ENGLISH:
This study aimed at investigated the implementation of the Word Connection Game in improving students' vocabulary achievement and to examine whether there was a significant difference in vocabulary achievement between students taught using the Word Connection Game and those taught using conventional methods at the eighth grade of SMP N 3 Belinyu. This research applied a quantitative technique with a quasi-experimental design that combined pre-test and post-test assessments of control and experimental groups. The groups were two classes consisted of thirty students respectively. The data were collected by using vocabulary test and observation sheet and then were analyzed by using SPSS. The Word Connection Game was implemented systematically across twelve treatment sessions, starting with basic vocabulary from recount texts and moving on to items that required the identification of synonyms. This improvement was mirrored in the students' observation assessments, which improved steadily from Fair to Excellent by the end of the program. The paired sample t-test showed that the experimental class achieved a statistically significant improvement from pre-test to post-test (t-obtained = 9.647 > t-table = 2.045, p = 0.000), so the alternative hypothesis was accepted, whereas the control class showed no significant improvement. The independent samples t-test on the post-test scores revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups (t-obtained = 2.437 > t-table = 2.002, p = 0.018), thus the alternative hypothesis was accepted and the experimental class performed better than the control class. These findings indicate that the Word Connection Game is an effective instructional strategy for improving students' vocabulary achievement at the eighth grade of SMP N 3 Belinyu.