(SKKN 2022) Improve speaking skill for students through English club activities at Xi Mang secondary school

SỞ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO THANH HỐ PHỊNG GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO BỈM SƠN SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM IMPROVE SPEAKING SKILL FOR STUDENTS THROUGH ENGLISH CLUB ACTIVITIES AT XI MANG SECONDARY SCHOOL Người thực hiện: Lê Thị Hạnh Chức vụ: Giáo viên Đơn vị công tác: Trường THCS Xi Măng SKKN thuộc mơn: Tiếng Anh THANH HỐ, NĂM 2022 TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT I INTRODUCTION REASONS FOR SELECTING THEME PURPOSE STUDENTS FOR RESEARCHING METHODOLOGY II CONTENT RATIONALE STATE OF THE MATTER RESEARCH PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS III CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS CONCLUSION SUGGESTIONS PAGE 1 1 2 3 20 20 20 I INTRODUCTION REASONS FOR SELECTING THEME Nowadays, English is not only an international language but also a compulsory subject at schools As a result, students always try their best to learn English as well as possible Most of them are good at English grammar and they often get good marks for their written tests In fact, their listening and speaking skills are not very good That is because they not have much time to practice these skills during English lessons Most students want to learn English well and they wish to be good at all the four skills They need more chances to practice and use English in daily life, not only in classrooms I have tried many ways to help my students to improve their language skills and I think that English Speaking Club is one of these ways There are many excellent reasons for holding an English Speaking Club for English learners and helping students practice their conversation skills outside the classroom Classroom learning is a wonderful thing, but with foreign languages, outside practice is essential for reinforcement of language concepts, especially spoken language In an English Speaking Club, students get a chance to practice their language skills in real situations in which students can participate in games or play roles They don’t have to follow any teaching plans or any written tests Therefore, they become more self-confident and active Free activities help them to be more creative From the real requirements and my teaching experiments at schools for many years, I have gained some methods to develop speaking skill for students and help students to use English more effectively in living communication and I decided to choose the topic: “IMPROVE SPEAKING SKILL FOR STUDENTS THROUGH ENGLISH CLUB ACTIVITIES AT XI MANG SECONDARY SCHOOL” PURPOSE In recent years, most schools in Thanh Hoa City have organized English speaking clubs and they have got some success in teaching and learning English The study aims to: - Improve communication skills for students - Help students have more chances to practice and use English in daily life, not only in classrooms - Develop language mentality for students not only in English but also other activities in everyday life STUDENTS FOR RESEARCHING The statistic result at the beginning of this school year through directly interviewing students at grade 6, and at Xi Mang Secondary School - Bim Son town - Thanh Hoa Province 2 Total No of students 44 (grade 6) 49 (grade 8) 44 (grade 9) Good No % 2 4.5 4.1 4.5 Quite good No % 8 18.2 16.3 18.2 Medium No % No 26 27 26 12 59.1 55.1 59.1 Weak % 18.2 24.5 18.2 With the result above, from early school year, I always try to find the best methods to design interesting lectures inspiring students so that they could turn what they have learned into productive language via oral communication, integrate with the developing tendency of foreign language subject: learning a foreign language is learn how to communicate but not focusing on grammar as in the past METHODOLOGY In this topic, I have to use the following research methods: 1-Method of theoretical study Reading of some books, references, find all documents related Internet, use games in English in the lesson 2-Method of investigation observations: To study the subject in depth security, I have investigated the status of teaching and learning English in secondary school, excitement of students in English Interviewed and attended English teacher organization, combined with professional groups and school administrators 3-Experimental teaching method: I was conducted to teach English using all information related to content game lesson 4-Method of summarizing lessons learned: After each lesson using forms of teaching in the subject, I usually summarize, draw each more personal experience; continue to have the changes, accordingly innovation in the next lesson After each stage I always compare, draw summary for general experience II CONTENT RATIONALE There are two kinds of material languages which almost every learner needs develop: receptive language and productive language Receptive language is the language factor possibly realized and not produced by learners Productive