Technology as a motivating factor to students an exploratory study at thai nguyen college of mechanics and metallurgy

The purpose of this study is to explore how technology impact on students’ motivation in EFL classrooms.For this purpose; a questionnaire was administered to 100 first-year students and

Technology as a motivating factor to students:

an exploratory study at thai nguyen college of

mechanics and metallurgy

Trần Thùy Dung

Trường Đại học KHXH&NV Luận văn ThS Chuyên ngành:English Teaching methodology; Mã số: 60 14 10

Người hướng dẫn: Phạm Thị Ngọc Phượng

Năm bảo vệ:2010

Abstract: In language classrooms, being in unnatural conversational situations, students need

motivation more than other learning milieus Teachers try to capture the attention of students through various methods and techniques Many researchers in EFL teaching profession have stated that good motivation has appositive effect on foreign language learning The purpose

of this study is to explore how technology impact on students’ motivation in EFL classrooms.For this purpose; a questionnaire was administered to 100 first-year students and

6 language teachers at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy in 2009-2010 academic years As a result it was found out that technology was a dynamic and challenging motivating factor in EFL classrooms and there may be some suggestions for teachers and administrators focusing on the achievement of teaching objectives

Keywords: Tiếng Anh; Phương pháp dạy học; Công nghệ thông tin; Hứng thú học tập Content:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

2 The aims of the study 1

5 The methods of the study 3

6 Significance of the study 3

7 Overview of the thesis 4

CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 5

I.1 Education technology and EFL teaching and learning 5

I.2 Computer uses for language teaching and learning 6

I.3 Applications of technology (IT) in EFL 8

I.4 Benefits of using Technology in EFL 11

I.5 Motivation in learning English 12

I.6 Effects of Technology on Motivation in EFL 13

I.7 Limitations of using computer in EFL teaching and learning 15

I.8 Considerations of computer-assisted EFL teaching and learning 16

II 1 The setting of the study 17

II 2 Procedure 17

II 2 1 Methodology 17

II 2 1 1 Subjects 17

II 2 4 Implications 33

CHAPTER III: RECOMENDATIONS 35

III 1 For the administrators 35

III 2 For the teachers 35

I Conclusion and limitations 36

Appendices I

PART I: INTRODUCTION

1 Rationale

For centuries foreign language teaching approaches, methods and techniques have been changing because of different factors Learning a foreign language is a challenging process and students always need motivation and encouragement during this period Technology might be one of the factors which affects students’ attitude positively in the teaching/ learning process Adiyaman (2002) defines one way of technological equipment such as radio, TV, cassettes, CD, DVD and two way of educational technological equipment used in EFL classrooms like e-mails, computers, interactive radio and television programs, teleconference and internet conferences

In the process of teaching and learning a foreign language, learners are always the most important factors To be successful or get failure in understanding well or owning the language bases on the thing how the learners can use or work with that process It is the very thing that foreign language learners have not acquired as they expected at the beginning of time

We are living in the era of explosion in information technology The foreign language training supported by Internet technology has appeared at the university level, secondary schools and vocational training in many countries around the world Vietnam

at the application of technology in teaching in schools is also on the momentum of development Teaching English in Vietnam, especially in Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy where students are specializing in the field of Mechanics, is considered as an interesting but challenging job Today, learning and teaching English through the computer and learning how to use computer proficient in English through the trends in the foreign language training

In the field of language education, a great deal of emphasis now focuses on using technology (IT) in ETL The application of ICT (Information and Communication technology) in the language classroom is one of new methods in renovating methods of teaching methodology of Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training

2 The aims of the study:

The study aims to reach the following targets:

- to investigate the teachers’ application of technology in order to find the advantages, disadvantages of the teachers in using technology in teaching English for freshman students of Mechanics department at (TCMM) Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy

- to investigate the role of technology on motivation in the language classrooms and

to review the students’ ideas on how to use technological equipment effectively

- to discover how IT influences the students’ learning English, their feedbacks towards the use of technology in classroom instructions

- to propose some recommendations for administrators, teachers in improving the quality of teaching and learning English at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy

