The application of instructional strategies in teaching speaking english to first – year students in the college of urban works construction Nguyễn Thị Hồng Anh Trường Đại học Ngoại Ngữ Luận văn ThS. Chuyên ngành: Methodology; Mã Số: 60 14 10 Người hướng dẫn: Pham Minh Hien, M.A Năm bảo vệ: 2011 Abstract: This minor thesis aims at describing the application of instructional strategies in teaching speaking English to first – year students in the College of Urban Works Construction. The study is hoped to reveal the real situation of learning and teaching speaking English in a general college. As a result of this, some effective instructional strategies can be chosen to applied to better the students’ speaking English ability. In order to reach the goal, 70 first - year students and 7 teachers of English were invited to finish survey questionnaires After that, all the questionnaire data were analyzed. The findings expresses that direct and interactive instructions are the major strategies applied in the speaking classes. Some advantages and disadvantages of this application were discussed in details and thanks to this discussion and teachers’ suggestions, various solutions were mentioned in the study with the hope to help teachers enhance their teaching speaking quality and support students to better their oral exam results. Keywords: Kỹ năng nói; Phương pháp dạy học; Tiếng Anh; Sinh viên Content: 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP ACKOWLEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF FIGURES, CHARTS AND APPENDICES ……………………………. Part A: INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………… 1. Rationales for the study………………………………………………………… … 2. Aims of the study………………………………………………… ……………… 3. Scope of the study………………………………………………………………… 4. Methods of the study………………………………………………………… ……. 5. Research questions…………………………………………………………… … 6. Significance of the study…………………………………………………………… 7. Design of the study…………………………………………………………… … Part B: DEVELOPMENT……………………………………………….………… Chapter 1. Literature review………………………………………………………… 1. Current trends in teaching English as a second language………………………… 2. Communicative approach……………… …………………………………………. 3. Instructional strategies………………………………………………… …………. 3.1. History………………………………………… …………………………… 3.2. Categories……………………………………………… ………………… 3.2.1. Direct Instruction……………………………………………… ……… 3.2.2. Indirect Instruction……………………………………………… …… 3.2.3. Interactive Instruction………………………………… ……………… 3.2.4. Experiential learning……………………… …………………………. 3.2.5. Independent study………… …………… Chapter 2. The study………………………………………………………………… 1. An overview of the current situation of teaching and learning speaking at CUWC I ii iii iv vi vii 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 5 5 5 7 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 16 5 1.1. Syllabus and textbook ……………………………………………………… 1.2. Learning and teaching condition …………………………… ………………. 1.3. Learners………………………………………………………………………. 1.4. Teachers………………………………………………………………………. 2. The study……………………………………… ………………………………… 2.1. Informants……………………………………………………… …………… 2.2. Data collection instruments…………………………………………………… 2.2.1. Questionnaires………………… ………………………………………. 2.2.2. Class observation ……………………………………………………… 2.2.3. Interview……………………………………………………………… 2.3. Data analysis and discussion of the findings…………… …………………… 2.3.1. Data analysis……………………………………………………………. 2.3.2. Discussion of the findings……………………………………………… 2.3.2.1. The advantages of applying instructional strategies in teaching speaking English ………………………………………………………………… 2.3.2.2. The difficulties of applying instructional strategies in teaching speaking English ………………………………………………………………… Chapter 3. Suggested solutions 1. Learning condition improvement ………………………………………………… 2. Discipline maintenance……………………………………………… … 3. Engaged learning time increasing…………………………………………………. 4. Provision for individual differences……………………………………… ………. 5. Evaluation of learning…………………………………… ………………………. 6. Some suggested speaking activities for large classes………………………………. 6.1. Topic brainstorming……………………………… ……… 6.2. Tell a long story……………………………………………………… …… 6.3. Make presentation on certain topics………………………………………… Part C: CONCLUSION ……………….…………………………………………… 1. Summary of the study…………………………………………………………… 2. Limitations of the study…………………………………………………………… 16 16 17 18 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 23 23 26 28 28 29 32 34 35 36 36 37 38 39 39 40 6 3. Suggestions for further research REFERENCES………………………………………………………………… 40 9 PART A. INTRODUCTION 1. Rationales Teaching English is never an easy job, especially when we have to work with non- major learners. There are a lot of reasons for this fact. One of them is that learners have not realised the important role of English in their present study and future job. The second is that English is always a really difficult subject with very challenging tasks and requirements. Therefore, it is necessary to find out a way to make this subject more interesting. Instructional strategies can work in this case. With the development of Vietnam economy and society and the need of integration with the modern world, the role of English is clear out. Following with this change, there is the need for high – quality teachers with good and creative teaching methods which can stop boring lessons and can attract learners. In other words, instructional strategies are the first step to set up teachers’ qualities. Teachers do not teach what they want but what students want and society wants. Instructional strategies can help teachers be closer to students’ needs. They can base and focus on learners’ knowledge and experiences. Teachers can base on students’ real life to set up their cirriculum and teaching plans and activities. Therefore, instructional strategies are the brigde to connect teaching and learning with the fact. For all the reasons above, instructional strategies are deserved to study and explored. Hopefully, they can provide teachers with one more solution in their difficult job. 2. Aims and objectives of the study Within the frame work of a minor thesis, the study is aimed at describing the situation of applying instructional strategies in learning and teaching speaking in the College of Urban Works Construction (CUWC) and suggesting some solutions to the improvement of teaching speaking skill to students. In order to achieve this aim, the study concentrates on: 10 - Investigating the current situation of the teaching and learning speaking skills at CUWC. - Identify the advantages and difficulties that the teachers and students face while applying instructional strategies in teaching and learning speaking skills - Suggesting some solutions to help improve the application of instructional strategies in teaching speaking skill. 