Abstrak
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan penguasaan kosakata siswa kelas VII-6 SMP Negeri 9 Tarakan melalui penerapan teknik inovatif berupa flashcard, permainan Word Chain, dan Mind Mapping. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain Penelitian Tindakan Kelas yang dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus, dengan tiga pertemuan pada setiap siklus. Masing-masing siklus meliputi tahap perencanaan, pelaksanaan tindakan, observasi, dan refleksi. Subjek penelitian terdiri atas 30 siswa kelas VII-6 tahun ajaran 2025/2026. Data dikumpulkan melalui tes kosakata dan lembar observasi aktivitas guru serta siswa, kemudian dianalisis secara kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai rata-rata penguasaan kosakata siswa meningkat dari 68,83 pada Siklus I menjadi 88,5 pada Siklus II. Rata-rata aktivitas guru meningkat dari 75% menjadi 92,33%, sedangkan aktivitas siswa meningkat dari 53% menjadi 89,67%. Dengan demikian, penerapan flashcard, Word Chain, dan Mind Mapping efektif dalam meningkatkan penguasaan kosakata dan keterlibatan siswa dalam pembelajaran bahasa Inggris. Penelitian ini memberikan alternatif teknik pembelajaran kosakata yang interaktif bagi guru. Penelitian selanjutnya disarankan menerapkan teknik tersebut pada materi, jenjang, atau jumlah subjek yang lebih luas. This study aims to improve the vocabulary mastery of seventh-grade students in class VII-6 at SMP Negeri 9 Tarakan through the application of three innovative techniques: flashcards, the Word Chain game, and Mind Mapping. The study employs a Classroom Action Research (CAR) design implemented across two cycles, with three meetings per cycle. Each cycle followed the standard phases of planning, action, observation, and reflection. The research subjects consisted of 30 students from class VII-6 during the 2025/2026 academic year. Data were collected through vocabulary tests and teacher and student activity observation sheets, and subsequently analyzed using quantitative methods. The results show that the mean score of students' vocabulary mastery increased from 68.83 in Cycle I to 88.5 in Cycle II. The average score for teacher activity improved from 75% to 92.33%, while the average score for student activity increased from 53% to 89.67%. These findings demonstrate that the combined application of flashcards, Word Chain, and Mind Mapping is effective in improving vocabulary mastery and enhancing student engagement in English language learning. This study offers teachers a set of interactive alternative techniques for vocabulary instruction. Future research is encouraged to apply these techniques across different materials, educational levels, or larger subject groups to further validate their effectiveness.