3 Scope of the study

Due to the limited time, the author only focuses on using technology in teaching English to freshmen students of Mechanics department at TCMM because most students of Mechanics department are at low level, they are uninterested in learning English; they are usually failed in the English exams It is the main reason why they do not like learning English subject The purpose of using IT in teaching English at TCMM

in order to make the lessons easier and more interesting to learn by presenting the difficult structures and terms popularly will be used in Mechanics with the assistance of Projector, searching information on the internet

This study aimed at using IT in teaching for Freshman Mechanics Majors at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy The respondents of the study will

be 100 freshmen students of the two classes (CK 47 A, B) The research will be conducted during the time of the second semester 2009-2010, from December to April in

2009 – 2010

4 Research questions

In odder to achieve the aims mentions in section 2, the present study focused on answering the research question: How does IT help to motivate students in learning English at TCMM?

More specifically, it aimed to address the following sub-questions:

i How is IT used in teaching and learning English at TCMM?

ii Do students get motivated by the use of the technology in learning process?

iii.Are students and teachers aware of technology application in teaching and learning English?

iv What suggestions do students and teachers have for organization and language teachers?

5 Methods of the study

The method used in this study is exploratory research design which utilizes qualitative data collection techniques with an aim to answer the research questions To conduct the study, the author will carry out two surveys on six English teachers at TCMM and 100 freshman students of Mechanics department at TCMM Questionnaires were sent to six teachers who have taught students of Mechanics department and 100 freshman students who were selected from two classes (CK47 A, B) of Mechanics department The questionnaire was designed to find out the role of technology on the motivation of EFL learners in language classes and to put forward some practical ideas

in order to make language learning more effective The aims of survey is to reveal how teachers use technology in EFL classrooms, their problems when working with computer, if there might be, and their needs for better use of computer in the classroom

6 Significance of the study

Teaching English is one of the main responsibilities and priorities of Vietnam Educational System This study implements to find the way to improve capabilities of students in learning language The big problem of the freshman students at TCMM is that most of the students are low-motivated Besides, the problem of what to teach, how

to teach and what is the teachers’ way to motivate their students There are some significances of the study:

Educational Controllers The results of this study will make this group of

people aware of the importance of using information technology to take it into the curriculum program in teaching English at TCMM

English Language Teachers The study will also make English language

teachers identify that the application IT is more effective in teaching English for freshmen students (Most freshman students are non-major English learners)

Students Especially, it will help them be interested in English and not be

afraid of learning English and they will find themselves more confident and motivate in spending time on learning English

7 Overviews of the thesis:

The study consists of the following chapters:

Part I - Introduction: introduces the rationale for the research, the aims, the

scope, and the research questions of the study, the methods, the significance and the organization of the study

Part II – Development: includes three chapters:

Chapter I- Literature review: reviews the theoretical background to Education technology

and EFL teaching and learning , the applications of technology in ELT, benefits of using technology in ELT, effects of technology on motivation in EFL, the limitations of using technology in ELT, and some considerations using technology in ELT

Chapter II – The study: discusses the detailed methodology to do the research It

comprises participants, instrumentation, and data collection Next, presents in details the data analysis, findings and implications of the study

Chapter III – Recommendations: concerns the researcher’s recommendations and

suggestions for enhancing the effectiveness of using technology in ELT

Part III – Conclusion: summarizes the main ideas expressed throughout the

research, analyzes limitation of the paper and suggests further research orientations

REFERENCES

1) Adiyaman, Z (2002) Foreign language teaching via distance education, TOJET 1

Issue 1

2) Allen, M (1995) Email in Writing Class: Promoting Student Communication

ERIC:ED 394 348, 2

3) Australian Language and Literacy Council (1996) the Implications of Technology for

Language Teaching Canberra Australian Government Publishing Service

4) Brierley, W and Kemble, I.R (1991) Computers as a tool in language teaching Ellis

Horwood Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA 3 p17

5) Brown, D (2000) Principles of language learning and teaching ( 4th ed.) While plains, NY: Peason Education

6) Brown, D (2003) Developing faculty to use technology Balton, Anker Publishing

Company

7) Case, C & D Truscott (1999) The lure of bells and whistles; choosing the best software to support reading instruction reading and writing quarterly Overcoming Learning Difficulties 15-19

