Using communicative approach to teach english to standardized teachers at travinh college of education problemsand suggestion

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES ——— USING COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH TO TEACH ENGLISH TO STANDARDIZED TEACHERS AT TRAVINH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION: PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN TESOL SUBMITTED BY: NGUYỄN HUỲNH TRANG SUPERVISOR: NGUYỄN HOÀNG LINH, M.A HO CHI MINH CITY-2008 CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I certify my authorship of the thesis submitted today entitled: USING COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH TO TEACH ENGLISH TO STANDARDIZED TEACHERS AT TRAVINH COLLEGE OF EDUCATION: PROBLEMS AND SUGGESTIONS in terms of the statement of Requirements for theses in Master’s Programs issued by the Higher Degree Committee This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other institution Ho Chi Minh City, 2008 NGUYEN HUYNH TRANG RETENTION AND USE OF THE THESIS I hereby state that I, Nguyen Huynh Trang, being the candidate for the degree of Master of Arts (TESOL), accept the requirements of the University relating to the retention and use of Master’s Theses deposited in the Library In terms of these conditions, I agree that the original of my thesis deposited in the Library should be accessible for purposes of study and research, in accordance with the normal conditions established by the Library for the care, loan or reproduction of theses Ho Chi Minh City, 2008 NGUYEN HUYNH TRANG ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I am deeply indebted to my supervisor, Mr Nguyen Hoang Linh, for all of his patient guidance, continuing encouragement and keen revision of this thesis Without his great help, this thesis would have never been finished I would like to express my gratitude to all of my teachers of TESOL 2004 at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, HCM City, for their interesting lectures and whole-hearted guidance from which I greatly benefited in my writing this thesis My special thanks go to Mr Le Van Don, Principal and Mr Vo Hoang Khai, Vice-Principal of TVCE for their support and encouragement in the process of doing the thesis I would like to thank all my EFL teaching colleagues and adult learners (standardized teachers from primary schools) in three classes who were kind enough and cooperate with me in this study I would like to express my gratitude to all of my friends and colleagues for their precious advice, support and encouragement Last but not least, my deepest gratitude and thanks are sent to my parents and my dear husband who took care of my daughter and my baby son as well as encouraged and supported me during the time of completing this thesis ABSTRACT Communicative Approach (CA) has been more popular in teaching English as a foreign language at schools, colleges and universities in Vietnam these days Although there have been many benefits since CA was in use, adult learners and teachers at Tra Vinh College of Education still experienced many problems in the teaching and learning process This study aims at: (1) identifying adult learners who are called standardized teachers in learning English when CA is applied at TVCE; and (2) identifying problems teachers experienced when CA is used as a teaching methodology to teach the adult learners To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire delivered to 125 learners, a series of classroom observations were completed in classes of adult learners, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with teachers in charge The results of the questionnaire show that the learners encounter various problems related to the learners’ psychological factors, their limited linguistic knowledge, the teacher and the learning activities factors, and some other factors related to the learners’ personal problems, the course book and administrators The data also reveal that these learners not show clear expectations towards CA Additionally, it is found out that the teachers of English who are responsible for classes of adult learners were unwilling to implement CA to teach these learners The results demonstrate that a mixture of Grammar Translation method and Communicative Approach was frequently used in these classes The results also reveal that the teachers demonstrated to have different problems when using CA to teach adult learners The data reveal that most of the problems were related to the learners, the teachers themselves and the institutional system The study also includes practical recommendations to make the best use of CA in teaching EFL for the adult learners TABLE OF CONTENTS page Certificate of originality i Retention and use of the thesis .i i Acknowledgements .i ii Abstract i v Table of contents v List of table i x List of figures x i List of abbreviations xii Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 The problem 1.2 Aims of the study 1.3 Scope of the study 1.4 Background to the study 1.5 Overview of the study 1.6 Limitation and delimitation Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW …………………………………………………… 10 2.1 Brief overview of some common English teaching methods in Vietnam…… 10 2.1.1 The Grammar- translation method……………………………………………10 2.1.2 The direct method………………………………………………………………11 2.1.3 The audio lingual method …………………………………………………… 13 2.1.4 The Communicative Approach……………………………………………… 14 2.2 Communicative Language Teaching……………………………………………….16 2.2.1 Communicative