Level of Mastery of Malay Vocabulary among Non-Native Students in Form One

Abstract

Vocabulary plays an important role in language learning because it is the basis for mastering the language, especially for non-native speakers. Students face challenges in mastering vocabulary in Malay. This study aims to determine the level of vocabulary mastery in learning Malay among non-native speakers. This study involved a total of 254 students from 10 secondary schools in the Pudu and Bangsar areas of Kuala Lumpur through purposive sampling. Research findings were analyzed using SPSS software version 27.0. The findings of the study show that overall, the level of vocabulary mastery is moderate except that the verb group is high and the adjective group is low among non-native speakers. This study suggests that the aspect of vocabulary teaching should be given attention in Teaching and Learning activities starting from primary school.