Improving Students' English Language Skills through Motivation and Vocabulary Strengthening Strategies

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Pematang Siantar— Motivation and Vocabulary Training Improve Junior High Students’ English Skills in Pematang Siantar. An English language improvement program held in November 2025 by a team of lecturers from the Indonesian Methodist University: Faido Marudut Pardamean Simanjuntak, Himpun Panggabean, Esron Ambarita, Lowe Clinton, and Christianto Darwin.

A total of 36 students from class VIII-1 of SMP Negeri 3 Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, participated in the English language improvement program held in November 2025 by a team of lecturers from the Indonesian Methodist University: Faido Marudut Pardamean Simanjuntak, Himpun Panggabean, Esron Ambarita, Lowe Clinton, and Christianto Darwin. This one-day activity combined learning motivation strategies with English vocabulary reinforcement. The results showed an increase in vocabulary comprehension, confidence in speaking, and active student participation in oral communication exercises. This program is important because English proficiency is key to accessing education, technology, and global job opportunities.

Key Findings

Students showed strong enthusiasm throughout the session, with 100 percent participation in vocabulary simulations. Evaluations highlighted several improvements:

Expanded vocabulary mastery, reflected in exercise results and classroom responses.
More accurate pronunciation, as students correctly articulated new words.
Increased confidence, with more students willing to speak.
Better comprehension, as students used vocabulary in simple phrases.

The teaching team observed that structured vocabulary drills prepared students more effectively for basic English conversations. These findings align with educational research indicating that organized vocabulary practice significantly improves language performance.

Educational Impact

The program confirms that motivation and vocabulary reinforcement complement each other in language learning. Vocabulary forms the base before students develop speaking, reading, and listening skills. With engaging and participatory methods, students not only learned new words but also developed a more positive attitude toward English.

Faido Marudut Pardamean Simanjuntak from Universitas Methodist Indonesia emphasized that consistent vocabulary practice helps students reduce hesitation when speaking. According to the teaching team, simple but routine strategies can build sustainable language-learning habits.

Broader Implications

This training model is relevant for other schools facing similar challenges. A short, interactive program proved effective in sparking student motivation. If continued by teachers, such strategies could raise the quality of English education at the secondary level.

For educators, the findings highlight the importance of motivation-based approaches in foreign language learning. For students, the experience serves as an early step toward building confidence for communication in a global environment.

Author Profiles

Faido Marudut Pardamean Simanjuntak, M.Pd. – Universitas Methodist Indonesia
Himpun Panggabean, M.Pd. –Universitas Methodist Indonesia
Esron Ambarita, M.Pd. –Universitas Methodist Indonesia
Lowe Clinton, M.Pd. –Universitas Methodist Indonesia
Christianto Darwin, M.Pd. –Universitas Methodist Indonesia
Christianto Darwin, M.Pd. –Universitas Methodist Indonesia

Research Source

Simanjuntak, F.M.P., Panggabean, H., Ambarita, E., Clinton, L., & Darwin, C. “Improving Students' English Language Skills through Motivation and Vocabulary Strengthening Strategies.”

Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Bestari (JPMB), Vol. 5 No. 1, 2026, hlm. 71–76.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55927/jpmb.v5i1.588

URL: https://nblformosapublisher.org/index.php/jpmb