Trang 12 I have decided to conduct a research entitled “A study on difficulties and solutions to improve writing skill for the second- year students at the Faculty of Information Technol
HUNG YEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - GRADUATION PAPER FIELD: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS A STUDY ON DIFFCULTIES AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILL FOR THE SECONDYEAR STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT HUNG YEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ NHỮNG KHÓ KHĂN VÀ GIẢI PHÁP CẢI THIỆN KĨ NĂNG VIẾT CHO SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ HAI NGÀNH CÔNG NGHỆ THÔNG TIN TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC SƯ PHẠM KĨ THUẬT HƯNG YÊN ) Supervisor: Hoang Thi Hoa Student: Nguyen Thi Hanh Student number: 11316021 Hung Yen – 06, 2021 HUNG YEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES - GRADUATION PAPER FIELD: ENGLISH LINGUISTICS A STUDY ON DIFFCULTIES AND SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE WRITING SKILL FOR THE SECONDYEAR STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT HUNG YEN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ NHỮNG KHÓ KHĂN VÀ GIẢI PHÁP CẢI THIỆN KĨ NĂNG VIẾT CHO SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ HAI NGÀNH CÔNG NGHỆ THÔNG TIN TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC SƯ PHẠM KĨ THUẬT HƯNG YÊN) Student: Nguyen Thi Hanh Student number: 11316021 Supervisor: Hoang Thi Hoa (Ký tên) Hung Yen – 06, 2021 i DECLARATION I certify that the thesis entitled “A study on difficulties and solutions to improve writing skill for the second- year students at the Faculty of Information Technology at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education.” This graduation paper is the result of my own research and the substance of this thesis has not been submitted for a degree to any other university or institution Hung Yen, May 2021 Signature Nguyen Thi Hanh ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To complete this graduation paper, I am deeply indebted to many people for their valuable advices and suggestions This paper could not have been done without the help, encouragement and support from my teacher, my family and my friends First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Mrs Hoang Thi Hoa– who has always been most willing to give me support His continual encouragement, careful reading, patient guidance made my job more enjoyable and easier My sincere thanks also send to the lectures at Faculty of Foreign Languages at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education for their useful lessons during four years studying here Special words of thank also give to all my informants for their willing participation in the study I greatly appreciate their generosity with their time and efforts in filling in the questionnaire, without them this paper could not have been done Finally, I wish to give my deepest thanks to my family, my friends who I have never enough words to express my great gratitude for their encouragement and inspiration iii ABSTRACT As English is the international language, learning English is more and more necessary In the process of learning language, learners are supposed to master four skills, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing Among these four skills, writing is considered as the most important one The thesis will study the subjective and objective difficulties of the students in learning the writing skill Then, it would like to find out the reasons for those problems and the solutions for both teachers and students in teaching and learning the writing skill Therefore, I applied the qualitative and quantitative methods to the research So the collecting data instruments like questionnaires, interviews were used to the study The results of the research will point out the difficulties that students meet when they learn the writing skill More importantly, the study helps me find out the causes of those difficulties so that I can work out the right solutions to the problems I hope that the study will make a great contribution to solve the difficulties of the students and help them succeed in learning writing skill iv TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF CHARTS vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale of the study 1.2 Aims of the study 1.3 Research question of the study 1.4 Scope of the study 1.5 Method of the study 1.6 Design of the study CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Overview of writing 2.1.1 Definitions of writing 2.1.2 The importance of writing 2.2 Writing letter 2.2.1 Definitions of writing letter 2.2.2 Types of writing letter 2.3 Factors causing the difficulties in learning the writing skill 2.4 Summary CHAPTER 3: THE STUDY 3.1 The participants of the study 3.2 Data collection instruments 3.2.1 The survey questionnaires 3.2.2 The interview 3.2.3 The procedure 3.3 Summary 10 3.4 Data analysis 10 3.4.1 The survey questionnaires 10 v 3.4.2 The interview for students 27 3.4.3 Main findings and discussions 27 3.5 Recommendations 29 3.5.1 For students 29 3.5.2 For teachers 30 CHAPTER 4: CONCLUSION 32 4.1 Summary of the study 32 4.2 Limitations of the study 32 4.3 Suggestions for further studies 33 REFERENCES 34 APPENDIX 1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS I APPENDIX 2: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERS V APPENDIX 3: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS IX vi LIST OF TABLES Table The percentage of student’s understanding in lessons when studying writing in class 13 Table The student’s opinion on the difficulties of the learning writing skill (unit: percentage) 15 Table The teacher’s opinion on the difficulties of the learning writing skill (unit: percentage) 16 Table – The teacher’s opinion on the difficulties of the learning writing skill (unit: percentage) 17 Table The opinion of the teachers and the students about the activities students like most in writing English lessons in class (unit: percentage) 20 Table - The student’s assessment of some pre – writing activities (unit: %) 21 Table - The teacher’s assessment of some pre – writing activities (unit: %) 22 Table - The student’s assessment of some pre – writing activities (unit: %) 23 Table – The teacher’s opinions about the effective methods to improve writing skill (unit: %) 25 vii LIST OF CHARTS Chart - The importance of writing skill (unit: percentage) 10 Chart - The assessment on difficulty of writing skill (unit: percentage) 11 Chart - The teacher’s opinion about the student’s interest in writing skills (unit: percentage) 12 Chart - The teacher’s and the student’s opinion on the trouble of learning writing skill of students (unit: percentage) 14 Chart - The teacher’s and the student’s opinion about the frequency of student’s practicing writing skill (unit: percentage) 19 viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS UTEHY: Hung Yen University of Technology and Education FIT: Faculty of Information Technology MA: Master of Arts TAK 17.1: The name of the second year Information Technology major students at Faculty of Information Technology, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education in campus 2, Pho Noi TAK 15.1: The name of the final year English major students at Faculty of Foreign Languages, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education in campus 2, Pho Noi 34 REFERENCES ❖ Books: Alice, O & H Ann Writing Academic English Addison – Wesley Publishing Company, 1996 Donn Byrne Teaching Writing Skills – Longman handbooks for language lecturers London: Longman, 1991 Daniels, The world’s writing system, 1996, p.3 Fowler Modern English Usage (1926-1964) Grabe, W & Kaplan, R Theory and practice of writing London and New York, Longman, (1998) John M Lannon, Technical Writing, 1989 Oshima, A and Ann Hogue, Writing Academic English Pearson Education: Longman;(2006), Raimes A Techniques in Teaching Writing, Oxford University Press, Oxford 1983 Richard Veit, Christopher Gould and John Clifford, Writing Reading and Research, 2001, 15th ed, Boston: Allyn and Bacon 10 Roger Gower, Steve Walters and Diane Phillips Teaching Written English Practice Handbook China: Macmillan Heinesnann, 1995, p.113 11 Sokolik, B Features of Academic writing, 2003, p.88 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press ❖ Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/letter-and-topic-sentences.html https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/grammar?gram mar https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/grammar?q=gram mar (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocabulary) https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/vocabulary?q=voc abulary 35 APPENDIX 1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS Dear student, I am Nguyen Thi Hanh - student of class TAK 15.1 of Faculty of Foreign Language at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education Now I am doing a research entitled “A Research on difficulties and solutions to improve writing skills for the second year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education " The aim of questionnaire is to understand the attitudes, explore the difficulties and suggest several solutions to improve writing skills for the second-year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education All your personal information as well as your answer will be kept confidential and not be used for other purpose Thank you for your help! My survey questionnaire is divided into two parts In the first part, I would like to obtain general information about yourself The second part is the survey questionnaire In completing this survey, please choose the answer by circling your chosen options, tick box, write your answers in the provided blanks Part I: General information ❖ Your gender: A Male B Female ❖ Your age: ……………… ❖ How many years have you been learning English? A years B years C 10 years D More than 10 years Part II: Answer the following question Research question 1: What are the second- year Information Technology major student’s attitudes on learning writing skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What you think about the importance of writing letter skills? A Very important C Not Important B Important D Normal 36 In your opinion, writing letter in English is ……… A Very difficult C Quite difficult B Difficult D Very easy How many percent of the lesson you understand when you learn writing letter writing skills in class? A More than 70% C 50% B 50% - 70% D Less than 50% How often you have troubles writing letter English in writing skills? A Always C Sometimes B Often D Rarely Research question 2: Which common difficulties the second- year Information Technology major students encounter in learning writing letter skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What are your difficulties in learning writing? Always Often Sometimes Never So many new words Having poor