competence………………………………………………… 16 2.2.2 The role of the teacher and students in communicative classroom…………17 2.2.2.1 The role of the teacher 17 2.2.2.2 The role of the students 20 2.2.3 Communicative activities ………………………………………………… 20 2.2.3.1 Characteristics of communicative activities…………………………20 2.2.3.2 Types of communicative activities ………………………………… 21 2.3 Teaching adult EFL …………………………………………………………….25 2.3.1 The difference between teaching adult and teaching younger learners ……25 2.3.2 Some problems of teaching adult learners ………………………………… 26 2.3.2.1 What adult learners bring to a language class? ………………… 26 2.3.2.2 Problems of teaching adult learners ………………………………… 28 2.5 Previous research on teaching adult learners and communicative approach…… 30 Chapter 3: METHODOLOGY ………………………………………………………… 32 3.1 Research questions 32 3.2 Research design ……………………………………………………………… 32 3.2.1 The subjects 32 3.2.1.1 The learners ………………………………………………………… 33 3.2.1.2 The teachers ………………………………………………………… 36 3.2.2 Instruments 36 3.2.2.1 Learner Questionnaire 36 3.2.2.2 Class observations 38 3.2.2.3 Interviews 39 3.2.3 Data collection procedures …………………………………………… 40 3.3Summary ………………………………………………………………………… 41 Chapter IV: DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS…………………………………… 42 4.1 Data analysis ….42 4.1.1 Learners’ responses questionnaire………………………………42 to the survey 4.1.1.1 Learners’ motivation for coming to English classes and their perceptions of having the communicative competence ………………………………………… 42 4.1.1.2 Learners’ opinions about the Communicative Approach used by the teacher…………………………………………………………………………… ….45 4.1.1.3 Learners’ problems when Communicative Approach was applied as a teaching method ………………………………………………………………… 48 4.1.1.4 Learners’ expectations towards communicative approach ……………… 54 4.1.1.5 Learners’ recommendations to the English course at TVCE …………… .56 4.1.2 Results from the class observations………………………………………… 57 4.1.3 Result from interviews … 63 4.1.3.1 Explanations of three teachers after classroom observations ………… 63 4.1.3.2 Teachers’ opinions about learners’ motivation for coming to English classes and teacher perceptions of communicative competence……………………… 65 4.1.3.3 The implementation Communicative Approach to teach adult learners of teachers …………………………………………………………………………… 66 10 and prepare lessons at home 17.2 You find difficult to learn a foreign language when being adult 17.3 The course book is not consistent with your background 17.4 The course appropriate for book is not practicing communication 17.5 The English course is short 17.6 The timetable of the English course is continuous in weeks Part 5: Your expectations towards Communicative Approach 18 How much you like the following communicative activities? (please tick one choice that best suits your ideas) not not at all much 18.1 interview 18.2 role play 18.3 discussion 18.4 question and answer 18.5 communicative games 18.6 others:……………… 19 In English class, I like………… (please tick one choice that best suits your ideas) 125 so so much very much not at not all much so so much very much 19.1 my teacher speaks English all the times to help me practice listening skills 19.2 my teacher uses more authentic materials and visual aids in classroom 19.3 Listening, Speaking, reading, Writing skills are integrated with Grammar, pronunciation and vocabulary 19.4 my teacher corrects my errors indirectly and not frequently 20 Please write your opinions about the English course, the teacher, the classmates, or teaching facilities ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………… Thank you very much for your co-operation! 126 APPENDIX CLASSROOM OBSERVATION SHEET Class: …… .…… Learners' attendance … / …… Date: … / … / …… Lesson: Unit …………………………………………… ………………………………… Teaching aids Notes picture(s)/real object(s) article(s) handout(s) overhead projector cassette player Skills practiced Notes Listening Speaking Reading Writing Communicative activities Types of communicative activities Duration of activties interview survey discussion information-gap activities 127 communicative games others Frequency of time for learners’ activities and teacher’s talk Total time in one period 4.1 Learners’ activities 4.2 Teacher’s talk and other tasks/ activities Translation always often sometimes rarely rarely never never instruction comprehensive questions in reading texts or listening texts reading texts others Learners’ participation in learning activities always often sometimes activeness passiveness Transcripts ………………………………………………………………………… .………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………… .…………………………………………………………………… …… …………………………………………………………… …………… …………… 128 APPENDIX INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Part I: Questions for the teachers of three observed classes about their teaching performance Why did you delete some communicative activities available in the course book? Why were pair and group work rarely found in these classes? How about the other classes? 3.Why did you use a lot of translation in these classes? 4.Why didn’t you help the learners practice more on Listening and Speaking skills? 5.Why didn’t you use other authentic materials and visual aids in these classes? How often you use games in these classes? Do you think games are effective for the adult learners? Why/ why not? 7.Which teaching method did you use in these classes? Was it typical for your teaching method you used for the adult learners? Part II: Questions for eight teachers about their application CA to teach the adult learners In your opinion, why the adult learners come to English class? In your opinion, is it necessary to help adult learners have communicative competence in teaching and learning English? Why/why not? Please specify In your English class, how often you use the following ways to help learners practice English? 