Definition of the Vocabulary Network

Vocabulary network is an effective technique or way for teacher to develop the

acquisition of student’s vocabulary. Hammer (1991) states that vocabulary network or

mind map is a technique that used to help student to put a list of words into different

groups. He added using mind maps to create vocabulary fields is something that teachers

can incorporate into their regular vocabulary teaching.

Ur (1996:69) States that brainstorming is a framework for the introduction of

some of the new vocabulary.

While Walker and Reece (1997:155) state that brainstorming is problem solving

technique used to generate a number of ideas in a short time e.g. 5 to 15 minutes. Based

on the description above, the writer summed up that all of them have a same purpose in

increasing of the students’ vocabulary mastery.

Procedure of teaching vocabulary by using the vocabulary network words occur

in families, groups, and sets, and it is always easier to learn them this way than one at a

time. Making a vocabulary network helps the students to improve their vocabulary.

Davies and Whitney ( 1984) state that this activity can also help the student to

record, recall, remember and summaries what their read or write. While Nusakasuma and

Suyanto ( 1996) point out that the same activity can used an introduction to literature.

Take a central theme or concept of a story or poem you are planning to read with class,

and brainstorm associations in order to open and direct students’ thinking towards the

ideas that they will encounter in the text.

According to Tanju (2004) a brainstorming activity can be to let students revise

collocations containing a particular word. This activity is mainly for revising words the

class already knows, but new ones may be introduced, by the teacher or by the students.

Although there are no sentences or paragraphs, the circle of associated items is in itself a

meaningful context for the learning of new vocabulary.

The focus is on the meaning of isolated items. Nusakasuma and Suyanto (1996)

write the procedures to make a vocabulary network , are:

1. Take a word the class has recently learnt;

2. Ask the students to suggest all the words they associate with the word;

3. Write each suggestion on the board with a line joining it to the original word, in circle.

The steps in teaching vocabulary by using vocabulary network are:

1. Taking a theme or word

2. Asking the students to suggest all the words they associate with the word.

3. Writing each suggestion on the board or on the paper with a line joining it to the

original word, in a circle.

4. Giving example about the material

Vocabulary Network uses words, lines logic, color, image, and even sounds to stimulate

our brain. It has four important characteristic:

a. The subject of attention is crystallized in a central image

b. The main themes of the subject radiate from the central image on branches

c. Branches hold a key image/word printed on the associated line details radiate out

d. The branches from a connected nodal structure