Output file VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY,HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES VŨ THỊ PHƢƠNG THẢO AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH CLAUSE PATTERNS ADVANC[.]
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY,HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES - VŨ THỊ PHƢƠNG THẢO AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH CLAUSE PATTERNS: ADVANCES EMPLOYABLE FOR THE TEACHING OF SPEAKING SKILLS TO VIETNAMESE SEAMEN ( Nghiên cứu mơ hình câu đơn tiếng Anh : Những thành tựu sử dụng cho việc dạy kỹ Nói cho thuyền viên Việt Nam ) M.A Minor Thesis Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60 14 10 Supervisor: Assoc Prof Dr VÕ ĐẠI QUANG Hanoi - 2010 z iv Table of contents Page Table of contents Acknowledgment Abbreviations List of tables PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale Aims and objectives Scope of the study Methodology Design of the study Significance of the study PART B : DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1.1 Theoretical background 1.1.1 Clause patterns 1.1.2 Clause elements 1.1.2.1 Subject 1.1.2.2 Object 1.1.2.2.1 Direct object 1.1.2.2.2 Indirect object 1.1.2.3 Verb and its Classification in English 1.1.2.4 Complement 1.1.2.4.1 A subject complement 1.1.2.4.2 An object complement 1.1.2.4.3 A verb complement 1.1.2.5 Adverbials 1.1.2.6 Vocatives 10 1.1.3 Simple sentences 10 1.1.3.1 Definition of simple sentences……………………………………… 10 1.1.3.2 Intransitive Verbs in Simple Sentences…………………… 12 z v 1.1.3.3 Transitive Verbs in Simple sentences …………………… 12 1.1.3.4 Linking Verbs in Simple Sentences……………………… 12 1.1.4 Sentences classified in accordance with purposes of communication……… 13 1.1.4.1 Statements 13 1.1.4.2 Questions 13 1.1.4.3 Commands 13 1.1.4.4 Exclamations 13 1.2 Review of previous works……………………………………………………… 14 CHAPTER 2: SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF ENGLISH CLAUSE ELEMENTS 16 2.1 Subject………………………………………………………………………… 16 2.1.1 Syntactic features…………………………………………………… 16 2.1.1.1 Realization………………………………………………… 16 2.1.1.2 Position……………………………………………………… 16 2.1.1.3 Possible transformation…………………………………… 16 2.1.2 Semantic roles………………………………………………………… 16 2.2 Direct object…………………………………………………………………… 17 2.2.1 Syntactic features.…………………………………………………… 17 2.2.1.1 Realization………………………………………………… 17 2.2.1.2 Position.…………………………………………………… 17 2.2.1.3 Possible transformation 18 2.2.2 Semantic roles 18 2.3 Indirect object…………………………………………………………………… 19 2.3.1 Syntactic features.…………………………………………………… 19 2.3.1.1 Realisation 19 2.3.1.2 Position 19 2.3.1.3 Possible transformation 20 2.3.2 Semantic roles………………………………………………………… 20 2.4 Complement…………………………………………………………………… 20 2.4.1 Syntactic features…………………………………………………… 20 2.4.1.1 Realization………………………………………………… 20 2.4.1.2 Position……………………………………………………… 20 2.4.1.3 Typical features …………………………………………… 20 z vi 2.4.2 Semantic features…………………………………………………… 20 2.5 Adverbial……………………………………………………………………… 21 2.5.1 Syntactic features…………………………………………………… 21 2.5.1.1 Realization………………………………………………… 21 2.5.1.2 Position……………………………………………………… 21 2.5.1.3 Typical features…………………………………………… 21 2.5.2 Semantic features 21 CHAPTER 3: ADVANCED METHODS OF IMPROVING SEAMEN’S SPEAKING SKILLS TO IN VOSCO VIA ENGLISH CLAUSE PATTERNS 23 3.1 The Vosco Crewing Centre and its training requirement……………………… 23 3.1.1 Vosco Crewing Centre (VCC)……………………………………… 23 3.1.2 Training requirement………………………………………………… 23 3.1.2.1 Seamen……………………………………………………… 24 3.1.2.1.1 Seamen’s background of English before entering VCC 24 3.1.2.1.2 Seamen’s attitudes towards learning English ………… 24 3.1.2.1.3 Current speaking activities done by Seamen in class… 26 3.1.2.2 Teachers …………………………………………………… 27 3.1.2.2.1 The role of teachers in speaking activities…………… 27 3.1.2.2.2 Teachers’ teaching experiences ……………………… 27 3.1.2.2.3 Teachers’ opinion on teaching speaking skills……… 29 3.1.2.3 Difficulties that lead to seamen’s mistakes………………… 29 3.1.2.3.1 Psychological difficulties …………………………… 30 3.1.2.3.2 Cultural difficulties…………………………………… 31 3.1.2.3.3 Difficulties in linguistic competence………………… 33 3.2 Common mistakes made by Vietnamese seamen in Vosco and possible