The effectiveness of using Realia in teaching English vocabulary to elementary school students in Sammanthurai zone

Abstract

This study attempted to shed light on the effectiveness of using realia in teaching English vocabulary for elementary school students. It tries to focus on a suitable way of teaching vocabulary by using realia. The government has recognized and recommended to use realia among second language learners. But most schools do not consider the uses of realia. Because, they may not know whether realia has an impact on vocabulary learning. The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of realia in improving English vocabulary development among elementary school students in Sammanthurai zone. The study selects grade 3A and 3B classes at STR/Muslim Mahalir Vidyalaya as the sample which consists of 60 students. The instrument for collecting quantitative data is vocabulary test. The research design is experimental research as such it divides the sample into two groups: control and experimental group using pre-test and post-test. Here, the Experimental group is taught by using realia to increase the English vocabulary level. The control group is taught by traditional teaching method. The results of the tests are analyzed by using independent sample t-test and paired sample t-test. It reveals that, the students who are taught with realia perform better than the others who are not taught with realia during teaching. It shows that the teaching-learning process runs well, Students are active, enthusiastic and interested in vocabulary. It concludes that realia significantly improved student’s performance in learning English vocabulary in elementary school students in Sammanthurai Zone. This study helps to increase one’s understanding of the effectiveness of realia in teaching English vocabulary. This finding will benefit everyone who cares about the field of teaching and learning English as a second language among elementary school students.