language is the language factor possibly used in speaking or writing Students will become familiar with realizing new factors through situations if those are repeated many times To practice using the receptive language, students have to learn how to reflex with new words naturally In curriculums, grammars are sentences or questions and answers practiced more than once It is essential that samples are given clearly and fully for students to understand what they have to in some class activities STATE OF THE MATTER RESEARCH According to the regulation of Ministry of Education and Training, every child is permitted to study two lessons with 45 minutes per lesson Schools could have three English lessons per week Hence, the period for students to get access to English is obviously short in comparison with the total communicating hours every week Moreover, English environment is restricted in classroom hours and students use Vietnamese when lessons end Children don’t actually need to use English except for the requirement of studying and examination All the requirements using English are practical and there isn’t other natural English environment for children Children are unable to concentrate on what teachers are delivering in a long period Consequently, they should be engaged in different activities, to perform various tasks by themselves with exercise types always changed and diversified communication situations Children often obtain and imitate knowledge quickly and also forget what have learned quickly They are naturally curious, dynamic and creative Children always demand to discover outside environment and interact with others It cannot be denied that they are interested and creative in games Students’ communication is not fluently due to fears of making mistakes Their ability to form a completed sentence is not still good They still confuse with the position of word class (verbs, preposition, adjectives, nouns and questioning words, etc.) PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS 3.1 Helping the students improve grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation Teachers and students should prepare the content of the club well so that students will have full knowledge of grammatical structures and vocabulary related to the topic - Help students have many benefits from joining an English-Speaking club by gaining problem solving, presenting ideas and presenting skills - Help students have more knowledges, have more new vocabularies, improve their grammars, so on… 3.2 Setting up the plans for English clubs.school Xi the Mang secondary  Choose the content of the club This is the most important thing that organizes the club successfully It must attract many members to participate and promote the learning and teamwork movement of club members  Encourage members' new ideas The students have many good ideas that can make the club more interesting  Set the time for club (Every month/every period….)  Divide the duty for each member 3.3 Building the rules of the club Club members are students who love English, volunteering make an application to join the Club, with the opinion of the student's parents The club operates under the organization and administration of the instructors but is under the management and supervision of the principal Instructors and club administrators are responsible for all club activities Club activities must be built according to the plan The members participate fully in Club activities Teacher can set up the costumes for the members They are very happy when they have a uniform for the club Xi Mang secondary school 3.4 Building the content for the club a The club's program of activities must be suitable for the ability of students in each grade level The topic of speech activities must close to the surrounding life, must be realistic and stick to the program mainstream study Focus on the topic in the textbook 6-9 to give for English club b we can combine many subjects such as English, music, painting, literature, history… - In club activities, the organizers must pay attention to the decoration and music, musical instruments for each program - To help students, realize that the English club is a good place for cultivating subject knowledge, sharing experiences in learning foreign languages, practicing listening and speaking skills, and participating in activities Teachers must know how to combine many subjects such as English, music, painting, literature, history… - I have combined with the music teacher practice English songs or other cultural performances for students and members, practice folk dance, aerobics, rhythm etc - The content and form of activities must change or renew continuously every month., every term or every year Xi Mang secondary school 3.5 Organizing the forms for the club Based on the requirements and purposes of the club, survey the situation, get the students’ opinion After determining the content for the activity there are many forms of club activities To welcome the new school year on September the students can show off