Guiding the 10 and 12th form students how to use articles in english 1 PART I INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale of the Study Nowadays, English is playing a very important role in the globle development Therefo[.]
PART I: INTRODUCTION Rationale of the Study Nowadays, English is playing a very important role in the globle development Therefore, the teaching of English has been improved in method of communicative.The importance of English is acknowledged by the Vietnamese government and as a result of the English language programes are made compulsory beginning at all levels of education Articles are the important knowledge in English and perform many different functions at all levels These are really difficult topics how to use articles appropriately but interestingly if we take deep investigation into them Not only students but also many teachers are challenged by the uses of articles They appear in part E of Unit 13 of the textbook of English 10 and part E of Unit of the textbook of English 12 – basic curriculum When teaching these points, I myself find it confusing to get students to memorize their usages The only way to keep them in our minds is to learn by heart and to practise regularly It is enthusiasm and career passion that motivate me to write this experience innovation with the aims to share some of my opinions on topics related to articles for grade- 10,12 students as well as help both my colleagues and my students pratically remove the difficultlies when teaching related lessons For this reason I choose the theme : “GUIDING THE 10 and 12TH FORM STUDENTS HOW TO USE ARTICLES IN ENGLISH” Aim of the Study The main aims of the research are: - To provide teachers and students with full theory of “ARTICLES “ in English - To provide students opportunity to practise using articles efficiently - To hope to provide reference materials for teachers or students who intend to master the language of English Method of the Study - Gather the information from the internet and reference books - Teach some classes based on the experience as the result of the reality of the long time process of my daily teaching at school - Asking for experiences from my colleagues - Gather students’ results and evaluate Objective and Scope of the Study SangKienKinhNghiem.net The objective of the study is articles that are often used articles exercises, including chose the correct articles to complete sentences, fill in blanks with articles, the tests about articles These exercises are collected from a variety of kinds of material sources The study was carried on students in classes 10A3, 10A6, 12 A5 and 12A6 at Lê Hoàn high school PART II: PROBLEM SOLVING Theoretic basis of the problem As mentioned, articles play a vital role in learning English Anyone who does not know them well are not considered as advanced learners Articles mainly occur around the textbook of English 10,12 and are the main contents of part E – Language Focus in English 10 at unit 13 and English 12 at unit The only way to master them is to learn by heart the uses of articles and to practise them many times This research hopes to be a good material for both teachers and students in their teaching and learning Practical basis of the problem Lê Hoàn high school is one of the high schools in Thanh Hoa province People here are mainly farmers with average and low standards As a result, students have not had much good chance of studying and using English until recently Students (and even their teachers) not have an English environment to practise Learning English here has not still been really important to students and people here Like other high schools in Vietnam, the students in this school have to take English as a compulsory subject in the curriculum and study it three periods a week for 37 weeks a year Therefore, the English teachers have so many difficulties in teaching English Working as a teacher for more than ten years, I myself understand the nature of the problem and usually find it necessary to find out the ways to improve the situation I try my best to this research with a view to getting my students and other teachers to benefit from it by giving them more opportunities to practise and to better their English Solutions to the problem After studying the content of the textbooks English 10 and 12 and ,especially the part E – Language Focus of units 13 and 8, and taking deep investigation into this problem, I have found out some useful measures to deal with this problem Based on the reality of the issue, I would strongly suggest some solution to the problems : SangKienKinhNghiem.net - For students who have not mastered