STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCES IN DEVELOPING VOCABULARY THROUGH WATTPAD APPLICATION: A NARRATIVE INQUIRY STUDY

Abstract

Developing vocabulary is crucial for mastering a foreign language, impacting pronunciation, writing, spelling, and the accurate application of grammatical patterns. There are many alternatives to developing vocabulary, including reading stories extensively through the Wattpad application. Therefore, this research aims to find students' experiences in developing vocabulary mastery through the Wattpad application. This research used a qualitative method with a narrative inquiry design to describe the data. The data were collected through interviews. The research involved three students from the English Education Department at UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung who had completed their Extensive Reading course in the fourth semester. The findings indicated that Wattpad application is a comfortable and enjoyable platform for students to develop their vocabulary mastery. In addition, the researcher found that the students employed various strategies to comprehend new vocabulary, especially guessing the meaning of unfamiliar words, noting unfamiliar words, and using translation resources like Google Translate. The study revealed that the students had positive experiences developing vocabulary through Wattpad application, which also helped them reduce stress and overcome boredom.