USING THE JAKARTA POST (DAILY NEWSPAPER) TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC ENGLISH VOCABULARY MEMBERS OF UNITED ENGLISH FORUM (UEF) MAKASSAR

Abstract

The objective of this research is to discover whether using The Jakarta Post newspaper could improve the academic vocabulary members of UEF Makassar or not. This research was conducted at English meeting club named United English Forum (UEF) Makassar. Its members are students of different universities in Makassar such as Muhammadiyah University, State University of Makassar, Hasanuddin University and State Islamic University of Alauddin. The study of population was 100 members of UEF Makassar. However accessible samples were 40 students. Samples were determined using random sampling technique. The researcher used quasi experiment design where 20 members were in the control class and 20 were in the experimental class. Members of UEF Makassar in control class did not give treatment. Different from experimental class that was treated up to three meetings and was given extra article was studied at home. This study used a test as the instrument. The tests consist of 20 number questions from rearrange word to translate sentences. The result shows that using English newspaper The Jakarta Post can improve academic vocabulary members of UEF Makassar. The improvement can be seen from the average test scores of students before and after giving the treatment. The improvement was quite significant. However, the average test score without treatment 47,75 increased to 81.00. It was proved by the result of the statistical analysis of the level significance p= 5% dan p= 1% with degree of freedom (df) = 38 indicated thet the t-test value of the students’ academic vocabulary (3,246) was higher than t-table value (2,02 and 2,71) or 2,02 < 3,246 > 2,71. Finally, this research can be continued in a large number of samples with longer research period.