Development of the ‘Study Buddy’ Android-Based Application for Teaching Descriptive Vocabulary in Vocational High School

Intan Hamalarizka Firdaus; Aseptiana Parmawati; Ningtyas Orilina Argawati

Authors

Intan Hamalarizka Firdaus IKIP Siliwangi
Aseptiana Parmawati IKIP Siliwangi
Ningtyas Orilina Argawati IKIP Siliwangi

Abstract

Vocational high school students often struggle with English vocabulary because the available materials focus on general English rather than field-specific technical terminology. To address this gap, this study developed a mobile learning app for descriptive vocabulary tailored to English for Specific Purposes (ESP). This study employed Borg and Gall’s Research and Development (R&D) method, which was adapted and simplified into five stages: research and information gathering, planning, product development, validation and testing, and dissemination. To ensure contextual evaluation, the study involved tenth-grade students in the Mechatronics Engineering program. Data collected through expert validation sheets and student questionnaires which included Likert scales and open-ended feedback were analyzed using descriptive quantitative techniques. Expert validation yielded a feasibility score of 86.25%. Furthermore, the student evaluation achieved a feasibility score of 88.50% in the small-scale trial and 80.50% in the large-scale trial, both of which were categorized as feasible. Students noted that the application was easy to use, engaging, and aligned with their vocational needs. These findings indicate that the application is a viable and practical learning tool to support vocabulary acquisition in vocational English classes.

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