An investigation into the use of powerpoint in teaching english reading for grade 7 students at my tho town junior high school dong thap province

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES LE THI CAM TIEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF POWERPOINT IN TEACHING ENGLISH READING FOR GRADE STUDENTS AT MY THO TOWN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, DONG THAP PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING HUE, 2013 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES LE THI CAM TIEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF POWERPOINT IN TEACHING ENGLISH READING FOR GRADE STUDENTS AT MY THO TOWN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, DONG THAP PROVINCE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 60140111 SUPERVISOR: PHAM HOA HIEP, D.Ed HUE, 2013 BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ-ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ -LÊ THỊ CẨM TIÊN KHẢO SÁT VIỆC SỬ DỤNG POWERPOINT TRONG GIẢNG DẠY KĨ NĂNG ĐỌC TIẾNG ANH LỚP TẠI TRƢỜNG THCS THỊ TRẤN MỸ THỌ TỈNH ĐỒNG THÁP LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ LÝ LUẬN VÀ PHƢƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 60140111 NGƢỜI HƢỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: TIẾN SĨ PHẠM HÒA HIỆP HUẾ, 2013 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby acknowledge that this study is mine The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true and have not been published elsewhere Author LE THI CAM TIEN i ABSTRACT This research aims to get to know about teachers‟ perception towards the use of PowerPoint ( PPT) in teaching reading lessons and students‟ attitudes towards PPT as well as the difficulties in and suggestion for teaching and learning English reading with PPT The data were collected by means of questionnaires, interviews and observation with EFL teachers and English students at grade at My Tho town junior high school The questionnaires were delivered to 80 students from grade and five English teachers In addition, interviews were carried out with teachers and students Moreover, the researcher also observed two English teachers in two reading periods The findings reveal that the teachers in the study supported the use of PPT in reading lessons Therefore, they were able to design much more games and activities which apply PPT in teaching reading lessons As the results, the students became more active, involved and encouraged in the lesson Essentially, most students had positive attitudes toward learning with PPT However, the teachers and students in the study faced many difficulties in conducting teaching and learning reading with PPT The teachers did not have sufficient time, ability and health in designing reading lesson with PPT and students were distracted their concentration on the reading PPT lessons because of small font size, harmonized colors and encrypted fonts For better outcomes, there should be the cooperation between students and teachers at the junior high school ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Management Board of Hue University College of Foreign Languages for giving me a chance to study the M.A thesis I would like to send my deepest appreciation to my supervisor Dr Pham Hoa Hiep for his insightful guidance and support Without his professional advice and value guidance, the completion of this thesis would have been extremely difficult I also take the chance to express my deepest gratitude to all the instructors of the MA class first course who have provided me valuable knowledge during the period I studied at Tien Giang University Thank you very much for your assurance and guidance You are always the good examples for me to follow My special thanks also go to the administrators of My Tho town junior high school who have givens me the best condition to access the classes to the research I am also owed my thanks to all the students who have enthusiastically took part in the research Finally, I must express my deep thanks to my beloved family, my closed friends and our classmates, who have given me their best regards, helpful advice as well as precious support during my study iii TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I ABSTRACT II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS III TABLE OF CONTENTS IV LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .VII CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.2 Rationale .1 1.3 Research aims 1.4 Research scope 1.5 Thesis structure .3 CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW .5 2.1 Overview of Microsoft Power Point program .5 2.1.1 Definition of Microsoft Power Point program? 