their talents by singing English songs or dancing, playing music in English 6 Regarding to the contents about environment, students protect the environment from making the plastic things, collecting old objects that are no longer used to create new products Then they will bring their products to the club, make a showroom, and introduce their products Xi Mang secondary school Integrating with the literature when students roleplay some famous works Debating about the suggested topics Students debate issues related to youth, maybe that is an interesting film, a good book, the love…… Xi Mang secondary school Xi Mang secondary school It is interesting that there are “small markets” where students can buy, sell the things in their neighbor or the products they make That is a wonderful occasion for all members use daily language On special occasions such as Halloween, New Year, … We can organize the small parties, where members can relax and practice cross- culture 3.6 Where should we hold our English Club? a At an English School The easiest place to hold an English Club is in a spare classroom at an English school After classroom hours, most schools remain open for an hour or two so that teachers can prepare for their classes This is also a convenient location because some or all of the members will already be in the school and will have no excuses for missing a club meeting You will also have access to materials and television equipment To practice speaking (the new words, the sentences or the dialogues) in pairs, the students stand face - to - face in four lines Xi Mang secondary school After the first practice speaking, the teacher says: “the first and the third lines move two steps to the left, the students standing at the back move to the next line and continue to practice speaking in new pairs for the next times Xi Mang secondary school 10 Xi Mang secondary school b At a cafe, a restaurant To change the atmosphere, a cafe, a restaurant is a good option for a small conversation club This makes students more excited 3.7 Some activities during COVID – 19 pandemic During the last two years, due to the outbreak of virus, all the members of the English club can’t hold face to face meetings Hence, all the teachers at my school have used different platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet to organize the small discussions monthly Each month, the teachers can think of some topics for students to write essays about and then they can express their ideas after that It is clear that the English club helps to connect the students together and maintain their practice of skills as well as promote their passion for language learning + In October, the teachers gave out the topic: Discuss about the effect of COVID- 19 on our daily life All the members contribute to the topic effectively Here are the ideas from the members of the club: Presently the impacts of COVID-19 in daily life are extensive and have far reaching consequences These can be divided into various categories: a Healthcare • Challenges in the diagnosis, quarantine and treatment of suspected or confirmed cases • High burden of the functioning of the existing medical system • Patients with other disease and health problems are getting neglected • Overload on doctors and other healthcare professionals, who are at a very high risk • Overloading of medical shops • Requirement for high protection • Disruption of medical supply chain 11 b Economic • Slowing of the manufacturing of essential goods • Disrupt the supply chain of products • Losses in national and international business • Poor cash flow in the market • Significant slowing down in the revenue growth c Social • Service sector is not being able to provide their proper service • Cancellation or postponement of large-scale sports and tournaments • Avoiding the national and international travelling and cancellation of services • Disruption of celebration of cultural, religious and festive events • Undue stress among the population • Social distancing with our peers and family members • Closure of the hotels, restaurants and religious places • Closure of places for entertainment such as movie and play theatres, sports clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, and so on • Postponement of examinations + In November, we organized a competition to celebrate Teacher’s Day Each member could make a presentation about their favourite teachers and school They would make impression on the judge by drawings, pictures, songs or poems - Teachers in my eyes - Read poems and sing Xi Mang secondary school 12 Xi Mang secondary school - In December, we organized a competition named MasterChef Each competitor would make a video about how to cook a delicious food Then, they made a presentation on the meaning of that food Whoever made more impression on the judge would be the winner 3.8 Evaluating and having experiments Each month after organizing the club, teachers and club members will evaluate the advantages and disadvantages Students self-evaluate and evaluate other friends