8) Corrêa, D.M New technologies in teaching and learning English In: FORTKAMP,

M.B.M.; XAVIER, R.P (Ed.) EFL Teaching and learning in Brazil: theory and

practice Florianópolis: Insular, 2001 p 211-222

9) Crystal, D (1997) English as a global language Cambridge, Cambridge University Press Demiray, U and Sever, S (2009) The challenges for marketing distance education in online environment Eskisehir: Anadolu University 157

10) Cuban, L (2001) Oversold and Underused: Computers in the Classroom Cambridge,

Mass: Harvard University Press

11) Davies G (1999) The Internet: an introduction for language teachers Retrieved Jan

26th, 2010, from http://www.camsoftpartners.co.uk/webintro.htm

12) Egbert, J (2004) Two faces of Technology use Essential Teacher Spring 2004 Vol 13) Ellis, R (1994) The study of second language acquisition Oxford, Oxford University

Press

14) Ellinger, B S, Sandler, D D, Chayen K, Goldfrad J, Yarosky (2001).Weaving the web into an EAP reading program English Teaching Forum April

15) Gardner, R, C (2006) Intergrative motivation and second language acquisition

16) Garrett, N (1991) Technology in the service of language learning: Trends and issues Modern Language Journal 75(1), 74-101

17) Galavis, B (1998) Computers and the EFL Class: Their Advantages and a Possible

Outcome, The Autonomous Learner English Teaching Forum, 36 (4), p27

18) Harmer J (2001), “The practical of English Language Teaching”, 3rd ed., Longman,

Harlow

19) Harmer, J (2007) The practice of English language teaching Pearson Longman 20) Jonassen, D H (2000) Computers as mind tools for schools: Engaging critical

thinking Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall

21) Kang, S (1999) Learning styles: Implications for ESL/EFL instruction: English Teaching Forum 37-40

22) Lee, K (2006) English teacher‟s barrier to the use of computer- assisted language

learning The Internet TESL Journal At: <http://iteslj.org/Articles/Lee-

Callbarriers.html>, accessed on: 26 Jan 2010

23) Lin, A (2003) An Initial Study on EFL learners‟ Attitude toward Multimedia

Application in language learning Teaching English with Technology Journal, 3(2)

Retrieved Jun 26th, 2010, from http:/www.iatefl.org.pl/j_article13.htm

24) Lundin, R (1993) Overseas Experience in Non-traditional modes of Delivery in

Higher education using State-of-the-Art Technologies Best Practice Australian

Government Publishing Service, Canberra

25) MacDonald, G J (2004) Contrarian finding: Computers are a drag on learning

Retrieved January 26, 2010, from the World Wide Web, http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/1206/p11s01-legn.html

26) Matsuo, M (1996) Changes in Japanese College Students’ Attitudes toward EFL

Classroom through Dialogue Journal Writings Memoirs of Senzoku-Gakuen College,

25.33

27) Nguyen Lan Trung (2002), “The classrooms of Tomorrow”, Ky yeu Hoi thao Quoc te: Giao duc ngoai ngu – Hoi nhap va phat trien, p.61-65

28) Oppenheimer, T (1997) The computer delusion The Atlantic Monthly 280 (1), 45-62 29) Oppenheimer, T (2003) The Flickering Mind: The False Promise of Technology in

the Classroom and How Learning can be saved New York: Random House

30) Singhal, M ( 1996) The internet and foreign language education: benefits and challenges http://iteslj.org/Articles/Singhal-Internet.html accessed on: 26 Jan 2010

31) Spolsky, B (1989) Conditions for second language learning Oxford: Oxford

University Press, p 160

32) Tognato, M.I.R Rethinking the teacher‟s role and the process of insertion of technology in the classroom In: FORTKAMP, M.B.M.; XAVIER, R.P (Ed.) EFL teaching and learning in Brazil: theory and practice Florianópolis: Insular, 2001 p 203-210 Received on February 13, 2007 Accepted on May 03, 2007

33) Warschauer, M (1995) Email for English Teaching VA: TESOL, Inc

34) Warschauer, M and Meskill, C (2000) Technology and Second Language Teaching and Learning in J Rosenthal (ed) Handbook of Undergraduate Second Language Education Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

35) Wang, Y (2004) English magazines, motivation+ improved EFL writing skill English Teaching Forum January

36) Zengin, R (2007) A research about the English language teachers„ use of

instructional technologies in Turkey Journal of the Hasan Ali Yücel Faculty of

Education October.