vocabulary and grammar Linking words Unfamiliar topics Don’t know the type of article What are causes of mistakes when you writing letter in English? A Topics are difficult and unsuitable with students B Grammar and vocabulary of students are not good C I often translate from Vietnamese into English when writing D I not have enough time to check mistakes after writing E I have limited general information F Others: ………………………………………………………… 37 Research question 3: What are effective solutions for second- year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education to improve their writing skill? Do you think that practice writing is necessary? A Yes B No If the answer if No, please move to the question How often you write English letter? A Once a week B Twice a week C Three times a week D More than three times a week E Every day F Others: …………………………… What the activities you like most in writing English letter in class? (More than once choice) A Writing in pair or group B Writing individual C Playing game to improve the grammar and vocabulary D Teachers give some suggestion for the next writing E Feedback from the lecturer and other students F Others: ……………………………………… 10 How you find the following pre - writing activities? Activities Brainstorming Asking question Listing Outlining Clustering Drawing Rapid free- writing Others: ………………… Useful Quite Useful Not Useful 38 11 Please point out the effectiveness of given methods Methods Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Agree 1.Teacher’s feedback Friend’s feedback Ask your lecturer or classmate your problems Work in pair or group when studying writing letter Practice writing English letter every day Read English newspapers, magazines, novels and stories to improve grammar and vocabulary Make outline and brainstorming before writing Others: …………… 12 Do you have any suggestions to improve writing English letter in writing skills more effectively? ……………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………… 39 This is the end of the questionnaire Thanks again for your cooperation! I APPENDIX 1: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR STUDENTS Dear student, I am Nguyen Thi Hanh - student of class TAK 15.1 of Faculty of Foreign Language at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education Now I am doing a research entitled “A research on difficulties and solutions to improve writing skills for the second year Information Technology students at Hung Yen University of Technical Education " The aim of questionnaire is to understand the attitudes, explore the difficulties and suggest several solutions to improve writing skills for the second year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education All your personal information as well as your answer will be kept confidential and not be used for other purpose Thank you for your help! My survey questionnaire is divided into two parts In the first part, I would like to obtain general information about yourself The second part is the survey questionnaire In completing this survey, please choose the answer by circling your chosen options, tick box, write your answers in the provided blanks Part I: General information ❖ Your gender: A Male B Female ❖ Your age: ……………… ❖ How many years have you been learning English? C years C 10 years D years D More than 10 years Part II: Answer the following question Research question 1: What are the second year Information Technology major student’s attitudes on learning writing skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What you think about the importance of letter writing skills? C Very important C Not Important D Important D Normal In your opinion, writing English letter is ……… C Very difficult C Quite difficult D Difficult D Very easy II How many percent of the lesson you understand when you learn writing letter skills in class? C More than 70% C 50% D 50% - 70% D Less than 50% How often you have troubles in English letter writing skills? C Always C Sometimes D Often D Rarely Research question 2: - Which common difficulties the second year Information Technology major students encounter in learning letter writing skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What difficulties you have in learning letter writing skills? Difficulties in writing letter skills Always Often Sometimes Rarely I often make grammar mistakes I have limited vocabulary I have limited knowledge about the general information I have difficulties in finding ideas and organize ideas Others: …………… 10 What are causes of mistakes when you write English letter? G Topics are difficult and unsuitable with students H Grammar and vocabulary of students are not good I I often translate from Vietnamese into English when writing J I not have enough time to check mistakes after writing K I have limited general information L Others :………………………………………………………… Research question 3: What are effective solutions for second- year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education to improve their writing skill? III 11 Do you think that practice writing is necessary? B Yes B No If the answer if No, please move to the question 12 How often you write English letter? G Once a week H Twice a week I Three times a week J More than three times a week K Every day L Others: …………………………… 13 What the activities you like most in writing English letter in class? (More than once choice) G Writing in pair or group H Writing individual I Playing game to improve the grammar and vocabulary J Lecturers give some