An Analysis of Difficulties in Learning Vocabulary of The Seventh Grade Students at SMPN 3 Palu

Learning difficulties are all learning or emotional problems that affects or influence one person’s learning ability substantially, interact with others and follow the convention (any learning or emotional problem that affects, or substantially affects, a person’s ability to learn, get along with others and follow convention). To understand their difficulties in learning English vocabulary, the main questions of this research were: (1). What are the types of diffculties encountered by the seventh grade students in learning English vocabulary at SMPN 3 Palu? (2). What are the factors causing the seventh grade students to have difficulties in learning English vocabulary at SMPN 3 Palu? This research used qualitative approach, data collection methods were observation, interview and documentation. Data analysis used were data reduction, data presentation and data verification. The findings showed that the students still faced the problems or difficulties in learning vocabulary. Kinds of difficulties faced by the students were: alsmost all of students had difficulties in pronouncing the words, writing the words, spelling the words the different form of a word known as inflection was one of causes of students difficulties in learning vocabulary. In addition the students were still confused in using the words based on the context. The factors causing the students to have difficulties in learning vocabulary were internal and external factors. Internal factors the students are not interested in learning English, they also do not have motivation to learn English.While, external factors were they did not get support from their family, environment and school to learn English. In conclusion, seeing many students who are still having difficulty in learning English vocabulary. The teachers should pay attention to this and can create a good and effective learning process strategy given this very influential for the students’s knowledge in the future.