts were identified as follows: giving students direct instruction of English vocabulary or words through texts, providing learning of English words through repetition, teaching of English words through context, using various strategies by teachers in teaching English words, and applying various media of teaching. Difficulties teachers were facing: how to be creative, time constraints to apply various media to make the learning more interesting and enjoyable. It could be suggested that (1) English teachers of the school need to hold special meeting each semester to discuss the strategies to teach English in general and especially English vocabulary, (2) English teachers should prepare and provide as many contexts as possible. With various contexts, the students are expected to learn English vocabulary more interesting and enjoyable.