Students' Engagement in Learning Vocabulary for Daily Conversations

Silvia Cahyani(1*), Anjar Setiawan(2)


(1) University of Muhammadiyah Semarang
(2) University of Muhammadiyah Semarang
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract


Practicing basic vocabulary is essential for students to enhance their fluency in daily English conversations. However, many students still struggle to retain and acquire new vocabulary effectively. In such situations, student engagement plays a crucial role in determining how well vocabulary is learned and applied. This study examines students' engagement when learning vocabulary intended for daily communication. The research followed a descriptive qualitative approach, involving 30 elementary school students. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed with a simplified Likert scale, making it accessible and appropriate for the participants’ age and interests. Findings showed that students were generally engaged emotionally; they often felt enthusiastic and enjoyed vocabulary- related activities, especially when these included games or roleplay. Cognitive and behavioral engagement also appeared, although speaking practice still challenged some. Overall, this study discusses the importance of creating learning experiences that encourage students to participate actively. It recommends that teachers use interactive and creative strategies to help students learn vocabulary more meaningfully.


Keywords


Vocabulary learning, Student engagement, Daily English Conversation

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