suggestion for the next writing K Feedback from the lecturer and other students L Others: ……………………………………… 14 How you find the following pre - writing activities? Activities Brainstorming Asking question Listing Outlining Clustering Drawing Rapid free- writing Others: ………………… Useful Quite Useful Not Useful IV 15 Please point out the effectiveness of given methods Strongly Methods Agree Agree Strongly Disagree Disagree Lecturer’s feedback Friend’s feedback Ask your lecturer or classmate your problems Work in pair or group when studying English writing letter Practice writing English letter every day Read English newspapers, magazines, novels and stories to improve grammar and vocabulary Make outline and brainstorming before writing Others: …………… 16 Do you have any suggestions to improve writing letter skills? This is the end of the questionnaire Thanks again for your cooperation! V APPENDIX 2: SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE FOR TEACHERS My name is Nguyen Thi Hanh - student of class TAK.15.1 Now I am doing a research entitled “A research on difficulties and solutions to improve writing skills for the second year Information Technology students at Hung Yen University of Technical Education " The aim of questionnaire is to understand the attitudes, explore the difficulties and suggest several solutions to improve writing skills for the second year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education All your personal information as well as your answer will be kept confidential and not be used for other purpose Thank you for your help! In completing this survey, please choose the answer by circling your chosen options, tick box, write your answers in the provided blanks Part I: General information ❖ Your gender: A Male B Female ❖ Your age: ……………… ❖ How long have you been teaching English? ………………………………………………… Part II: Answer the following question Research question 1: What are the second year Information Technology major student’s attitude on learning writing skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What you think about the importance of letter writing skills? A Very important C Not Important B Important D Normal In your opinion, teaching writing English letter is ……… A Very difficult C Quite difficult B Difficult D Very easy How you think your students feel when learning to write? A Very interesting C Quite interesting B Interesting D Boring How often your student have the troubles in English letter writing skill? VI A Always C Sometimes B Often D Rarely Research question 2: Which common difficulties the second- year Information Technology major students have to encounter in learning writing skill at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education? What difficulties your students have when writing letter? Difficulties in writing letter skills Always Often Sometimes Rarely Students make grammar mistakes Students have limited vocabulary Students have limited knowledge about the general information Students have difficulties in finding ideas and organize ideas Others: ………… What are causes of mistakes when students write English letter? (More than once choice) A Topics are difficult and unsuitable with students B Grammar and vocabulary of students are not good C Students often translate from Vietnamese into English when writing D Students not have enough time to check mistakes after writing E Students have limited general information F Other: ………………………………………………………… Research question 3: What are effective solutions for second year Information Technology major students at Hung Yen University of Technology and Education to improve their writing skill? Do you think that practice writing is necessary? VII A Yes B No If the answer is No, please move to the question In your opinion, how often should students practice writing English letter? A Once a week B Twice a week C Three times a week D More than three times a week E Every day F Others: …………………………… What the activities you like most in writing English letter in class? (More than once choice) A Writing in pair or group B Writing individually C Playing games to improve the grammar and vocabulary D Lecturers give some suggestions for the next writing E Feedback from the lecturer and other students F Others: ……………………………………… 10 How you find the following pre - writing activities? Activities Brainstorming Asking question Listing Outlining Clustering Drawing Rapid free- writing Others: …………… Useful Quite Useful Not Useful VIII 11 Please point out the effectiveness of given methods Methods Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree While presenting, lecturers provide students with some questions to brainstorm Discuss with partners in pair or group Provide familiar issues or problems with students to think of the ideas Correct some remarkable errors only Students should practice writing English paragraph every day Students should read English newspapers, magazines, novels and stories to improve grammar and vocabulary Students should make outline and brainstorming before writing Others: ……… 12 In your opinion, what are the ways to help students improve their letter writing skill? Thanks for your cooperation! IX APPENDIX 3: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS Question 1: What you think about the importance of letter writing skill? Question 2: How often should you practice writing English letter? Question 3: What are your difficulties in letter writing skills? Question 4: What methods you to improve letter writing skills?