3. Scope of the study Because of limited time and experience, the study cannot investigate deeply all problems and solutions while applying strategies in speaking skill in CUWC. It only stops at describing some significant problems and suggesting some appropriate ways to improve the application of these strategies in teaching speaking for students in the college. Owing to the reason mentioned above, the study does not cover all solutions to other skills and levels as well as to exploit textbook of all kinds. It only focuses on New- headway elementary textbook and ways to exploit it in teaching speaking skill. 4. Methods of the study The study is designed to use both quantitative and qualitative methods. Besides, various resources such as books, magazines, articles, newspapers and some sources on the Internet have been chosen. In order to gain the most successful results, the quantitative data will be collected through two survey questionnaires. One survey questionnaire is for 85 non- major first – year students of elementary level at CUWC and the other is for 6 teachers of English in the Department of Basic Science. Collected data, then will be processed and analyses to yield conclusions about the study. 11 Together the quantitative method, the qualitative data has been obtained by informal interviews with some students and teachers to gather in-depth information about the real situations of teaching and learning speaking skills at CUWC. Besides, the author’s own observations will contribute much to the completion of the study. 5. Research questions The study is aimed at to answer three main questions: a. What are the advantages of instructional strategies in teaching speaking skill? b. What are the difficulties when applying these strategies in teaching skill for non-major students? c. How to apply instructional strategies effectively in teaching speaking skill ? 6. Significance of the study It is hoped that this study will be a good source reference for both teachers and learners of English. It is conducted to provide an insight into the current situation of teaching English as a second language at CUWC and offer feasible solutions to its improvement. Therefore, it is believed that this study will raise the teachers’ awareness of the advantages of techniques and activities in teaching speaking skills so that they can adjust properly in order to develop students’ speaking skill. 7. Design of the study The study is divided into three parts: The first part “ Introduction” mentions the rationale, the aims, the scope, the methods, the research questions, significance and the design of the study. Next is the second part named “ Development” which consists of three chapters: 12 - Chapter 1 presents a thorough literature review relevant to the study. It demonstrates the theorical background: the history of instructional strategies and all related categories. - Chapter 2 offers the methodologies performed in the thesis. It describes the current situation of applying instructional strategies in teaching speaking skill in CUWC. Besides, this chapter also includes the analysis of data collected and the discussion of all findings. - Chapter 3 proposes some solutions to the improvement of instructional strategy application at CUWC. Last but not least, the “Conclusion” gives a brief description of the study and states the limitations as well as recommendations for further research. 49 REFERENCES Ann, G. (1993). Communicative language teaching: An introduction and sample activities. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Dept. of Education Davies, P. (2000). Success in English teaching. Oxford University Press. Dewey, J. (1997). Experience and Educator. Macmillan Edurne, S. (2008). The different options in learning a language. Online Magazine and Writer’s network. Eric, K . ( 2008). How to teach speaking. Kaizen Publishing Inc. Grace , S. B. (1998).Modules for the professional preparation of teaching assistants in foreign languages . Washington, DC: Center for Applied Linguistics. Hedge, T. (2000). Teaching and learning in the language classroom. Oxford University Press Henning, G. (1987). A guide to language teaching. Cambridge: Newbury House Publishers. Jack, C. R. (2006). Current trends in teaching listening and speaking. Oxford University Press Jack, C. R. ( 2006). Communicative language teaching today. Cambridge University Press. John, E. J. ( 1979). Handbook of structured experiences for human relation training. Pfeiffer Company. Joyce, B and Weil, M (1972). Models of teaching. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice- Hall. Margie, S. B. (1984). Teaching language: methods and materials. Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Dept. of Education 50 Mc Neil and Wiles. ( 1990). The essentials of teaching : Decisions, plans, methods. Macmillan. NRC. ( 1999). How people learn. National Research Council. Richard, I. A. ( 1993). Instructional strategies. The Gale Group. Seaman and Fellenze. ( 1989). Effective strategies for teaching adults. Merrill Pub. Co . The application of instructional strategies in teaching speaking english to first – year students in the college of urban works construction Nguyễn Thị Hồng. in learning and teaching speaking in the College of Urban Works Construction (CUWC) and suggesting some solutions to the improvement of teaching speaking skill to students. In order to achieve. Minh Hien, M.A Năm bảo vệ: 2011 Abstract: This minor thesis aims at describing the application of instructional strategies in teaching speaking English to first – year students in the