A STUDY OF TEACHING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CLASSROOM INTERACTION IN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASSES AT TRAN HUNG DAO HIGH SCHOOL IN QUANG BINH PROVINCE

MINITRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING VINH UNIVERSITY NGUYEN THI MAI A STUDY OF TEACHING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CLASSROOM INTERACTION IN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASSES AT TRAN HUNG DAO HIGH SCHOOL IN QUANG BINH PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY NGHE AN, 2017 NGUYEN THI MAI A STUDY OF TEACHING ACTIVITIES TO PROMOTE CLASSROOM INTERACTION IN ENGLISH SPEAKING CLASSES AT TRAN HUNG DAO HIGH SCHOOL IN QUANG BINH PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 60.14.01.11 SUPERVISOR: Assoc Prof Dr NGO DINH PHUONG STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I certify that the thesis entitled “A study of teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province” is the result of my own work The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true, used with permission from assistants and have not been published elsewhere Vinh, August 2017 Author’s signature Nguyen Thi Mai l ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the use of teaching activities of teachers to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province and how the teaching activities affect classroom interaction The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods.The data were collected from teachers and 80 students at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province by the research instruments: questionaire and interview The result showed that the most teachers and students were aware of the importance of classroom interaction in English speaking classes Through using teaching activities for promoting classroom interaction, teachers created an interactive atmosphere in classroom and made students more comfortable and confident in English speaking classes From the findings, the research has sought to provide practical implications for using teaching activities to improve classroom interaction and overcoming difficulties they encounter when using activities for promoting classroom interaction Limitations and suggestions for further researches were also carried out to draw more persuasive and reliable conclusion li ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to put on my thanks and sincere appreciation to the encouragement and support of many individuals in assisting me to accomplish this study First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Assoc Prof Dr Ngo Dinh Phuong, for his unaccountable guidance, support, help and patience Second, my gratefulness extended to all the other lecturers of College of Foreign Languages, Vinh University for teaching me and for their guidance and valuable evaluation in approving the innital proposal for this thesis Third, I gratefully wish to thank all my colleagues and my students at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province for their help and supporting me during the time I carried out this study Finally, I would also like to thank my parents, my older brothers, my older sister, my younger sister and my friends Their encouragement and supports have been strong motivating forces for me to conduct this thesis TABLES OF CONTENTS Contents Pages CLT EFL Communicative language teaching English as a foreign language ESOL FL English for Speakers of Other Languages English teaching and learning processes Foreign language N Number SL % Second language Percentage ETALP CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION This chapter is presented with the purpose of giving the rationale Then, the aims and the research questions of the study are stated This is followed with the scope of the study, an overview of research methodology and finally introduces the outline of the study 1.1 Rationale For recent decades, the English language has been the common language of the world It is spoken as a second language (SL) and an official language in many countries, and millions of people speak English as a foreign language (EFL) According to Ramelan (1992:2-3) English as an international language is used to communicate, to strengthen and to fasten relationship among all countries in the world in all fields, for example in tourism, business, science, technology, etc Therefore learning and teaching English are getting more and more important to nonnative nations of English Vietnam is not an exception English is taught in Vietnam as a compulsory subject at schools There are many factors that cause the students’ difficulties in learning foreign language One of them is the method given by the teacher Creating an environment that engages students in the learning process is not always easy Teaching EFL requires the use of the effective learning method It means that a set of procedures or the techniques in teaching have an influence on the student’s learning result Furthermore, most students today are bored with the traditional teaching method They need a new method which can motivate them into learning foreign language Therefore, teachers look for a significant method to help learners to use this language for communication The communicative language teaching (CLT) is considered as the best method for such purpose Johnson ( 1995 ) claims that “classroom communicative competence is essential in order for the second language students to participate in and learn from their classroom experience.” In CLT theory, interaction is one type of its frameworks Classroom interaction is one of the important means in classroom