grammar, school leaders or teachers need to increase more periods out of the curriculum in school - Teachers need more than an illustration which is accurate, concise and vivid for each grammar trait - For homework, besides asking students to exercises in textbooks, teachers should have available amount of tests related to language focus - Teachers should promote the use of teaching utensils combining with new teaching methods to improve the quality of learning English Here, I would like to give my strategies to simplify the related lessons in classroom I divide the theme into three main parts: Part A – Theory of articles , Part B – Practising exercises with articles and Part C- Doing the tests about articles Part A consists of the definition of articles- definite and indefinite articles, the basic rules for using indefinite articles, the basic rules for using definite articles and the cases we not use articles Part B gives students a chance to practise some exercises with articles at all levels And Part C tests the understanding of students about articles PART A : THEORY OF ARTICLES THE DEFINITION OF ARTICLES 1.1 Definition of Articles An article is a word used to modify a noun, which is a person, place, object, or idea Technically, an article is an adjective, which is any word that modifies a noun Usually adjectives modify nouns through description, but articles are used instead to point out or refer to nouns There are two different types of articles that we use in writing and conversation to point out or refer to a noun or group of nouns: definite and indefinite articles 1.2 Definite Article Definite article is the word 'the,' and it refers directly to a specific noun or groups of nouns Ex: the freckles on my face the alligator in the pond the breakfast burrito on my plate SangKienKinhNghiem.net Each noun or group of nouns being referred to - in these cases freckles, alligator, and breakfast burrito - is direct and specific Ex: After the long day, the cup of tea tasted particularly good By using the article the, we’ve shown that it was one specific day that was long and one specific cup of tea that tasted good 1.3 Indefinite Articles Indefinite articles are the words 'a' and 'an.' Each of these articles is used to refer to a noun, but the noun being referred to is not a specific person, place, object, or idea It can be any noun from a group of nouns Ex: a Mercedes from the car lot an event in history In each case, the noun is not specific The Mercedes could be any Mercedes car available for purchase, and the event could be any event in the history of the world Ex: After a long day, a cup of tea tastes particularly good By using the article a, we’ve created a general statement, implying that any cup of tea would taste good after any long day THE BASIC RULES FOR USING INDEFINITE ARTICLES 2.1 We use “a/ an” with a word that is singular Never use a or an with a word that is plural (e.g books, trees) or uncountable (e.g water, advice): Ex: I have a book I asked her for advice 2.2 Note that we use a in front of words that start with a consonant sound (a horse, a carrot) and an in front of words with a vowel sound: a, e, I, o (an apple, an elephant) Ex: I often eat an apple and a banana every day SangKienKinhNghiem.net 2.3 We use a/an to introduce a reson or thing for the first time This shows that the listener or reader doesn’t know what we are referring to After this first reference, we use the Ex: He was talking to a man The man was laughing She gave him a present The present was very expensive 2.4 We often use a/ an before nouns of Jobs and professions Ex: There are three people in my family My mother is a teacher, my father works as an engineer and I an a student 2.5 When we talk about things in general by using a singular now as an example with noun( meaning “any”or “every”): Ex: A baby deer can stand as soon as it is born 2.6 We use a/an in front of two nouns that are seen as a single unit Ex: a knife and fork, … 2.7 We use a/an when we mean “any one of particular type of thing” Ex: a cup of coffee, a paper clip,… 2.8 We use a/an with a unit of measurement( weight, quantity, time) or in number and quantity expressions Ex: - a little - a few - a lot of - a couple of - a dozen - a quarter - a great deal of - a large munber - a wide variety of - a great many of - a piece of SangKienKinhNghiem.net - a cup/ glass of - a bunch of 2.9 We use a/an instead of “one” in pattern a … of … with possessive or before some number Ex: a friend of mine, a huge number of … 2.10 We use a/an when following the words “many, such,…” and in exclamations Ex: Many a man has come to an end; I don’t like such a girl; What a lovely day! 2.11 We use a/an following an adjective when is mentioned by the words “so, as, too, how” Ex: She is not so big a fool as she looks.;He’s as intelligent a boy as you are 2.12 We use a/an before sb’s name to show that the speaker does not know the person Ex: There’s a Mrs Green to see you 2.13 We use a/an with a noun like house, engineer, girl, name refers to a whole class of people or things We use a/an with a noun to talk about just one member of that class.