skkn cấp tỉnh applying mindmaps to teaching english vocabulary and developing speaking skill for 4th graders at minh tien primary school

The fact is that Vocabulary is the basic foundation to build sentences which develop presentation skill for students, So Teachers need to update the latest methods to motivate students t

NGOC LAC DISTRICT PEOPLE’S COMMITTEE

MINH TIEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE INITIATIVES

APPLYING MINDMAPS TO TEACHING VOCABULARY AND DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS FOR 4th GRADERS

AT MINH TIEN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Writer:Tran Thi Viet Huong

Job: Teacher

Working place: Minh Tien primary school

Experience initiatives’subject: English

THANH HOA, YEAR 2024

CATALOGUE

Reference materials

Catalogue of the experience initiatives which were qualified in the past few years

1 INTRODUCTION

According to scientists’ surveys, human brain is able to memorize well series of happened and happening things , it means that “Mindmap” is considered the great method for our brain, especially when using in learning vocabulary and presentation in English Mindmap is named as a versatile tool for brain because of its various benefits:

- Help you exploit information, from that you can connect ideas and develop other ideas

- Motivate the development of brain and inspiration which make you be much keen on learning English

- Enhance your thought and imagination to make it easier to learn English

- Save a lot of time and acquire much more knowledge than traditional study

- It’s easier to understand and memorize more deeply than traditional study The fact is that Vocabulary is the basic foundation to build sentences which develop presentation skill for students, So Teachers need to update the latest methods to motivate students to speak English regularly and naturally More importantly, we should build a system of vocabulary and grammar structure logically which shows the relationship among lessons and develop the ability of memorising However, if students only use the way of learning and writing traditionally they can’t quickly and deeply understand what they learn; Therefore, I have been trying using mindmap by Tony Buzan who discovered the method of using men’s brain science to develop fully their abilities of learning, creating and memorizing at any age With those criteria, during the past few years, I have successfully applied my experienced initiatives which I courageously write and show out to share with my honorable readers about the

topic: “ Applying mindmaps to teaching vocabulary and develop speaking skill

for 4th graders at Minh Tien primary school” In the course of research, I believe that there are still some limitations, I hope to receive comments and

guidance from my Leaders as well as Colleagues

1.1 PURPOSE OF CHOOSING THE TOPIC

As we know that vocabulary and speaking skills are the basic part in learning a language.Teachers must grasp the basic principles of the new method, learn the tricks and teaching activities in view of communication that can be applied in a flexible , consistent and effective ways To ensure that students are able to use English well, the parallel with the development of the skills of listening, reading and writing we need to concentrate on speaking and vocabulary which are the essential qualifications of young leaners on the way of absorbing in new language,

To help Students know how to communicate simply in English, firstly, Teachers need to provide a number of basical new words and model sentences for their Students.Then Teachers ask Students to practise skills: listening, speaking, reading, writing However, we need to concentrate on the two skills:listening and speaking This will help Students show their ideals or opinions with their partners Besides, Students can show their abilities with their friends and They will feel more confident as well as more eager to learn this new subject For most of things, I

know the importance of communicating in English ,so I have always tried to find the best way to develop speaking skill for our Students to make them be active to achieve their language knowledge through lessons and mindmaps help me to conduct the aims easily Mindmaps can be more effective than other brainstorming and linear note-taking methods for a number of reasons:

- It’s a gaphical tool that can incorporate words, images, numbers, and color, so

it can be more memorable and enjoyable to create and review The combination of word and picturesis six times better for remembering information than words alone

- Mindmaps link and group concepts together through natural associations This helps generate more ideas, find deepermeaning in your subject, and also prompt you to fill in more or find what you are missing

- A mindmap can at once give you an overview of a large subject while also holding large amount of information

- It’s also a very intuitive way to organize your thoughts, since mindmaps mimic the way your brains think- bouncing ideas off of each other, rather than thinking linearly