Interaction is occurred every day in class activities between teacher and his students Besides, the interaction between the teacher and the students is an essential part of teaching and learning processes Moreover, Tsui (1995) stated that: “Classroom language and interaction are even more important because language is at once the subject of study as well as the medium of learning When the students listen to the teacher’s instruction and explanations, when they express their views, answer questions and carry out the tasks and activities ” In fact, with a better understanding of classroom interaction processes, teachers may improve the quality of their teaching and improve students’ learning In teaching and learning EFL, there are four important skills Those are reading, listening, writing and speaking Speaking is defined as an interactive process of constructing meaning that involves producing, receiving and processing information Its form and meaning are dependent on the context in which it occurs, the participants, and the purposes of speaking (Burns & Joyce, 1997) Speaking is one of the basic skill of foreign language teaching and learning processes It provides learners with the opportunity to hold successful conversation as well as manage interaction, and it is very necessary for students to learn The teaching of EFL speaking has been closely connected to CLT theory In process of learning, classroom activities have a central role for helping the students interact and improve their speaking skill Many researchers and teachers agree that students learn speaking skills best through “interacting” To achieve effective classroom interaction, it depends on the given teaching activities Teacher should look for suitable activities for his lesson to get effective classroom interaction in English speaking classes Being a teacher of English at a High School in Quang Binh province, I find that the speaking lesson is the most challenging one to both the teachers and the students In fact, a lot of students revealed that when speaking English they usually encounter many discouraging difficulties It is difficult for students to communicate with their teacher and friends The students not want to express their ideas and interact with their friends and teacher They are always in shyness Therefore, Teaching activities are essential if the teachers want to help their students speak more fluently, using effective activities is one of the ways to help them feel more motivated and selfconfident in speaking lessons The above reality is the main motivation which helps the author to decide to carry out the research: “ A study of teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province” I thus wish conduct this research to find out the ways the teacher creates classroom interaction in English speaking lessons as well as suggest effective activity to promote classroom interaction in English teaching and learning processes (ETALP) 1.2 Aim of the study This study aims to explore the use of teaching activities of teachers to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province It also examines the effect of teaching activities on classroom interaction in English speaking classes 1.3 Research questions: To achieve the aim of the research, this study is going to find out the answers to the following questions: What are the teaching activities that teachers currently use in the English speaking classes to promote classroom interaction at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province? What are the effects of teaching activities on classroom interaction in the English speaking classes? 1.4 Scope of the study This study was conducted with the participants are teachers of English and 80 students in grade 10 The study focuses on using teachers’ techniques to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province and find out the effects of teaching activities on classroom interaction Tran, T T.T & Le, P H H & (2013) Mananaging strategies in teaching English in large classes at College of Economics, Hue University Journal of Science, Vol.88(10) Hue University Tsui, amy B M (1995) Introducing Classroom Interaction London: Penguin English UR, P (2000) A course in Language Teaching: Practice and Theory Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wagner, E.D (1994) In Support of a Functional Definition of Interaction: The American Journal of Distance Education 8(2) 6-26 APPENDICES APPENDIX TEACHER QUESTIONAIRE Dear teacher, The main purpose of this questionnaire is to collect the data about my MA research: “A study of teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province” Your cooperation and support for my research are appreciated and will contribute to the improvement of classroom interaction in English speaking classes Please respond to the items in this questionnaire carefully and honestly as possible This is a survey asking for your opinion Be sure that the answers you will certainly remain confidential and will only be used for research purpose Thank you for your time and your collaboration! Read the following questions carefully Please tick (v) the answer that best reflect your opinion and specify your answer when needed Does classroom interaction play an important role in English speaking class? a Yes b No In your opinion, how important are teaching activities in promoting classroom interaction? a Very important b Important c Rather important d Not important How often you apply the teaching activities for promoting classroom interaction in English speaking class? a Always b Sometimes c Rarely d Never What is your attitude towards using the teaching activities