(A/an means “one”) Ex: a nice big house, an engineer, a girl,… 2.14 We use a/an in front of proper nouns( names spelt with a capital letter) for: Members of a family Ex: He’s a Forstyle.(= a member of the Forstyle family) Literature and art: It’s a Dickens novel;It’s a Brencht play Sometimes we can use the name on it owns We can say “It’s a Rembrandt painting” or “It’s a Rembrandt” 2.16 We use a/an with illnesses Ex: a cold, a headache, a sore throat,… SOME EXCEPTIONS IN USING INDEFINITE ARTICLES- A/AN - a uniform SangKienKinhNghiem.net - a university - a one- eyed man - a one- way road - a useful way - a union - a unit - a European - a universal - a euphemism - a eucalyptus - an hour - an heir - an honest - an SOS - an M.P - an M.A - an honorable man - an honor - an herbal THE BASIC RULES FOR USING DEFINITE ARTICLES THE DEFINITE THE: used to refer nouns which are definited We use “ the” in the following cases: 4.1 Nouns which were mentioned(= this, these, that, those) or have already mentioned: Ex: A boy and a girl were sitting on a bench The boy was smiling but the girl looked angry 4.2 Nouns which are definited by the situation Ex: Please take there letter to the post office 4.3 Used when a noun before a phrase limiting the meaning of it SangKienKinhNghiem.net Ex: the center of the city;… 4.4 Used to say or explain person or thing you mean Ex: You are the third person ask me 4.5 Used with adjectives to build a collective noun Ex: the rich, the poor,… 4.6 Used with adjectives to build an abstract noun Ex: the beautiful(=beauty) 4.7 Used to refer a whole family or a married couple Ex: Don’t forget to invite the Jordans 4.8 Used when we know that there is only one of a particular thing Ex: the sun, the world, the travel industry,… 4.9 Used to refer to the things in a general way Ex: the weather, the sky, the wind,… 4.10 Used to say that somebody or something is unique Ex: Sydney is the capital city of New South Wales 4.11 Used to give a person’s job title, or their unique position Ex: Dr Simons has taken on the position of Head of Department 4.12 Used before a superlative adjectives followed by a noun or defining phrase Ex: the biggest, the most expensive, 4.13 Used with a unit of measurement to mean “every” Ex: These apples are eight to the pound 4.14 Used with a singular countable noun in generalizations(but not with plural or uncountable nouns) This is common with the names of scientific instruments and inventions, and musical instruments: the violon, the piano, Ex: The telephone is a most useful invention; The horse is an animal 4.15 These common expressions have a general meaning and before parts of the day: the town, the country,…; in the evening;… 4.16 Used to refer to things that are unique: SangKienKinhNghiem.net Ex: - Organizations: the United Nations - Ships: the Titanic - Documents: the Constitution - Public bodies: the police, the Government - Titles of books and films: the Odyssey - Climates: the President - The people of the country: The French,The Dutch - Political parties: the Labour Party - Beliefs: the gods 4.16 Used in front of the names of public places Ex: The cinema, the zoo, the park, the station, the post office, the airport… 4.17 Used in front of the names of three countries: The USA, The UK, The Philippines THE CASES WE DO NOT USE ARTICLES ( NO ARTICLES- X) 5.1 Nouns refer to subjects Ex: To me, English is much more interesting than any other subjects 5.2 Nouns refer to the name of sports Ex: The boys are playing football in the park 5.3 Before the indefinite plural nouns Ex: I not like cats 5.4 Before uncountable nouns Ex: I often drink milk in the morning 5.5 Before means of transportation, but after “by” Ex: Although my father has a car, he often goes to work by bus 5.6 Nouns refer to color Ex: Red is not my favourite color 5.7 After possessive adjectives SangKienKinhNghiem.net Ex: My friend is very friendly 5.8 Before the nouns refer to meals Ex: My mother always gets up early to make sure that we have had breakfast before going to school 5.9 Before dates, months, years, seasons.