3.1 in pairs 3.2 in groups 3.3 role-play 3.4 individually 3.5 games How often you teach four skills of language for adult learners? How often are the following teaching aids used? a cassette player b overhead projector 129 c video d visual aids e others: …………… In your class, how often you speak English? How often you correct learners’ errors? During the communicative activities, what your learners usually do? What problems (related to the learners) inhibit you in adopting CA to teach adult learners? 10 What problems (related to the teacher and the institutional) hinder you in adopting CA to these learners? 11 What are other problems that prevent you in adopting CA to teach these learners? 130 APPENDIX One final examination paper for the standardized teachers at Tra Vinh College of Education Ủy ban nhân dân tỉnh Trà Vinh ĐỀ THI HẾT HỌC PHẦN Trường Cao đẳng sư phạm Trà Vinh MÔN: ANH VĂN ĐỀ A THỜI GIAN: 90’(không kể thời gian phát đề) Năm học 2006-2007 I Choose the best answer (6 marks ) Where ? a your sister works b does your sister works c does your sister work d your sister work “ Where is Tom?” “ a bath ” a He has b He is having c He was having d Is he having Where _ last week? a Ann and Chris were b were Ann and Chris c are Ann and Chris d Ann and Chris are I you a postcard if you tell me your address a will send b send c would send d would have sent Ken is a good player but he isn’t _ in the team a the goodest b best c better d the best Dick _ _in London when I last saw him a was working b worked 131 c is working d work A : Shall we go to the transport museum? B : No, I there It isn’t very good a have gone c was b went d have been Could you bring us more tea? a some b any c a little d little My wife can’t speak French She can’t work in Paris a If my wife speaks French, she will work in Paris b If my wife spoke French, she’d work in Paris c My wife’ll work in Paris if she spoke French d My wife’d work in Paris if she speaks French 10 Look at those clouds, I think it a will rain b going to rain c is going to rain d will be rain 11 John _ a round-trip ticket when he went to Egypt a had to buy c had to buying b have to buy d has to buy 12 These artificial flowers of silk _ at p.m last night a were made b were being made c was being made d was made 13 After he a semicircle around London, he was back on the high way a has completed c completed b had completed d was completing 14 Mathematics _an important part in our lives a plays b play c played d playing 15 The train when we got to the station a has just left b just leaves 132 c had just left d was leaving 16 I _ any of Picasso’s paintings before I _ the art museum a never saw/ visited c had never been seen/ visited b never saw/ had visited d had never seen/ visited 17 The final sound of “lose” is a /s/ b /z/ c /2/ d all of them are correct 18 Which word has the past tense ending pronounced differently from the others ? a affected b washed c added d visited 19 Which word has the first syllable stressed ? a inherit b argument c introduce d museum 20 Which word has the underlined sound pronounced differently? a weather b tenth c three d mouth 21 Which letter is silent in the word “spaghetti”? a /s/ b /g/ c./ h/ d /i/ 22 Which word has the underlined consonant pronounced differently? a shout b shop c sandwich d ship 23 Which word has the underlined consonant pronounced differently? a chip b chin c chew d chemist 24 Which sentence gets the rising intonation? a Is it windy today? b Where would you like to live? c What you need? d all are correct 25 People have seen a lot of films on T.V a violent b big 133 c aloud d busy 26 We lose more than a litre of sweat daily a every day b today c yesterday d whole day 27 He told me to shut up and get out a stand up b be prepared c clear up d stop talking 28 He was very fortune to win the prize a usual b talented c lucky d rich 29 You mustn’t enter the country without passport It’s a legal c early b illegal d great 30 The car couldn’t move There was a traffic on the M 25 a jam b stop c block d movement 31 You can cross the road on the _ a zebra crossing b traffic lights c crossroad d park 32 My sister has got married for a week She and her husband have gone to Dalat for their a anniversary c honey moon b party d all are correct 33 The director decided to call off the meeting a begin c cancel b end d continue 34 A thief is a person who other people’s property a steals b rob c burgles d a & b are correct 35 When you have no time to look after your children, you can ask a for help a cleaner b gardener 134 c nanny d seamstress 36 Some one who presents a T.V program is a _ a newsreader c T.V presenter b reporter d weather presenter 37 Someone who is trained for traveling in space is a (n) _ a astronaut b astronomer c driver d photographer 38 Which time expression(s)is /are used with the preposition “at”? a last year c Easter b midnight d b and c are correct 39 My is playing with her grandfather in the garden a two years old daughter c two-year-old daughter b daughter two years old d years old two daughter 40 Do you know the _ of this equipment? a important b importance c private d different 41 A: _ B: Yes Can you come tomorrow morning at 11:00? a Could I book a taxi the airport, please? b Could I reserve a table for this evening, please? c What time does the next train leave? d Could I make an appointment with Dr Clark, please? 