MAGICAL CUBE

A SKILL BLENDER
to improve vocabulary among Year 4 pupils in ESL
classroom

KASTHURI A/P SUPPIAH

PISMP TESL D SEM 8 JANUARY

2012 INTAKE
 Research objectives
GENERAL • Enhance the acquisition of vocabulary using game.
OBJECTIVE

•Explore how far ‘Magical Cube’ game is able to

improve pupils’ vocabulary level
SPECIFIC •Identify how far ‘Magical Cube’ game can
OBJECTIVE
encourage the use other language skills such as
speaking and writing skill.

Research question
 How will the ‘Magical Cube’ game help to improve pupils’
vocabulary level?
 To what extend will this intervention encourage the use of
other language skills such as speaking and writing skill?
 FOCUS

• lack of vocabulary
PROBLEM • not confident in speaking English
• lack of interest during English
STATEMENT lessons
• lack of fun learning element in
teaching and learning process
 -identified the
problem through
- Based on the results preliminary
obtained from the investigation
research instruments.
reflecting planning -Collected pupils’
information
-work schedule
-Planned an
intervention
-

- Observed the -Implemented the

changes in
participants’: observing acting intervention
-Used instruments
•Vocabulary to collect data
•Speaking &
writing skills
Intervention- MAGICAL CUBE – A SKILL
BLENDER
 Research Methodology
Qualitative research
Instruments
• To analyse the progress of the pupils
Document
• Document analysis includes booklet
analysis and worksheets for assessment test.

• Detailed information
Non-participant
• To observe participants’ responses,
observation participation and behavioural changes.

• Researcher and English language

teacher
Semi- structured
• To get feedback from the English
interview language teacher regarding the
implementation of Magical Cube.
 Participants
 Purposive sampling

PARTICIPANT LOCATION CRITERIA

• 5 participants • Sub-urban •Low level of

• Year 4 pupils school English language
• girls proficiency
 Findings
DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
Magical Word booklet Assessment test
• Gradual improvements were seen in •able to complete the worksheet
terms of: in the time given

• 1) sentence construction •able to spell and use new words

• 2) spelling •able to list down rhyming words

 Findings
NON-PARTICIPANT OBSERVATION

• Positive responses from the participants

• Increase in interest and participation level
• Pupils were more confident
• Able to write sentences
• Clear instruction and guidance from the researcher
 Findings
SEMI-STRUCTURED INTERVIEW
Teacher found the intervention a success because :
• the interest shown by the pupils
• they were confident to speak during the activity
• increased level of participation during English lesson
• suitable for the pupils’ level of proficiency, interest and age
• help in memory retention of the vocabulary exposed during the
game
• encourage the use of other skills such as speaking and writing skill
Q1: Does the ‘Magical Cube’ game help to improve
pupils’ vocabulary level?

Document analysis

Able to find meaning from

Own meaning dictionary

Able to identify synonym and

does not know what is antonym
synonym and antonym
Able to identify rhyming
Unable to list rhyming words words

Poor sentence construction Improved in sentence

construction
 Q2: To what extend will this intervention encourage the use
of other language skills such as speaking and writing skill?
Semi-structured interview

Researcher Do you think this intervention encourage the use of

other language skills such as speaking and writing
skill?

English Teacher Yes. Previously pupils in my class were very shy to

speak in English. From what I have observed, through
this game the pupils became very confident in
speaking. They do not mind about making mistakes .
Their focus is just to get points for their group. This
game is also able to improve pupils’ writing skill
because when they write down their answers in the
booklet provided, it acts as a practice to improve
their skill.
 Impact

alternative option experience the real Helps in Researchers can

to teach vocabulary usage of the language mastering use the
in an interesting the word list intervention to
way stated in overcome
KSSR possible
facilitate the enhance pupils’ document problems that
learning vocabulary level using
standard. can arise.
games
break from the increase participation
usual routine of the and interest towards
language class learning
 Suggestions
 More exposure should be given to the pupils with extended

timeframe and guidance.

 The participants also should be interviewed to get

information from their point of view.

 The intervention can be tried out with pupils from different

background.

 Magical Cube game should be integrated with other fun

elements such as songs and movements.

‘Without sufficient
vocabulary people
cannot
understand others
or express their
own ideas’