Abstract:
This study attempted to shed light on the effectiveness of using realia in teaching English vocabulary
for elementary school students. It tries to focus on a suitable way of teaching vocabulary by using
realia. The government has recognized and recommended to use realia among second language
learners. But most schools do not consider the uses of realia. Because, they may not know whether
realia has an impact on vocabulary learning. The objective of this study is to investigate the
effectiveness of realia in improving English vocabulary development among elementary school
students in Sammanthurai zone. The study selects grade 3A and 3B classes at STR/Muslim Mahalir
Vidyalaya as the sample which consists of 60 students. The instrument for collecting quantitative data
is vocabulary test. The research design is experimental research as such it divides the sample into two
groups: control and experimental group using pre-test and post-test. Here, the Experimental group is
taught by using realia to increase the English vocabulary level. The control group is taught by
traditional teaching method. The results of the tests are analyzed by using independent sample t-test
and paired sample t-test. It reveals that, the students who are taught with realia perform better than the
others who are not taught with realia during teaching. It shows that the teaching-learning process runs
well, Students are active, enthusiastic and interested in vocabulary. It concludes that realia significantly
improved student’s performance in learning English vocabulary in elementary school students in
Sammanthurai Zone. This study helps to increase one’s understanding of the effectiveness of realia in
teaching English vocabulary. This finding will benefit everyone who cares about the field of teaching
and learning English as a second language among elementary school students.