42 A: Would you like to try anything else? B: No I’ll leave it _ a Certainly b Let me see c Thanks anyway d Yes That’s nice 43 A: _? B: Yes, thank you It was very nice a How was your meal b Did you enjoy your meal c How did you feel d a & b are correct 135 44 . _ a bottle of wine, please? a Could I have b Can you get me c I’d d a & b are correct 45 A: Would you mind going to the shops for me, please? B: a Good luck to you c Thanks How sweet of you b Ok! d I see it 46 A: Could I leave (a) for John, please? (on the phone) B: Certainly, Mr Ray Porter a line c message b letter d news 47 A: _ B: Five, please a Have you got any seats available? b We have a few seats left c How many seats you need? d We have seats in row A 48 A: Could you give me some information about flight time to New York, please? B: _ A: Thursday afternoon a What about a return flight? b What time does it arrive? c When you want to travel? d When you want to return? II Reading A Read the passage then choose the best answer (1.5 marks) LONDON London has a population of about 6.770.000 It lives on the River Thames, where the Romans landed nearly 2000 years ago From about 1800 until World War Two, London was the biggest City in the World, but now there are many cities which are much bigger London is famous for many things Tourists come from all over the world to visit its historic buildings, such as St Paul’s Cathedral, which has a huge dome, and the 136 Houses of parliament, where you can see and hear the famous clock, Big Ben They also come to visit its theaters, its museums and its many shops such as Harrods, where you can buy anything Like many big cities, London has problems with traffic and pollution Over 1.000.000 people a day use the London Underground, but there are still too many cars on the streets The air isn’t clean, but it is cleaner than it was 100 years ago Until the Clean Air Act in 1956, London was famous for its fog or smog, which is a mixture of smoke and fog The best thing about London is the park There are five in the city center But my children’s favorite place is Hamleys, which is the biggest toyshop in the world It is 200 years old London used to be the biggest city in the world _ a because it has a population of about 6.770.000 b because the Romans landed nearly 2000 years ago c from about 1800 until the second World War d All are correct The tourists can visit many things in London such as a The Houses of Parliament c the Restaurants b The Big Ben d a and b are correct _ are problems in London a population and pollution c traffic and pollution b traffic and poverty d poverty and crimes _ people a day use the London underground a More than 1956 c Over 10.000 b More than 2000 d Over 1.000.000 How many parks are there in the city center? a one c four b two d five Hamleys is a the biggest park c the theater b the biggest toyshop d the museum 137 B.Read this passage carefully and choose the best answer (1.5 marks) With the exception of English, Spanish is now the most common language spoken in the United States according to a report from the United States Census Bureau The report says that the number of Spanish speakers increased by about 50 percent between 1980 and 1990 This brings the total number to over 17 million In some neighborhoods of New York city, Miami (with a 60 percent Spanish-speaking population) and many Texan cities, you don’t hear much English at all In some cities you often see signs and advertisements in Spanish The Census Bureau says that one in seven U.S residents speaks a language other than English at home This figure has risen from 23.1 million a decade ago to 31.8 million Choose the correct answer: Spanish is considered a the most common language spoken in the United States b the second common language spoken in the United States, after English c the least popular language spoken in the United States d the most popular language spoken in the United States From 1980 to 1990 the number of Spanish speakers increased by a 40% c over 50% b nearly 60% d nearly 50% In some neighborhoods of New York city, Miami and many Texan cities, people a speak English all the time b speak English more than Spanish c usually speak Spanish d None is correct According to the Census Bureau, _ a all the U.S residents speak a language other than English at home b all the U.S residents speak English at home c three in seven U.S residents speak a language other than English at home d one in seven U.S residents speaks a language other than English at home In some cities you often see in Spanish 138 a signs b newspapers c advertisements d a and c are correct What has risen from 23.1 million a decade ago to 31.8 million? a The people who speak a language other than English at home in the U.S.A b The people who speak a language other than English at home in Spain c The people who speak a language other than English at home in some countries d None is correct C Fill in the blank space with ONE suitable word (1 mark): There is even a workman on a ladder, we have to decide ourselves what he is _ (1), cleaning windows, watering plants or fixing something, _ (2) we can’t see What, one wonders, is the mood of the woman (3) is caught staring at the camera from behind the heap of melons, oranges, tomatoes and more or the thought of the woman who is sitting (4) her back to the wall and eating apricots? 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