for promoting classroom interaction in English speaking class? a Very interested b Interested c Not interested d Do not know How often you give your students opportunities to interact with each other in English speaking class? a Always b Sometimes c Never Which type of interaction you often use in speaking lesson? a Teacher-learner interaction b Learner-learner interaction What current teaching activity is often applied to promote classroom interaction in your English speaking class? a Individual work b Pair work c Group work d Whole class work At what stage of speaking lesson you often apply the teaching activities for promoting classroom interaction? a Pre-speaking b While-speaking c Post-speaking What types of speaking activities you use to promote classroom interaction in class? a Communication games activities b Information gap activities c Role-play activities d Discussion activities e Other activities 10 How you motivate your students to interact in English speaking classroom? a I try to ask them about their interests b I choose the interesting speaking topics c I design a various speaking tasks d I create an active atmosphere in classroom through making jokes, playing games e I let my students work in pairs or groups to practice speaking f All of them 11 Do you think teaching techniques affect classroom interaction in English speaking class? a Yes b No 12 What difficulties you encounter when using teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking class? a Overcrowded classroom b Time limitation c Different levels of students d Students’ lack of background knowledge e All of them 13 How your students participate in speaking activities when you apply learnerlearner interaction? a Very enthusiastic b Enthusiastic c Not enthusiastic d Do not know 14 Do you think that using effectively teaching activities will help your students to develop their speaking proficiency? a Yes b No 15 How effective for promoting interaction in English speaking class you find the following teaching activities? No Teaching activities Very effective Effective Not effective Individual work Pair work Group work Whole class work STUDENT QUESTIONAIRE Dear students, I am preparing research on “teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province” The main purpose of this questionnaire is to collect data about my research I would be so grateful if you could sincerely answer the following questions to help me in my research Please give your answers sincerely to guarantee the success of this research Be sure that the answers you provide will certainly remain confidential and will only be used for research purposes I would like thank you very much for your cooperation Read the following questions carefully Please tick (v) the answer that best reflect your opinion and specify your answer when needed In your opinion, how important is classroom interaction in your English speaking class? a Very important b Important c Not important How often you interact with your teacher in English speaking class? a Always b Sometimes c Rarely d Never How often you interact with other students in English speaking class? a Always Rarely d Never b Sometimes Which type of interaction you like in your English speaking class? a Teacher-learner interaction b Learner-learner interaction Does learner-learner interaction make you more comfortable in class? a Yes b No How you feel with the following teaching activities used by teacher for promoting classroom interaction? N0 Teaching activities Individual work Pair work Whole class work Very interested Interested Not interested Group work What type of speaking activities used by your teacher in English speaking class you like? a Communication games activities b Information gap activities c Role-play activities d Discussion activities e Other activities Do the teaching activities affect classroom interaction in your English speaking class? a Yes b No When your teacher applies the teaching activities for promoting interaction, you enjoy participating in classroom interaction? a Yes b No 10 When you not want to interact in English speaking class? a The topic is not interesting b You feel shy and unconfident c The teacher does not motivate d You not have a chance to interact e All of them 11 Please tick the response that you agree with most Statements Strongly agree You get working bored Agree disagree Strongly disagree when individually in English speaking class You feel shy and unconfident when interacting with your teacher You feel uncomfortable when talking in front of the whole class Learner-learner interaction is a best way to give you opportunities to interact in English speaking class Learning speaking will be facilitated when you are engaged in pairs or groups Pair work increases your interests and willingness to participate in classroom interaction 12 In your opinion, what kind of activity can help you have a best chance to interact in English speaking class? a Individual work b Pair work c Group work d Whole class work STUDENT QUESTIONAIRE Học sinh thân mến, Tôi chuẩn bị nghiên cứu " Những phương pháp giáo viên để thúc đẩy tương tác lớp học nói tiếng Anh trường THPT Trần Hưng Đạo tỉnh Quảng Bình" Mục đích câu hỏi thu thập liệu nghiên cứu Tôi biết ơn bạn thành thật trả lời câu hỏi sau để giúp nghiên cứu Xin vui lòng cho biết câu trả lời bạn cách chân thành để đảm bảo thành công nghiên cứu Đảm bảo câu trả lời bạn cung cấp chắn giữ kín sử dụng cho mục đích nghiên cứu Tơi muốn cảm ơn bạn nhiều hợp tác bạn Đọc kỹ câu hỏi sau Hãy đánh dấu (V) câu trả lời phản ánh ý kiến bạn rõ câu trả lời cần thiết Theo bạn, tương tác lớp học lớp học nói tiếng Anh bạn nào? A Rất