Vocabulary Connect Four Circles (VC4C) Card Game for Malaysian Young Learners’ Vocabulary Learning

The importance of teaching English as a second language has been given emphasis as stated in the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2013Blueprint ( -2025)). Past studies had indicated that it was extremely draining and challenging to teach vocabulary to pupils using conventional chalkand-talk methods. In general, pupils were reported to be demotivated and forgetful of the vocabulary items learnt. Hence, this research was carried out to investigate the effects of a teaching intervention on young English language learners' vocabulary acquisition. VC4C (Vocabulary Connect 4 Circles) Card Game is a form of game-based learning that characterises the concepts and principles of two-player connection games, namely Connect Four and Tic-Tac-Toe. Employing an action research design, data were collected through a pre-and posttest, a survey questionnaire and an observation checklist from 24 Year One pupils of an urban school in Bintulu, Sarawak. The data collected were analysed descriptively. The findings of the research showed that majority of the participants had improvements in their vocabulary skills and 4C's (cooperation and collaboration, communication, creative and critical thinking skills) and 1V (value). This research had also shone some light on the potential use of VC4C Card Game as ESL learners had better memory retention of the vocabularies learned.