1.2 RESEARCH PURPOSE

- To help Students enhance English vocabulary, memorising them easily and

know how to apply their new words to making sentences when speaking , Besides they can become well interested in learning a foreign language ,which give them the chance to widen further knowledge about every field Moreover, Students can update modern technologies in the world, so nothing is better unless they have a

large amount of foreign language How can we do to make language lessons

successfully at schools? I think we should apply mindmaps that will develop students’ creations, besides they will have more chance to speak their foreign language with their friends and people around.This is one of the best ways to improve their language

1.3 RESEARCH SUBJECTS

In my topic, I just focus on applying mindmaps to teach vocabulary and develop speaking skill for fourth graders at Minh Tien primary, Besides owing

to drawing mind maps of knowledge in each unit, teachers encourage creativity and enhance critical thinking skills, the study aims to provide insights into effective teaching practices and strategies that can support the academic and personal growth of young learners

1.4 RESEARCH METHODS

-Observation: explore the research by visiting coleagues’class

-Exchange and discussion: After the visiting hours of colleagues, my colleagues and I discuss and exchange the problem that appear in the lessons

-Experimental Methods:Teachers conducted experiments teach each specific purpose required some specific lessons about the part of vocabulary and speaking -Methods of investigation: Teachers ask questions to check and evaluate the content held by students

2 CONTENTS OF THE INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE

2.1 THEORETICAL BASIS OF INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE

2.1.1 Definition of mindmap

Mindmap is one of the best ways to capture your thought and bring them to life in visual form Beyond just note-taking, though, mindmaps can help you become more creative, remember more, and solve problems more effectively Whether you are new to mindmaps or just want a refresher, here’s all you need

to know about this technique

What are mind maps? See the example of mind mapping

A mind map is basically a diagram that connects information around a central subject I like to think of it like a tree, although it has more of a radial structure In any case, at the center is your main idea, say, poetry and the branches are subtopics or related ideas, such as types of poetry, famous poets, and poetry publications Great levels of detail branch out from there and branches can be linked together

2.1.2 The significance of using mindmaps in learning English

Mind mapping is a powerful tool for enhancing your cognitive abilities and overall productivity By visually organizing your thoughts and ideas, you can boost your creativity, understand complex concepts more easily And improve memory recall Mind mapping is also a flexible and enjoyable way to learn new information, and can be used for anything from brainstorming sessions to project planning Whether you are a student, professional, or simply looking to improve your mental ability, incorporating mind mapping into your daily routine can benefit your personal and professional growth These are significances from using mindmaps:

1.Help you remember and recall information

Try this little experiment Close your eyes and think about a tree Picture it

in detail, then think about what your tree looked like Did you picture the image

of a tree, or the word ‘tree?’ And was that tree in the center of your mind’s eye,

or off to one side? And was it in color, or black and white? Like me, you probably pictured an image, in color, large, and in the center of your mind This

is how the mind works… so working with that rather than against it helps us

with recall and memory In fact, in one study on mind map efficiency, researchers discovered that the benefits of mind mapping when studying and revision included boosting retention by 10-15%

2 It helps you learn new concepts

One of the benefits of mind mapping is that it helps with meaningful learning because it encourages you to make connections between new and existing knowledge This is because you add new ideas around a central theme

(which is your existing knowledge) This strengthens your depth of

understanding

3 It’s a fun way of learning

Hands up! Who can remember every single word to their favorite song? This

is because you’re enjoying what you’re taking in, which is new, novel, and fun When you’re enjoying something, you’re more deeply invested in it — and that promotes deeper learning

Another of the benefits of mind mapping is that it helps to create that meaningful engagement While creating your map, you don’t just read information - you generate ideas, arrange them on a page, add colors and images, review and link concepts It’s far more engaging than just writing out words or listening to a lecture

4 It makes complex ideas easier to understand

Mind mapping’s popularity is a testament to its effectiveness They’re often used for strategic planning — something that’s complex and involves lots of parts - because they work In fact, one study found that mind mapping helped students plan their essays and projects more effectively, improving the quality, structure, and coherence of their written work

5 It improves your presenting

Mind maps improve your ability to recall information, which is a bonus when it comes to presenting work Challenging questions are much easier to answer when the information is deeply embedded

