Improving Vocabulary Acquisition Through Popular Songs (A Study at SMP Negeri 16 Banda Aceh)

This study was conducted based on the phenomena that students have problems in language learning process due lack to vocabulary. For this reason, the writer conducted a research of vocabulary acquisition process by using the popular songs in order to give the students a new insight in learning vocabulary.The aims of the research are to find out whether using popular song in teaching learning process effective to develop students‟ vocabulary and to discover students perception‟ on learning vocabulary by using popular song. In collecting the data, the writer did experimental teaching, gave pre-test and post-test, and conducted interview. The participants were 30 students of English subject in class X at SMPN 16 Banda Aceh. The results of this research indicate that there was a progress on the student while learning vocabulary through the popular song. It is proved the mean score of pre-test (53.93) and post-test (84). The finding also showed that most of students have positive responses towards learning vocabulary through popular song. Learning by using popular song helps the students easy to memorize words and song also provide the comfortable environment for them. However, some of students have better ways to learn English such as by writing down the word and memorizing them.