The Use of Kahoot in Developing Students' Vocabulary Mastery (A Case Study at One of Vocational High School in Ciamis)

Abstract

Students’ limited vocabulary mastery and difficulties in understanding, retaining, and appropriately using newly learned words remain significant challenges in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning, particularly because conventional teaching methods often provide limited opportunities for interactive and meaningful vocabulary practice. Although previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Kahoot in enhancing students’ motivation, engagement, and general English achievement, most have employed quantitative approaches and have paid limited attention to how Kahoot is implemented to develop vocabulary mastery and how teachers perceive its use in authentic classroom settings, particularly in vocational high schools. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate how an English teacher used Kahoot to develop students’ vocabulary mastery and to explore the teacher’s perceptions of its implementation in the classroom. This study employed a qualitative case study conducted at one vocational high school in Ciamis involving one English teacher and one tenth-grade class, with data collected through non-participant classroom observations and a semi-structured interview and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that the teacher systematically integrated Kahoot into vocabulary instruction by introducing and reviewing vocabulary, facilitating interactive quiz activities, encouraging active participation, providing immediate feedback, and reinforcing vocabulary through classroom discussions. The implementation of Kahoot enhanced students’ engagement, motivation, vocabulary recognition, comprehension, recall, and appropriate vocabulary use, while the teacher perceived Kahoot as an effective instructional and assessment tool for monitoring students’ learning progress despite challenges related to internet connectivity, device availability, and students’ tendency to prioritize speed over comprehension. In conclusion, Kahoot functioned as an effective game-based instructional medium that created an interactive, engaging, and meaningful learning environment, thereby supporting the development of students’ vocabulary mastery in the EFL classroom.