Mind maps also help your audience Multiple studies have found that pairing words with images helps bring concepts to life and aid understanding, which helps you get your point across more effectively and make it easier for your audience to take in information Another study found that presenters who used visual language were seen as being clearer, more interesting, more credible, and more professional by their audience than those who didn’t

6 It boosts your creativity

Mind mapping helps you draw links between ideas, which in turn can help with lateral thinking – a key part of creativity Rather than working from A-B in

a linear fashion, you can jump about and connect thoughts without getting sucked into linear thinking

7 It improves productivity

Mind mapping makes it easier to learn faster, brainstorm faster and communicate more effectively These are all vital skills to have in the business world: being able to do all of the above more efficiently saves you

time and improves the quality of your work In fact, according to a survey by the

Mind Mapping Software Blog, mind mapping can boost productivity by an average of 23 percent

8 It’s flexible

Mind maps are versatile tools that can help with a variety of things – from study and concepting, to project planning and brainstorming Here are some of the scenarios in which a mind map could help:

* Students can use them to help them revise

* Project managers can use them to help present their ideas to the team

* Marketers can use them to help them create content calendars

* Content creators can use them to help them come up with ideas

* Consultants can use them to help visualize their clients’ situations

* Event planners can use them to help organize the different aspects of an event

* Salespeople can use them to help them pitch ideas

2.1.3 Definition of vocabulary

One of the general components, which have to be mastered well by the students in learning English, is vocabulary If the student lack of vocabulary, theywill have difficulties in using English to know what is vocabulary the writer would like to present several definition suggested by linguist, Hornby (1986:1462) said that vocabulary is:(1) Total number of words, which (with rules for combine them) make up thelanguage.(2) (Range of) words known to or used by a person in trade, profession, etc.Webster (1966: 2560) states definition

of vocabulary is a sum or stock of words employed by a language, group, individually or in work, in relation to asubject From the definition above, we may conclude that vocabulary is alist of words that have meanings that are used

to communicate between oneperson to another Finocchiaro explains that students’ vocabulary can be divided into two kinds, theyare “active and passive vocabulary” Active vocabulary consists of words which students understand, can pronounce correctly and use constructively in speaking and writing While passive vocabulary consists of words those students recognize and understand when they occur in a context and they never use them in communication They understand them when they hear or read them, but they don’t use them in speaking or writing

2.1.4 Role of speaking skills in learning English

Speaking is an ability that is considered quite important in learning English The oral presentation is one activity that can be used in learning English to improve students' speaking skills This study aims to examine the oral presentations conducted by students with the intention that students can improve their speaking also seeks to determine what obstacles students experience when

making oral presentations The researcher applied qualitative research as a research method to collect the data the researcher used observation and field notes as instruments The data obtained were categorized and analyzed based on several related theories Regarding the result, it was found that basically, students have a positive response to the implementation of oral presentation Student perceives that it helps them to evaluate their ability to speak English, increasing motivation, as well as allowing them to think critically in the use of language Although several aspects must be developed such as student pronunciation This finding indicates that oral presentations are useful for improving students speaking skills

2.2 THE SITUATIONS OF THE PROBLEM

2.2.1 Advantages

2.2.1.1 On the part of teachers

- Nowadays, there are so many soft wares on internet about using

mindmaps to teach parts of knowledge in English lessons such as: Eflita Edu, Elsa speaking, Monkey stories-Junior, Edupia, English123, tapes or videos which are child-friendly to Children to motivate them to speak English and develop creativity Besides, Teachers are sometimes attended workshops that

encourage Teachers to use communicative method in teaching

- Have to access and use of new methods in teaching

- Creativity, learn some appropriate teaching compatible with the content of

the lecture

-Teachers use modern equipments well such as computers, speakers, projectors, Internet,

-Incorporating games, songs, and other interactive activities into English

vocabulary lessons can help to make learning more fun and engaging for young learners

2.2.1.2 On the part of students

-Young learners at the primary school level have a greater ability to acquire

new vocabulary quickly and easily This is because their brains are more flexible and receptive to learning new words and concepts

- Primary school learners often have a natural curiosity and enthusiasm for

learning, which can make learning English vocabulary more engaging and enjoyable for them

