THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TRADITIONAL GAME “POLISI NUMPANG TANYA” ON SEVENTH-GRADE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY MASTERY AT SMPN 11 SUNGAI AMBAWANG

Abstract

FAQIHATUN NADIAH. The Effectiveness of the Traditional Game “Polisi Numpang Tanya” on Seventh-Grade Students’ Vocabulary Mastery at SMPN 11 Sungai Ambawang. Tadris English Study Program. Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. State Institute for Islamic Studies Pontianak (IAIN Pontianak). 2025. This research explored the effectiveness of applying the traditional game “Polisi Numpang Tanya” on seventh-grade students’ vocabulary mastery at SMPN 11 Sungai Ambawang. It was questioned as follows. First, what is the students’ vocabulary mastery before applying the traditional game “Polisi Numpang Tanya” in the seventh grade of SMPN 11 Sungai Ambawang? Second, what is the students’ vocabulary mastery after applying the traditional game “Polisi Numpang Tanya” in the seventh grade of SMPN 11 Sungai Ambawang? Third, what is the significance of students’ vocabulary mastery after applying the traditional game “Polisi Numpang Tanya” in the seventh grade of SMPN 11 Sungai Ambawang? It was a quasi-experimental study with a pre- and posttest design. The research participants were 64 students from VII A and VII B. The data for this research were collected using tests (pretest and posttest), questionnaires, and documentation. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test because they were not normally distributed and not equally distributed. This research found that after applying the traditional game “Polisi Numpang Tanya”, students’ vocabulary mastery significantly improved. The experimental group achieved a higher posttest mean score (57.66) than the control group (33.13), with a p-value of 0.000 and a large effect size (r = 0.549), showing the game’s effectiveness. Questionnaire results also showed positive student responses, with a mean score of 4.24, reflecting enjoyment and engagement. In conclusion, “Polisi Numpang Tanya” effectively enhanced vocabulary mastery in junior high school students.