Advisers

Romeo L. Fernandez, EdD

Discipline

Education

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the impact of anagram-based activities on enhancing the vocabulary skills of selected second-year English major students. To support this goal, the researchers will develop and use anagram activity sheets as instructional materials. Given the increasing importance of English as the primary medium of communication in academic and professional settings, expanding students' vocabulary has become essential. An effective and engaging method to achieve this is through the use of anagrams—a form of wordplay where a new word or phrase is formed by rearranging the letters of another (e.g., LISTEN becomes SILENT). By engaging with anagrams, students are exposed to various word formations and meanings, which promotes deeper vocabulary acquisition, critical thinking, and language awareness. Through this technique, learners not only broaden their word knowledge but also strengthen their linguistic and cognitive skills in a meaningful and enjoyable manner. This study used a quasi-experimental research design, a quantitative approach focused on collecting and analyzing numerical data to explore potential cause-and-effect relationships. The researchers administered both a pre-test and a post-test to fifty (50) second-year English major students to evaluate the effectiveness of the anagram activity sheets in enhancing vocabulary skills. By comparing students' performance before and after the intervention, the study aimed to determine the instructional material's impact on vocabulary development. The findings of the study indicate a significant improvement in students’ performance from pre-test to post-test, with a z-value of 4.20347 and a p-value of 0.000058, resulting in the rejection of the null hypothesis. This confirms that the use of anagram activity sheets is effective in enhancing students’ vocabulary. Additionally, The results suggested that the activity not only improved vocabulary acquisition but also fostered critical thinking and problem-solving skills, reinforcing the value of anagrams as a meaningful instructional tool. This study highlights the value of incorporating engaging and interactive learning strategies in language instruction. The use of anagram activity sheets proved effective in enhancing students’ vocabulary, as well as fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. The statistically significant improvement in post-test scores affirms the instructional value of anagrams as a vocabulary-building tool. Overall, the findings support the integration of such wordplay-based materials in English language education to improve learner outcomes dynamically and enjoyably.

Keywords

critical thinking, instructional material, pre-test and post-test, anagram activity sheets, english major students, vocabulary enhancement