-Mind maps are so colorful and attractive to young children which are easy

to understand and remember as well as develop their creativity

2.2.2 Dis advantages:

Besides the above advantages, teachers and students exist back:

2.2.2.1 On the part of teachers

Teachers also use several methods that don’t concentrate on speaking skill, they pay attention to grammar or writing, so many children can’t both make sentences and say aloud correctly or fluently, Moreover, students have no support at home ,they have no extra class at home, they only have 4 four periods

at school , so It’s difficult for Teachers to organize speaking activities in class, especially when Teacher wants to organize presentations for them after class

2.2.2.2 Teaching equipment

Equipment used for teaching English is limited Some equipments are spoiled or outdated inconsistent with teaching More importantly, there is no function room which is also a challenge with Teachers to organize speaking activities without any noise to other classes around, besides internet is sometimes disconnected between Teacher and students Which make it unable to continue teaching and learning with lessons using internet

2.2.2.3 On the part of students

Students at my school start learning English from grade 3, they live in a mountainous place, most of their parents are farmers, they don’t know the importance of English, moreover people around know little or nothing about this new subject, so they have no chance to practice at home Some children are shy to communicate in English because of their age Infact, in the field of teaching, Teachers play as a role of conductors and Students are listeners and writers, They repeat after teachers, then practise with their partners And Teachers comment, after that they ask their Students to learn by heart words and structures in lessons I think this method is so passive with most of students From the facts above together with the experiences of my teaching I have bravely applied mind mapping to teach vocabulary and motivate students to speak in class

Before applying the new method I chose grade 4 at Minh Tien primary school in the school year 2023-2024 and took a survey of oral test as well as checking vocabulary they have leant These are total results:

Name of

grade Total

average

Grade 4 95 0 0 4 4,2 48 50,5 43 45,3

2.3 Solutions to the problems

2.3.1 Steps to apply mindmap to teaching vocabulary and developing speaking skill:

1.Start in the CENTRE of a blank page turned sideways Why? Because staring in the centre gives your brain freedom to spread out in all directions and

to express itself more freely and naturally

2.Use an IMAGE or PICTURE for your central idea.why? Because an image

is worth a thousand words and helps you use your Imagination A central image

is more interesting, keeps you focus, helps you concentrate, and gives your Brain more of a buzz!

3 Use COLOURS throughout Why? Because colours are as exciting to your brain as are images Colour adds extra vibrancy and life to your Mind Map, adds trmendous energy to your Creative thinking, and is so fun!

4.CONNECT your MAIN BRANCHES to the central image and connect your second- and third –level branches to the first and second levels,etc Why?

Because your brain works by association It likes tolink two(or three, or four) Things together If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily

5.Make your branches CURVED rather than straight-lined Why? Because have nothing but straight lines is boring to your Brain

6.use ONE KEY WORD PER LINE Why? Because single key words give you your Mind Map more power and flexibility

7.Use IMAGES throughout Why? Because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words So if you have only 10 images in your

Mind Map, it’s already the equal of 10,000 words of notes

After students finish making the mind maps, teachers can ask them to do some following activities:

-Report and explain the mind maps: Teacher askd and representatives of each group to report, explain about the mind map that his/her group has set up This activity will bring them a clear understanding of their knowledge and as a way to forge them to present in front of people, which helps them become more confident -Discuss, modify, complete the mind map: teachers ask students to discuss, modify and edit to perfect the mind map The teacher will be the organizor who helps students develop mind map of problem

-Consolidate knowledge with a mind map: Teachers give students a presentation, explanations of grammatical knowledge of lesson through a mind map by the one he or she prepared(drawing at the side panel or on the cover), or

a mind map that students have just designed

2.3.2 Basic rules of learning through mindmap effectively:

There’s no fixed form to set up a mindmap in English However we need to follow the basic rules to promote effectiveness of this powerful tool:

- Ensure its aesthetics; we should draw circle branch for each idea and give clear contents

-Draw a distinction among main and auxiliary branches

-Using key words for each branch

-Encode with colors for each branch

Overall ,be creative with your own ideas for a right topic

Here’s an example: