International Journal of English Learning and Applied Linguistics (IJELAL)
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2026): Emerging Trends and Innovations in English Language Teaching: Insights from Lin

ENHANCING EFL LEARNERS’ MASTERY OF SIMPLE PRESENT AND PAST TENSE THROUGH THE MAKE A MATCH TECHNIQUE

Siti Nurhaliza (Universitas Darussalam Gontor)
Eka Indah Nuraini (Universitas Darussalam Gontor)
Arifah Mardiningrum (Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakata)
Dian Nashrul Munif (Universitas Darussalam Gontor)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Jul 2026

Abstract

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the Make a Match technique in improving EFL students’ mastery of simple present and simple past tense sentence structures. It employed a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group to test the impact of the technique on EFL students’ grammar performance. The participants consisted of 64 fourth-grade students at Pondok Modern Darussalam Gontor for Girls Campus 3, divided into an experimental group and a control group. Data were collected using pre-tests and post-tests instruments which had been validated and demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s Alpha=0.897). Nonparametric statistical techniques, such as the Mann-Whitney U test and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, were eventually used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that students in the experimental group improved far more than those in the control group. The effect size (r = 0.41) showed that the Make a Match method had a moderate to substantial impact on students' grammar competency. This study confirmed that the Make a Match method was practical relevance for EFL classrooms by greatly improving EFL students' grammatical accuracy and engagement of the simple present and simple past tenses. This work offers to the literature and has practical implications for teaching grammar in Islamic educational contexts through cooperative learning methodologies.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijelal

Publisher

Subject

Description

IJELAL is a scientific journal which focuses on the area and topic of English Language Education both learning and teaching, English Linguistics and Literature, and Applied Linguistics, including Methodology of English Teaching for Non Native Speakers, Teaching English as Foreign Language, Teaching ...