Teaching English Vocabulary through TPR Method in Virtual Classroom: Students' Perception at Fifth Grade Thai Students

Maulidiah Prihati Ningrum

doi:10.30587/jetlal.v5i1.2158

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the students’ perception of teaching English vocabulary toward the Total Physical Response (TPR) method in virtual classrooms. This research used a survey design and Focus Group Discussion. The students have taught the English vocabulary toward the TPR method virtually for about 4 months in the odd semester 2020-2021. The objects of this research were fifth-grade students of Ban Wangmuang School, Loei Thailand. The result showed that the students positively perceived the use of the TPR method in English vocabulary in a virtual class. The Total Physical Response (TPR) method makes the students feel more enjoyable, happy, and active with the various activities which can increase the students’ participation during the virtual class. It could help the students to understand and remember new vocabulary easier.

Highlights

In this new normal era, virtual classrooms could be future schools in the world
The result of this study showed that almost all students positively responded that the virtual Total Physical Response (TPR) method in teaching English vocabulary makes them feel easy, happy, and enjoy learning in the virtual classroom
The benefits of using the TPR method in teaching a foreign language to children were body movement can strengthen language learning and have the potential to strengthen children's physical development; enjoyment created in stress-free activities that focus on physical movement can further increase children's involvement, increase motivation to participate in action games, and make foreign language learning truly effective

Summary

Introduction

In this new normal era, virtual classrooms could be future schools in the world. By using a virtual classroom, the teacher and students do not need to interact face to face in one room. In a virtual class, teaching English vocabulary should not be forgotten by the teachers in teaching English process, because it is very important in determining the student’s ability in mastering the targeted language. Vocabulary is central to foreign language learning at the basic level (Cameron, 2010) It means that learning vocabulary is very important as the basic need to get a new language. Teachers should provide some techniques to make students be able to learn vocabulary is for their English language. The Total Physical Response (TPR) method is one of the ways in achieving vocabularies for the students. Through Total Physical Response, it will motivate the students to have attention and participation to respond to the teachers’ instructions in learning a foreign language.

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Discussion

Conclusion