to learn and better The teacher gives the feedback The feedback should be motivated and constructive Members who have made many positive contributions to the club during their participation in activities will be rewarded 3.9 Creating attraction from the beginning of the lessons: - Brain gym exercise Starting the lessons with a brain gym exercise is really beneficial for teachers and students because it will power up our brain and help us process information much faster and more efficiently https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEY_7AIdveQ&t=10s 13 Xi Mang secondary school - Choosing songs, chants to promote language learning Children love song, games… By joining the actions in the songs, games, stories They will be confident to join in with the English lessons even though they might not feel confident enough to speak Actions can also help them remember words and phrases they have studied Xi Mang secondary school 14 Team teaching is an active method in which, the number of students is divided into groups in certain ways In each group, students have chances to boost listening and speaking skill and learn from one another They will be more confident in communicating in a foreign language Xi Mang secondary school Learning is also best facilitated when children are in a happy state of mind This state of mind can best be achieved through play or game-like activities 3.10 Organizing games flexibly in communicating activities A new teaching method could create an amount of inspiration and creativities for teachers Each teacher has his own unique creativities during teaching process If teachers repeat the same method in every lesson, students will get bored and even feel that lessons come as normally without inspiration and expectation Games are also considered to be an important entertainment form In fact, they could be used to consolidate material languages as shown above by the method attracting students In all every form, games could perform functions of exercises of practicing skills because we can review and introduce material languages in funny and well-organized ways through games The method of skill practicing section often goes with repeating with teacher-centered The method takes effects when students learn new words and sentence structures On the contrary, games are often open-ended and student-centered There are various types of games Several ones focus on vocabularies or sentence structures And there are games promoting both vocabularies and 15 sentence structures Here are several games that I usually apply into my lecture in my class: * Several games for practicing sentence structures: - Game: Pass the chalk Divide the students into or groups to write the new words or answers Each student writes only one new word (answer) Xi Mang secondary school 16 After writing, the student automatically and quickly passes the chalk to one of the rest of the group Finally, the groups with the most points wins the game Xi Mang secondary school In the same group, the answer of the latter cannot be the same as the one of the previous student - Game: Brain Blaster Put students into teams The teacher writes a category on the board 17 The first team rolls the dice and whatever number they get they need to supply that many answers Each team then rolls the dice and provides their answer Each correct answer is given a point They must not repeat the same answers as the other teams If a team cannot answer they lose a point for each one unanswered The first team to reach ’20’ points are the winners - Game: Name 10 Activity type: Vocabulary practice Name 10 is a simple warmer/cooler get students focused at the beginning or end of class In this activity students have to work in pairs or individually and write a list of ten things based on what the teacher says This activity is particularly useful to practice sets of vocabulary with students in class - Game: Mime/ TPR Divide the class into two teams and put a chair in front of the board facing the class Write a word on the board E.g car One person from one of the teams sits in the chair and that person’s team tries to explain the word on the board without saying the word If the person in the chair says the word, the team get a point - Game: Guess who or what it is Students dEnglish Speaking Club ribe someone in class without saying who they are dEnglish Speaking Club ribing The other students listen and then try to guess who is being dEnglish Speaking Club ribed After, get students to dEnglish Speaking Club ribe objects etc - Grammar (vocabulary) races 18 Xi Mang secondary school Step 1: Divide class into equal teams Step 2: Each team chooses a runner and a writer Step 3: Teacher says a word, the team will then work together to make a sentence then tell the runner, the runner then tells the writer and the writer runs to the board to write the sentence down Step 4: Correction - teams with the most correct sentences will win the game (A correct sentence is worth point and the incorrect one is -2) 19 Xi Mang secondary school - On the teacher