2.2 The advantages and disadvantage of Microsoft Power Point program .6 2.3 Some considerations for designing lesson plan on Microsoft Power Point program .8 2.4 Procedures of designing lesson plans on PowerPoint 2.4.1 Preparing stage: .9 2.4.2 On-computer designing stage 2.4.3 Projecting stage 10 2.5 The use of Microsoft Power Point program in teaching English reading skill 10 2.5.1 The use of Microsoft Power point in teaching English 10 2.5.2 The use of Microsoft Power Point in teaching English reading skill 11 2.5.3 The process of designing a reading lesson plan including Microsoft Power Point 12 2.5.4 Steps of designing a reading lesson on Microsoft PowerPoint .13 2.6 The reality of Application Technology in the classroom in Vietnam 15 2.7 PowerPoint lesson plans using at My Tho Town (MTT) Junior High School 15 2.8 The previous relevant studies 17 iv 2.9 Conclusion 17 CHAPTER - METHODOLOGY 18 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Research approach 18 3.3 Research site 18 3.4 Participants 18 3.5 Instruments for Data Collection 19 3.5.1 The Questionnaires .19 3.5.2 The Interview .21 3.5.3 Observation 22 3.6 Data analysis .22 3.7 Procedure 23 3.8 Conclusion 24 CHAPTER 4- RESULTS 25 4.1 Introduction 25 4.2 Results from students‟ questionnaires 25 4.2.1 Students' attitudes towards cognitive learning .25 4.2.2 Students’ interest 26 4.2.3 Classroom interactions 27 4.2.4 Students' difficulties 28 4.3 Results of teachers‟ questionnaires and class observations 29 4.3.1 Overall information about teachers’ use of PPT 29 4.3.2 Teachers’ design of PPT lesson 32 4.4 Results from interviews .36 4.4.1 Teacher 36 4.4.2 Students 39 CHAPTER 5- DISCUSSION, IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION 42 5.1 Introduction 42 5.2 Summary of the key findings 42 5.2.1 Teachers’ perception of PPT use in teaching reading 42 5.2.2 Students‟ attitudes towards PPT use .43 5.3 Discussions 44 v 5.4 Implications 47 5.5 Limitations of study 48 5.6 Suggestions for further research 48 5.7 Conclusions 49 REFERENCES 50 APPENDICES 55 APPENDIX .55 APPENDIX 1A 60 APPENDIX .66 APPENDIX 2A 71 APPENDIX .75 APPENDIX .76 APPENDIX .77 APPENDIX 81 APPENDIX 83 APPENDIX 84 APPENDIX 91 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read Only Memory DOET: Department of Education and Training ESL: English as Second Language EFL: English as Foreign Language IT: Information Technology MOET: Ministry of Education and Training MTT: My Tho Town Junior High School M: Mean score PPT : PowerPoint SD: Standard Deviation SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences vii APPENDIX LESSON PLAN Date of teaching:…………………………… UNIT THIRTEEN: ACTIVITIES Period :………81………………………………… Week :………27…………………………… Lesson:1 – Sport (A , )………… I.Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to reading comprehension sports and some new vocabulary II.Language Contents: 1.Grammar 2.Vocabulary : a skate-boarding, a roller skating, roller blading, (to) surprise, (to)organize………………… III.Techniques : … Brainstorming, slap the board, questions prediction, guessing words, comprehension questions, find someone who IV.Teaching aids :… Poster, Textbook, chalk, picture, cues V.Procedures T Contents WARM UP : Brainstorming Baseball badminton sports Swimming soccer/ T‟s activities Ss‟ activities -introduces the game -listen -models -repeat -divides class into -A & B teams -Come to the board football and write the name of sports 84 Volleyball *PRESENTATION: -elicits -listen and answer *Pre-teach vocabulary: -models -repeat - a skate-boarding : trượt ván -writes -copy -the same to last lesson -review -introduces the picture -look -gives some questions -read -runs through -close their books -gives feedback -listen - a roller-skating : trượt patin (loại giày có bánh) - a roller-blading : trượtt patin (loại giày có bánh bọc đế) - (to) surprise : ngạc nhiên - (to) organize : tổ chức *checking : Slap the board *Set the scene : PICTURE *Pre-reading : -Questions prediction: Which sports you think are the top ten in USA ? What other sports you think -answer the are most popular both in USA and questions by VN ? predicting *while-reading : -open their book -read and check prediction -read the text and -guessing words Increase check their thay Volunteer gia tăng In stead of tình nguyện predicting -writes the words and it -read meaning on the board -match them -checks 85 -comprehension questions a What sports you take part in ? -introduces the questions -read the questions b why did the people organize? -runs through -listen Sport? -read the text and c What are the two activities of the -instructs school sport? answer the questions d which days of the week you play sport? -checks -read the answer e who often take part in sport with sentences you? -correct the *Post-reading : mistakes -Find someone who -gives the table -instructs Name Do you like sports best ? -checks soccer badminton Walking -draw -listen -go around class and ask friends to swim get information -report *Homework: -Learn by heart the new words - rewrite the answers questions at -gives exercise at home part 4/ 132 Lesson Plan 86 -copy Date of teaching:…………………………… UNIT FOURTEEN: FREETIME FUN Period :……88…………………………………… Week :………30…………………………………… Lesson:5–(B3,4 ) page 145-146… I.Objectives: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to reading a text to understand the details about popular TV programs II.Language Contents: 1.Grammar 2.Vocabulary : …an audience, a band, a contestant, satelite, a knowledge III.Techniques : … Matching, Slap the board, T/F statements predictions, Guessing words, Comprehension questions, Find someone who… IV.Teaching aids :… Poster, Textbook, chalk, picture, cues V.Procedures T‟s activities Ss‟ activities WARM UP : MATCHING -Writes the -read and look Pop music PICTURE words on the left at the picture Imports PICTURE T Contents hand side and pictures on the Contest PICTURE right of handside -listen -instructs -match them -checks -elicits -listen and 87 *PRESENTATION: -models answer -Pre-teach vocabulary : -writes -repeat - an audience : khán giả -copy - a band : ban nhạc -The same to - a contestant : người thi (thí sinh) last lesson - satelite : vệ tinh -introduces the -listen lesson -a knowledge : kiến thức *checking : - match them Slap the board -Introduces the *PRE-READING : -read statements -Set the scene : Picture -close their -runs through -T/F statements prediction: books Pop music, contests, imports, are popular -listen TV programs Teenagers like to listen to classical music There are contests of knowledge The contestants are students, workers, TV viewers Import are very expensive -instructs *WHILE-READING : -gives feedback -write T/F for these -Read and check statements by -Answer keys : predicting T F T T -open their F -writes some 88 book -Guessing words Artist ca sĩ Singer biểu diễn (to) perform nghệ sĩ mains words on -read and the left of check handside and it‟s -read meaning on the -match them other by drawing the -Comprehension questions lines between What they like to hear and see ? In contests programs, who are the contestants? What imports usually include ? -introduces the them questions -read -runs through -listen -gives request -read the text -Answer keys : and answer the They like hearing the lastest pop music questions and see the shows of their favorite artist -checks In contests programs, the contestants are -correct the students, workers or family members mistakes They usually include police and hospital series *POST-READING : -introduces the Find someone who Name Pop Contest Imports music Hoa example -write sentences and -practice ask the form of table and answer to -instructs V -models 89 find out the information Ex: What TV programs you want to hear? -I want to hear pop-music -gives the *Homework: exercise at home -write -Learn by heart the new words -Practice read the text 90 APPENDIX INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION TEACHERS The first interview is between the researcher and teacher 1, a ten-year experienced English teacher at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Researcher: Ok! How often you teach reading skill lesson through PowerPoint? Interviewee: Well, very often I like teaching with PPT because it brings me a lot of benefits For instance, I can present interesting images and sounds to get my students involved in the lesson Researcher: So, what advantages your students get when students get when studying with PPT comparison with traditional class? Interviewee: My students are more active and involved in the reading lesson thanks to images and sounds Moreover, they are eager to participate in pair, group, and team work And they are cooperative and interactive with the teacher Researcher: It sounds that you like teaching with PPT a lot So What advantages you get when you apply in your teaching? Interviewee: Researcher: Ok So have you got any difficulties in teaching reading skill with PPT? Interviewee: I can not move much in class because of adjusting the mouse Although I prepared the lesson well at home, the power is cut off This makes me embarrassed and loss control my lesson 91 Researcher: What you think about the use of PPT lessons in class? Interviewee: I think that teacher should use PPT frequently because PPT helped myclass be lively, fun and interesting Researcher: How you design English PPT in reading skill lesson? Interviewee: To remember what the content and the next steps are, I often watch and try teaching on the computer before teaching in class Researcher: Do you have any suggestions that would improve your use of PPT in future lessons? Interviewee: I suggest that an electronic library be found by DOET so that teachers can share PPT lessons as well as materials to save time designing PPT lessons Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The second interview is between the researcher and teacher 2, a five-year experienced English teacher at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Researcher: Ok! How often you teach reading skill lesson through PowerPoint? Interviewee: Well, very often I like teaching with PPT because it brings me a lot of advantages For instance, With PPT lesson, I not need write much on the board so I have more time for students Researcher: So, what advantages your students get when students get when studying with PPT comparison with traditional class? Interviewee: My students are more active and involved in the reading lesson thanks to images and sounds Moreover, they are eager to participate in pair, group, and team work And they are cooperative and interactive with the teacher 92 Researcher: It sounds that you like teaching with PPT a lot So What advantages you get when you apply in your teaching? Interviewee: PPT format is easy to edit and can be adapted for all levels of students It can be used from class to class and from year to year Researcher: So have you got any difficulties in teaching reading skill with PPT? Interviewee: As I teach reading with PPT, I give many tasks for students Therefore, students have the chance to practice reading skill better Therefore, I don‟t have any difficulties Researcher: What you think about the use of PPT lessons in class? Interviewee: I think that teacher should use PPT frequently because it is the best way to prepare a good lesson Researcher: How you design English PPT in reading skill lesson? Interviewee: Teachers not forget that students need time to take notes and digest the content Unless they catch up with the lesson, they will not have knowledge for revision later Researcher: Do you have any suggestions that would improve your use of PPT in future lessons? Interviewee: We need to have an available picture‟s library so that we can design lesson with PPT conveniently Reaseacher: Thanks a lot STUDENTS The first interview is between the researcher and student A, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? 93 Interviewee: Ready to help you Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? Interviewee: I think that teachers could remember the content of slides, which meant they invested their teaching Moreover, I can play games see many pictures relation with my reading lesson and this is the reason why I like learning with PPT As a result, I can the test with reading skill rather good and gets higher marks Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: It was difficult to take notes the lessons because teachers transited too quickly for students to write in time Reaseacher: What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: Teachers need to improve their ability PPT to make lessons more effective and the school equipped facility more perfect In addition, the school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The second interview is between the researcher and student B, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? 94 Interviewee: When teachers used PPT in reading skill, I often watch pictures and the effect of slides makes me motivate to learn Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: It was difficult to take notes the lessons because teachers transited too quickly for students to write in time Reaseacher :What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: Teachers should give more time for them to copy the lesson In addition, the school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The third interview is between the researcher and student C, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? Interviewee: As I study reading skill with PPT, I always look at the screen to discover the lesson and the pictures and the effects interestingly Therefore, my classroom becomes livelier when answering the questions of teachers Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: the font was encoded so the students not know what the words are to copy Reaseacher :What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: I suggest that teacher should check the font before showing the slide to avoid the font was encrypted In addition, the school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut 95 Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The fourth interview is between the researcher and student D, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: I always look at the screen to discover the lesson and the pictures and the effects interestingly Therefore, my classroom becomes livelier when answering the questions of teachers Interviewee: I must look at the screen and take part in activities frequently Therefore, I have sometimes forgotten to copy the lesson down Reaseacher : What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: Teachers should give more time for them to copy the lesson In addition, The school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The fifth interview is between the researcher and student E, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? 96 Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? Interviewee: PPT made them pay more attention to learning reading skill and made the classroom atmosphere more exciting Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: Some friends are at the bottom of the class can not see the content and teacher give too less time for them to take notes Reaseacher :What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: teachers should give more time for them to copy the lesson In addition, The school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut Reaseacher: Thanks a lot The sixth interview is between the researcher and student F, a grade- seven student at My Tho town junior high school Researcher: Hello How are you? Interviewee: I‟m fine, thanks And you? Researcher: Fine, thanks I have been doing a research on PPT and its application on teaching reading grade I need your help May I ask you some questions? Interviewee: Ready to help you Reaseacher: What you find most useful for your study when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson Plans? Interviewee: PPT made us pay more attention to learning reading skill and made the classroom atmosphere more exciting 97 Reaseacher : What you find the least useful when your English teacher uses PowerPoint lesson plans? Interviewee: The encoded fonts make us loss our inspiration in the reading lesson Reaseacher :What are your suggestions for the improvement of PowerPoint use in teaching and learning your class? Interviewee: As we study with PPT, the PPT lesson has many harmony colors between the words and the background colors like white and yellow Therefore, we can not see the content clearly In addition, The school should prepare the support equipment in case the power cut Reaseacher: Thanks a lot THE END 98