The Development of O-NET English Vocabulary Retention through Language Games for Sixth-Grade Students

Abstract

This article aimed to: (1) examine the effectiveness of a plan for the O-NET English vocabulary retention through language games; (2) investigate students’ ability on the O-NET English vocabulary retention through language games; and (3) explore students’ satisfaction with learning O-NET English vocabulary retention through language games. The target group consisted of 14 Grade 6 students from a public school in Kamphaeng Phet Province during the second semester of the 2024 academic year, selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments included: 1) a plan for O-NET English vocabulary retention through language games; 2) an achievement test on students’ ability to retain O-NET English vocabulary through language games; and 3) a student satisfaction questionnaire for the O-NET English vocabulary retention through language games. Data were analyzed using percentage, mean, standard deviation, the E1/E2 efficiency index, and a t-test. The research findings were as follows: 1) The effectiveness of the lesson plan was 81.43 (E1) / 81.14 (E2), exceeding the specified criteria;  2) Students’ ability to retain O-NET English vocabulary showed that the pre-test score was 51.78, while the post-test score was 81.14. The post-test scores were significantly higher than the pre-test scores at the .05 level. When comparing the scores immediately after learning and 14 days later, there was no significant difference at the .05 level; and 3) Overall, students' satisfaction with language games was at a high level. The findings of this study indicate that the use of language games in learning O-NET English vocabulary significantly enhances the ability to retain and comprehend vocabulary more effectively than traditional methods. Learners are able to retain and use vocabulary more successfully over the long term.