side: * Create the learning inspiration * Impress students; help students raise the creativity in communication - On student’s side: * To be interested in practicing and seeing classmate practicing * Enhance listening and speaking skills * Draw inspiration in the lesson and create the feeling of looking forward to the forthcoming lesson * Help students to remember well each sentence and vocabulary in the lesson * Make the relation between teacher - student and student - student in class more close and encourage increasingly joyful atmosphere in class 20 Xi Mang secondary school * Like the investigation in the beginning of the first term, I used direct interview investigation method for the second mid-term THE INVESTIGATION OF FINALL TERM IN 2021-2022 Total number of students 44 (grade 6) 49 ( grade 8) 44 ( grade 9) Good No % Quite good No % 22 24 22 18 23 18 50 49 50 40.9 46.9 40.9 Medium No % 4 9.1 4.1 9.1 Weak No % 0 0 0 During the teaching time in collaboration with positive factors, thanks to the assistance and steering of Xi Mang secondary school Board as well as colleagues in school, I am very happy to creating close relation between teachers and students, encourage student’s learning passion, enhance the student’s fond of learning Teaching activity therefore achieves encouraging outcomes III CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS CONCLUSION 21 The project not only helps me get familiar with science investigation but also penetrate, discover and present the methods conducted in the experience initiative Thus, the quality of teaching and learning is more and more enhanced; students’ foreign language learning capacity is increasingly improved Students are more and more interested in the subject, they are looking forward to the upcoming English lessons Students who are shy, lazy, mispronunciation are significantly reduced SUGGESTIONS In order to enhance English communication capacity in school, I would like to make proposals as follow: - It is necessary for higher entities, bodies to help teachers stand the chance of being trained in terms of teaching secondary school course of English Therefore, teachers can be further provided with knowledge and learn from colleagues in order for improving profession skill - It is needed for entities, school board and parents to develop learning facilities such as computers, projectors, photocopy machines, scanners, cameras so as to help student enhance English communication capacity - Evaluation and merit is needed strengthening, and teaching creativity is necessary to be encouraged in each lesson The above proposals, which must have included shortcomings are solutions drawn by the real investigation and examination I am very welcome to receive suggestions and supporting ideas from higher entities, school Board and colleagues in order that my solutions are more efficient I hope that the experience initiative will play a small part in improving teaching-learning quality as well as the capacity of English communication in Secondary level Thank you very much! COMFIRM OF UNIT LEADER Bim Son, May 24th, 2022 I guarante that the experience innitiative is written by myself without coppying Writer Le Thi Hanh DANH MỤC SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM ĐÃ ĐƯỢC HỘI ĐỒNG SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM NGÀNH GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO HUYỆN, TỈNH VÀ CÁC CẤP CAO HƠN XẾP TỪ LOẠI C TRỞ LÊN Họ tên tác giả: Lê Thị Hạnh Chức vụ đơn vị công tác: giáo viên trường THCS Xi Măng, Bỉm Sơn, Thanh Hóa Cấp đánh giá xếp loại (Ngành GD cấp huyện/tỉnh; Tỉnh ) Kết đánh giá xếp loại (A, B, C) Năm học đánh giá xếp loại TT Tên đề tài SKKN Lựa chọn sử dụng phương pháp dạy từ môn Tiếng Anh Cấp Huyện A 2006-2007 Một số phương pháp giúp học sinh lớp THCS Nga Trường học từ vựng, từ loại mơn Tiếng Anh có hiệu Cấp Huyện B 2008-2009 Một vài biện pháp nâng cao khả giao tiếp Tiếng Anh Tiểu học Cấp Tỉnh C 2013-2014 Tạo mơi trường tích cực cho học sinh Tiểu học tiếp thu Tiếng Anh Cấp Tỉnh C 2014-2015 Truyền cảm hứng học Tiếng Anh cho học sinh tiểu học Cấp Thị B 2018-2019 Một vài biện pháp giúp học sinh Tiểu học tự tin sử dụng Tiếng Anh lớp học Cấp Thị B Cấp Tỉnh B 2020-2021 Cấp Thị A 2021-2022 How to make English lessons more communicative, more interesting and more memorable at Xi MăngSecondary school Improve speaking skill for students through English club activities at Xi Măng secondary school 2019-2020 ... make English lessons more communicative, more interesting and more memorable at Xi MăngSecondary school Improve speaking skill for students through English club activities at Xi Măng secondary school. .. speaking skill for students and help students to use English more effectively in living communication and I decided to choose the topic: ? ?IMPROVE SPEAKING SKILL FOR STUDENTS THROUGH ENGLISH CLUB. .. times Xi Mang secondary school 10 Xi Mang secondary school b At a cafe, a restaurant To change the atmosphere, a cafe, a restaurant is a good option for a small conversation club This makes students