The Effectiveness of Reading Authentic Materials in Improving Vocabulary Mastery for Secondary School Students

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of using authentic materials to improve vocabulary mastery among secondary school students. Employing a quasi-experimental pre-post one-group design, the study involved 22 third-year secondary school students. A vocabulary instruction program utilizing authentic materials was implemented. Prior to the intervention, participants' vocabulary mastery was assessed through a pre-vocabulary test. The intervention included explicit exposure to various authentic materials such as newspapers, blogs, and magazine articles. Post-intervention, students were assessed with a post-vocabulary test to determine the impact of the intervention. Results indicated that the mean scores on the post-vocabulary test significantly exceeded those on the pre-vocabulary test. Thus, authentic materials were effective in enhancing vocabulary mastery for secondary school students. The study underscores the importance of integrating authentic materials into the secondary school curriculum to foster better vocabulary acquisition.