STUDENTS' DIFFICULTIES IN LEARNING ENGLISH AND MANDARIN VOCABULARY AMONG JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Erwin Lijaya; Amiatun Nuryana

Authors

Erwin Lijaya IKIP Widya Darma
Amiatun Nuryana IKIP Widya Darma

Keywords:

Vocabulary learning; English vocabulary; Mandarin vocabulary; Hanzi; learning difficulties; junior high school students

Abstract

Vocabulary is a fundamental component of foreign language learning because it supports learners' ability to understand, produce, and negotiate meaning in communication. This study aims to identify junior high school students' difficulties in learning English and Mandarin vocabulary, compare their vocabulary achievement in both languages, and determine which language is more challenging for students. The study employed a quantitative descriptive design. Data were collected through vocabulary tests and a questionnaire distributed online to 28 junior high school students. The data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, and mean score. The findings show that students achieved a higher mean score in English vocabulary (9.96 out of 10) than in Mandarin vocabulary (8.86 out of 10). The result indicates that Mandarin vocabulary is relatively more challenging because students need to recognize Hanzi, understand tonal pronunciation, and memorize unfamiliar orthographic forms. The study suggests that teachers should combine repetition, contextualized practice, visual character support, and interactive vocabulary activities to improve students' vocabulary mastery in both English and Mandarin.

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