quan trọng B Quan trọng C Khơng quan trọng Bạn có thường xun tương tác với giáo viên lớp học nói tiếng Anh ? A Ln ln B Đơi C Ít D Không Mức độ thường xuyên tương tác bạn với học sinh khác lớp nói tiếng Anh nào? Ln ln B Đơi C Ít khiD Khơng Bạn thích loại tương tác lớp học nói tiếng Anh bạn? A Tương tác giáo viên người học B Tương tác người học-người học Liệu tương tác người học người học làm cho bạn thoải mái lớp? A Có B Không Bạn cảm thấy với hoạt động dạy học sau sử dụng giáo viên để thúc đẩy tương tác lớp? Thứ Hoạt động dạy học Rất thích Thích Khơng thích tự Hoạt động cá nhân Hoạt động theo cặp Hoạt động theo nhóm Hoạt động lớp Các loại hoạt động nói mà giáo viên bạn sử dụng lớp học nói tiếng Anh mà bạn thích? A Hoạt động trị chơi B Điền thông tin C Các hoạt động kịch D Hoạt động thảo luận E Các hoạt động khác Hoạt động dạy học có ảnh hưởng đến tương tác lớp học lớp học nói tiếng Anh bạn khơng? A Có B Khơng Khi giáo viên bạn áp dụng hoạt động dạy học để thúc đẩy tương tác, bạn có thích tham gia vào tương tác lớp học khơng? A Có B Khơng 10 Khi bạn khơng muốn tương tác lớp học nói tiếng Anh ? A Chủ đề không thú vị B Bạn cảm thấy xấu hổ không tự tin C Giáo viên khơng động viên D Bạn khơng có hội để tương tác E Tất đáp án 11 Vui lòng đánh dấu câu trả lời mà bạn đồng ý Câu Hoàn toàn đồng ý Bạn cảm thấy chán làm việc cá nhân lớp học nói tiếng Anh Bạn cảm thấy xấu hổ không tự tin giao tiếp với giáo viên bạn Bạn cảm thấy không thoải mái nói trước lớp Sự tương tác người học người học cách tốt để tạo hội cho bạn giao tiếp lớp học nói tiếng Anh Việc học nói gắn kết chặt chẽ bạn tham gia vào cặp nhóm Đồng ý Khơng Hồn tồn đồng ý khơng đồng ý Làm việc theo cặp làm tăng hứng thú bạn sẵn lòng tham gia vào tương tác lớp học 12 Theo bạn, loại hoạt động giúp bạn có hội tốt để tương tác tong lớp học nói tiếng Anh? A Hoạt động cá nhân B Hoạt động theo cặp C Hoạt động nhóm D Hoạt động tồn lớp TEACHER INTERVIEW Dear teachers, This interview aims at collecting information about the teachers’ techniques to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes I would be grateful if you could answer these questions in order to help me in my research for the Master’s degree Thank you for your collaboration According to you, how important is classroom interaction in English speaking class? Do you like using the teaching activities for promoting classroom interaction in your English speaking class? Do you often give opportunities to your student interact in your English speaking class? What type of classroom interaction you often use in your English speaking class? What kind of activity you often apply to promote classroom interaction in English speaking class? In your English speaking class, how you often motivate your student to interact? Do you think your teaching activities affect classroom interaction in English speaking class? What difficulties you encounter when using teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking class? When applying the teaching activities, your students enjoy the learner- learner interaction? Why? Why not? 10 In your opinion, what activity is effective for promoting classroom interaction in English speaking class? STUDENT INTERVIEW Dear students, This interview aims at collecting information about the teaching activities to promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes I would be grateful if you could answer these questions in order to help me in my research for the master’s degree Thank you for your collaboration The questions Does classroom interaction plays an important role in English speaking class? Why? Why not? What type of classroom interaction used by your teacher in English speaking class you like? In your English speaking class, you often have opportunities to interact with other students? Do you enjoy English speaking activities? Why? Why not? When learning speaking, you enjoy working in pairs or groups? Why/Why not? In your opinion, teaching activities affect classroom interaction in your English speaking class? When you not want to interact in English speaking class? Do you think working in pair can help you to have a best chance to interact in your English speaking class? Why? Why not? CÂU HỎI PHỎNG VẤN DÀNH CHO HỌC SINH (vietnamese version) Học sinh thân mến, Các câu hỏi vấn nhằm mục đích thu thập thơng tin kỹ thuật giáo viên để thúc đẩy tương tác lớp học nói tiếng Anh Tơi biết ơn bạn trả lời câu hỏi để giúp nghiên cứu Cảm ơn bạn hợp tác Câu hỏi Tương tác lớp học có quan trọng lớp học nói tiếng Anh khơng? Tại có khơng? Bạn thích loại tương tác mà giáo viên bạn sử dụng lớp học nói tiếng Anh? Bạn thường có hội để tương tác với học sinh khác lớp học nói tiếng Anh khơng? Bạn có thích hoạt động nói khơng? Tại có khơng? Khi học nói tiếng Anh, bạn có thích làm việc theo cặp hay nhóm khơng? Tại có khơng? Theo ban, hoạt động dạy học có ảnh hưởng đén tương tác lớp học lớp học nói bạn không? Khi bạn không muốn tương tác lớp học nói? Bạn có nghĩ làm việc theo cặp tạo cho bạn hội tốt để tương tác lớp học nói khơng? Tại có khơng? ... promote classroom interaction in English speaking classes at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province It also examines the effect of teaching activities on classroom interaction in English speaking. .. use in the English speaking classes to promote classroom interaction at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province? What are the effects of teaching activities on classroom interaction in. .. activities that teachers use in the English speaking classes to promote classroom interaction at Tran Hung Dao High School in Quang Binh province and the effects of teaching activities in classroom