Enhancing Vocabulary Acquisition through TED Talks in EFL Classrooms

Abstract

This study examined the effectiveness of integrating TED Talks into English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms to enhance students' vocabulary acquisition. Vocabulary plays a vital role in language proficiency, and TED Talks, with their authentic language input and engaging multimodal content, offer a promising tool for vocabulary development. The research employed a quantitative method involving pre-tests and post-tests to evaluate the vocabulary improvement of 15 fifth-semester students from the English Language Education Department at Universitas Serambi Mekah. The intervention included the use of a TED Talk video titled "Try Something New for 30 Days" by Matt Cutts, accompanied by guided activities. Results revealed a significant improvement in students’ vocabulary, with the mean score rising from 48.33 in the pre-test to 86.00 in the post-test, indicating a 77.93% increase. The findings demonstrate that TED Talks effectively enrich vocabulary by exposing students to authentic language use, diverse topics, and various accents. Additionally, the platform promotes self-directed learning, critical thinking, and listening comprehension. However, challenges such as the complexity of content and limited interactivity were identified. This study underscores the potential of TED Talks as a digital learning resource in EFL contexts and provides recommendations for their effective integration into teaching practices. These findings contribute to the growing body of research on using digital media to support language learning and suggest opportunities for further exploration in this area