solutions……………………………………………………………………………… 33 3.2.1 SVC and SVA clauses types………………………………… 34 3.2.2 SVOC clauses type………………………………………… 35 3.2.3 SV clauses type……………………………………………… 36 3.2.4 SVO clauses type…………………………………………… 38 3.2.5 SVOO clauses type…………………………………………… 39 PART C: CONCLUSION 40 Recapitulation…………………………………………………………………… 40 z vii Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research …………………… 42 REFERENCES 43 APPENDIX I SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE II z iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, FIGURES AND CHARTS Page ABBREVIATIONS Vosco: Vietnam Ocean Shipping Company VCC: Vosco Crewing Centre IMO: International Marine Organization EFL : English functional language FIGURES Figure 1: Verbs classified according to the functions performed by the elements in the verb phrase Figure 2: Verbs classified in accordance with the types of complementation Figure 3: Verbs classified according to the number of constituents CHARTS Chart Seamen’s English experiences before entering Vosco …………… 23 Chart 2: The frequency of interaction with foreigners……………………… 24 Chart 3: Seamen’s attitude towards learning English ……………………… 24 Chart 4: Current speaking activities done by seamen in VOSCO…………… 25 Chart 5: Teachers’ teaching experiences …………………………………… 27 Chart 6: Psychological difficulties faced by seamen of VCC……………… 29 Chart 7: The difficulties in linguistic competence …………………………… 30 z PART A : INTRODUCTION This chapter starts with the rationale, aims and objectives of the study It then continues with the research questions The next section is the scope and the methodology This chapter ends with the design and significance of the study Rationale English has undoubtedly become an international means of communication in the global integration today As the spread of English to almost corners of the world, people are getting more and more aware of the importance of the language For many people in Vietnam, English is considered as a very necessary means in order to get a good job, especially a job in a foreign company Thus, there is a growing demand to learn the language for communication The English language program at the VCC is aimed at enabling the Vietnamese seamen to use basic English successfully in their job However, these seamen, who often work in the international environment, find it is very difficult to communicate in other countries because of different culture and religion In such situations, English is a unique mean which can help them to express their ideas In order to meet the need of many international shipping agencies, they need to have good speaking skills for their work purposes These oral skills are quite basic, but they contain many different genres After years of conversation practice and experiences, many Vietnamese seamen are still unable to engage in genuine conversations in target language Many of them satisfied themselves with “Yes / No answers” or use body language to express their ideas during the conversation In fact, if they had taken the initiative to say a bit more, they would have fulfilled their task better than they did For all the reasons I have mentioned above, speaking English fluently and accurately is an urgent task for both English teachers and seamen in VCC How to teach and learn speaking skills in most effective methods is our big question Understanding students‟ need and goal help teachers to classify and lead students gain their purpose In the real state of some Vietnamese Ocean Shipping companies, at the moment, using English clause patterns to improve conversational skills is one of the most effective ways to make seamen get progression in English And finding out the advanced methods employable for teaching speaking skills for Vietnamese Seamen is indispensable Aims and objectives z My specific objectives are: To investigate the syntactic and semantic features of English clause patterns To suggest advanced methods of improving seamen‟s speaking skills via English clause patterns Scope of the study The study focuses on the advanced methods of improving seamen‟s speaking skills in Vietnam Ocean Shipping Joint- Stock Company via English clause patterns Methodology In order to complete the minor