( if they are indefinites) 5.10 Before the names of nations, continents, mountains, lakes, streets Ex: China is the country which has the largest population in the world I wish to travel around Europe for a month Known as the highest mountainin Vietnam, Fansipan mountain is also glorified as the roof of Indochina by the height of 3143m 5.11 Before abstract nouns Ex: Two things you can not buy with money are love and health PART B: PRACTICE ON ARTICLES I Exercises for the 10th form students Exercise 1: Choose the best answer The Atlantic is a a canal b a sea c an ocean d a lake youngest boy has just started going school a the/ x b a/ x c x/ the d an/ x eldest boy is at college a The /the b An/ the c The /x d a/ the 4.She lives in top floor of an old house a an b any c a d, the 5.She had very bad night, she didn’t sleep wish a a/ a b, an/ a c a / an d an/ an person suffering from shock should not be given anything to drink a An/ the b A/ x c A / the d A/ any 7.You’ll get , shock if you touch live wire with that screwdriver a.a/ a b an/ a c an/ the d the/ the 8.Mr Smith is old customer and honest man 10 SangKienKinhNghiem.net a the/ an b an / the c an/ an d the/ the 9.Do you go to prison to visit him? a the b x c a d an 10.On Sundays my father stays in bed, reading Sunday papers a the/ the b a/ the c , x/the d the/a 11.My mother goes to church in morning a the/ x b the/ the c x/ the d a church/ a 12.And in afternoon goes to visit friends a the/ any b the/x c an/ an d the/ the 13.I have little money left, let’s have dinner in restaurant a some/ the b a / the c the/ a d a / a 14 man is reasoning animal a x/ a b the/ a c x/ an d a/ the 15.Ann used to ride a motorcycle up and down road early in morning a a / the b the/ a c the/ the d the/ an ANSWER: 1.C A 3.C 11.C 12 B 13.D D A B 14 A 15 C A C A 10 C EXERCISE 2:Put a/ an, the or in each space to complete the following sentences I’m sorry I didn’t mean to that It was _ mistake There were no chairs, so we had to sit on _ floor Lucy has just gotten _ job in _ bank in Chicago There’s _ bookstore on _ corner near my house It’s very cold in here Can you close _ window, please? If you go past _ post office, can you get me some stamps? It was _ very hot day It was _ hottest day of _ year What’s _ name of _ woman who sat beside you at the dinner? 11 SangKienKinhNghiem.net How often you go to _ movies? 10 “Can you tell me where _ Room 306 is, please?” “It’s on _ third floor.” 11 He lay down _ ground and looked up at _ sky 12 You’ll find _ information you need at _ top of _ page 24 13 _ moon goes around _ earth every 27 days 14 He doesn’t usually have _ lunch, but he always eats _ good breakfast 15 If you live in _ foreign country, you should try and learn _ language 16 _ next train to Brighton leaves from _ Platform 17 Last year we visited _ Canada and _ United States 18 _ highest mountain in _ Africa is _ Kilimanjaro 19 _ Mediterranean Sea is the sea between _ Africa and _ Europe 20 _ Mississippi is _ longest river in _ North America ANSWER: a the a/ a a, The the a/ the/ the the/ th the 10./ the 11 the/ the 12 the/ the/ 13 The/ the 17 / the 14 / a 18 The/ / 15 a/ the 19 The/ / 16 The/ 20 The/ the/ II Exercises for the 12th form students Exercise 1: Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions We went out for _ meal last night _ restaurant we went to was excellent A a/ The B the/ A C a/ D the/ 12 SangKienKinhNghiem.net As I was walking along the street, I saw _ $10 note on _ pavement A a/ a B the/ the C a/ the D the/ a _ actress’s life is in many ways unlike that of other women A An B A C As D That the Kate plays _ violin in an orchestra A the B a C an D _ computer has changed _ way we live A A/ the B The/ the C A/ a D The/ a Excuse me, where is _ bus station, please? A a B the C D an What did you have for _ breakfast this morning? A a B an C the D Peter used to work in _ Middle East A B the C an D a My plane was delayed I had to wait at _ airport for three hours A the B a C an D 10 I have _ problem Can you help me? A B a C an D the 11 Barack Obama is _ President of _ United States A the/ the B a/ C the/ D the/ an 12 He never listens to _ radio He prefers watching _ television A a/ a B a/ the C the/ D / the 13 _ university will be built in _ center of the town A A/ the B An/ the C The/ a D An/ a 14 _ River Nile is _ longest river of all A / B A/ the C The/ the 15 _ Women’s Day is on _ eighth of March A The/ B / the C The/ an Answer: 1A 2C 3A 4A D / a D / an 5B 13 SangKienKinhNghiem.net 6B 11A 7D 12C 8B 13A 9A 14C 10B 15B PART C – DO THE TEST I Test for the 10th form students Question 1: There was _ piano in the corner of the room A a B an C Ø D the Question 2: It is fun to learn English on _ computer A a B an C Ø D the Question 3: Are they _ students? A