The background of the research was based on the observations that have been made by the writer with the teacher of English of SMP N 1 Rowosari, some students have difficulties in learning foreign language. Most of them lacking motivation in teaching learning process, it caused by less support from their environment to learn English. Besides that, they also easy to forget what have been presented by teacher. In this thesis the writer tries to examine on teaching simple past tense. The use of Memory Round Game is one of games that can be used in teaching simple past tense. By using memory round game, hopefully can make students more attractive in teaching learning process in order to make them easier to understand and memorize the change of verb on simple past tense. The study was aimed at responding the following questions: (1) How is the implementation of memory round game in teaching simple past tense? (2) How can memory round game improve students’ understanding on simple past tense?
In this study, the researcher conducted a classroom action research as the methodology of this research. The data were obtained by test, observation, questionnaire and documentation. The test used to measure students’ understanding in simple past tense and after the teacher implemented memory round game. The observation was administered to know the students’ activities during the teaching. Documentation was used to look for the data concerning matters or the variable that are taken in the form of the note or photo in teaching learning process. Besides, the questionnaire was used to measure the interest of students toward memory round game.
The results of the analysis were used to describe the improvement of students’ understanding on simple past tense which was indicated by their score in test. It can be seen from the result of cycle 1, where in pre cycle students’ mean on simple past tense was only 48. 44, it increased up to 22. 85 became 71. 29 in cycle 1. In cycle 2 it increased from 71. 29 up to 75. 5 or 4. 21 increased.
Based on the results of this research, it could be concluded that by using memory round game in teaching simple past tense, teacher could improve students’ understanding on simple past tense. It was hoped that it can be valuable as the information resource for students, teachers, and the writer herself.