thesis, the quantitative research was used to achieve the aims mentioned above: - A survey questionnaire was given to one hundred seamen The data was collected from the seamen‟s answers and their self- evaluation and feelings, which are quite difficult for teachers - The informants were asked to give feed back to each question mostly by sticking and choice With the seamen‟s serious working attitude, the questionnaire was successfully done without any discussion or cribbing The survey was carried out in the classroom context to ensure the truthfulness of the feedback - The fingers and charts were used to analyze the data - Through the analysis and discussion of the finding, some possible applications would be made towards the improvement speaking skills of the Seamen of VCC at Vosco The research questions The objectives of the research can be elaborated via the following research questions: What are the syntactic and semantic features of English clause patterns? What are the viable ways of improving seamen‟s speaking skills via English clause patterns? Design of the study The minor thesis is composed of three parts: Introduction, Development and Conclusion Part one introduces the rationale, aims and objectives, the research questions, scope of the study, methodology, and design of the study as well as the significance of the study Part two contains four chapters: - Chapter one reviews the literature related to the English Clause Patterns This chapter includes: (1) Theoretical background; (2) Review of previous works - Chapter two describes syntactic and semantic features of English clause elements z - Chapter three is an investigation into the current situation of teaching and learning speaking at VCC It also shows the survey questionnaire administered to one hundred seamen The settings, the participants, the results and analysis of the findings are also mentioned in this chapter - Chapter four shows some viable implications for teaching English clause patterns to Vietnamese seamen in VCC In this chapter, the common mistakes made by Vietnamese seamen and possible solutions are mentioned Part three includes the conclusions on the objectives, implications and suggestions for further research Significance of the study This study plays a crucial role for enhancing teaching method of speaking to Vietnamese seamen at Vosco Its implemented recommendations will make the application of CLT at VCC successful and effective z PART B : DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW The main aim in this chapter is to present some theories related to English clause patterns The first section overviews the theoretical background of English clause patterns, then comes clause elements Next step is the analysis of simple sentences vs complex sentences Then, the sentence types are mentioned The chapter ends with the review of previous works which related to clause patterns in English language 1.1 Theoretical background 1.1.1 Clause patterns According to David Crystal (The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, p 221) there are only seven basic types of English clause patterns (i) S-V-O (ii) S-V-C (iii) S-V-A (iv) S-V-O-O (v) S-V-O-C S: Subject Od: Direct Object V: Verb Co: Object Compliment Oi: Indirect Object Ca: Adverbial Compliment (vi) S-V-O-A (vii) S-V Cs: Subject Compliment Some Examples of the Seven Clause Patterns in English S V Oi Od SVC The weather is SVA The kids were SVO Emily is playing SVOO My father SVOC We consider her SVOA I will put the book SV Tom Cs Co Ca cold here cards will send my sister his money is eating 1.1.2 Clause elements z the best away ... investigate the syntactic and semantic features of English clause patterns To suggest advanced methods of improving seamen? ??s speaking skills via English clause patterns Scope of the study The study... mean which can help them to express their ideas In order to meet the need of many international shipping agencies, they need to have good speaking skills for their work purposes These oral skills. .. Thus, there is a growing demand to learn the language for communication The English language program at the VCC is aimed at enabling the Vietnamese seamen to use basic English successfully in their