a B an C Ø D the Question 4: Have you ever been to _ British Museum A a B an C Ø D the Question 5: We only have _ hour to complete the test A a B an C Ø D the Question 6: Hyde Park is a very large park in central London A a B an C Ø D the Question 7: I would like _ rice with my curry A a B an C Ø D the Question 8: He is English man A a B an C Ø D the Question 9: He is English A a B an C Ø D the Question 10: He is English A Ø B a C the D an Question 11: Children usually begin to go to _ school at age of six A the, the B a, a C Ø, the D the, a Question 12: Finally we got to house where our grandfather and grandmother had once lived A the B an C Ø D an Question 13: Sam is _ man to speak at the conference tomorrow A Ø B a C the D an Question 14: Birds can fly in _ sky A an B the C Ø D a Question 15: All work had to be done by _ hand when there were no modern machines 14 SangKienKinhNghiem.net A an B the C Ø D a Question 16: She is _ tallest girl in the school A a B an C the D Ø Question 17: Where is pretty, pink sweater I bought last week? A a B an C the D Ø Question 18: I want to see _ movie I don't care which one we see I just want to get out of the house tonight A a B an C the D Ø Question 19: Can you play _ piano? A a B an C the D Ø Question 20: Do you like _ my new glasses? A a B an C the D Ø ANSWER: 1-A 2-D 11-C 12-A 3-C 13-C 4-D 14-B 5-B 15-C 6-C 16-C 7-C 17-C 8-B 18-A 9-B 19-C 10-B 20-D II Test for the 12th form students Question 1: Jason's father bought him bicycle that he had wanted for his birthday A a B an C the D X Question 2: Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from France to United States A the / X B X / the C the / the D X / X Question 3: Rita is studying English and math this semester A the / X B X / the C the / the D X / X Question 4: Please give me cup of coffee with cream and sugar A a / X/ X B a / the / the C X/X/X D X / X/ a Question 5: When you go to store, please buy bottle of chocolate milk and dozen oranges A a / X/ X/a B a / the / the/ a C the / the / X / a D the / a / X / a Question 6: John and Mary went to school yesterday and then studied in library before returning home A the / X B X / the C the / the D X / X Question 7: There are only few seats left for …………… tonight's musical at university A a / X/ the B a / the / the C X/X/X D X / X/ a 15 SangKienKinhNghiem.net Question 8: Lake Erie is one of five Great Lakes in North America A a / X/ the B a / the / the C X/X/X D X / X/ a Question 9: What did you eat for breakfast this morning A a B an C the D X Question 10: Louie played basketball and baseball at Boy’s Club this year A a / X/ the B a / the / the C a / the / the D X / X/ a Question 11: Rita plays violin and her sister plays guitar A the / X B the / X C the / the D X / X Question 12: David attended Princeton University A a B an C the D X Question 13: Harry has been admitted to School of Medicine at Midwestern university A the / X B the / X C the / the D X / X Question 14: Phil can't go to movies tonight because he has to write essay A the / X B the / X C the / the D X / X Question 15: Last night there was singing outside my house A a B an C the D X Question 16: chair which you are sitting in is broken A a B an C the D X Question 17: Every year, thousands of tourists visit …… Nile River A a B an C the D X Question 18: Scientists sent expedition to Mars during 1990s A an / X/ the B an / the / the C X / X/ the D X / X/ X Question 19: Mel's grandmother is in hospital, so we went to visit her last night A the / X B X / the C the / the D X / X Question 20: I'm on night duty When you go to bed, I go to work A the / X B X / the C the / the D X / X Answer: 1-C 2-C 3-D 4-A 5-D 6-B 7-A 8-B 9-D 10-C 11-C 12-D 13-A 14-C 15-D 16-C 17-C 18-A 19-D 20-D 16 SangKienKinhNghiem.net Evaluation the results of the study 4.1 Findings of the study Specific finding: Over a year of teaching according to the previous given rules, I found that my students skills of doing the test ralated to the theme as mentioned above has improved remarkably This study has been used in the school year 2018- 2019 at classes : 10A3,10A6,12A5, 12A6 at Lê Hoàn high school I divided this research into four stages to carry out the assessment of experimental results: Stage1: Provide the theory and illustrative examples of articles Stage 2: Do exercises related to the theme Stage 3: Do the test Stage 4: Correct the test and collect the students’ results I applied the teaching method about articles that Imentioned above for some classes, results were received positively Class 10A3 10A6 Total Class 12A5 12A6 Total Number of student 40 48 84 Number of student 33 36 69 8-10 Boys 25 20 45 16 23 39 5-6.5