Strategies to enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of communicative language ability among second language learners Những chiến lược tăng cường sự hiểu biết về ngữ điệu tiếng Anh nhằm phát triển năng lực ngôn ngữ giao tiếp của người học ngôn ngữ hai Mai Thị Huyền University of Languages and International Studies M.A. Thesis. English Linguistics; Mã số: 60 22 15 Supervisor: Dr. Huỳnh Anh Tuấn Năm bảo vệ: 2012 Abstract. The purpose of the study is to devise learning strategies to help second language learners enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of their communicative language ability. The study was administered at Quangninh University of Industry. 100 first-year students from two groups were invited to join in the research. A quasi- experiment was carried out to investigate the helpfulness of the strategies for teaching and learning English intonation. The results indicate that due to the strategies applied, the students found it easier to get broader knowledge of English intonation which plays important roles in the improvement of their listening comprehension. My conclusion is that the strategies introduced to the students in the study can be adopted by learners who want to broaden their understanding of English intonation in order to strengthen their communicative language ability, especially listening skill. Keywords. Ngữ điệu; Giao tiếp; Tiếng Anh Content. TABLE OF CONTENT Page Declaration of authorship i Acknowledgements ii Abstract iii Table of content iv List of tables vii PART A - INTRODUCTION 1 1.1. Rationale for the study 1 1.2. Aims of the study 2 1.3. Scope of the study 2 1.4. Methods of the study 3 1.4.1. Research questions 3 1.4.2. Research approach 3 1.4.3. The participants 3 1.4.4. Data collection methods 3 1.4.5. Data collection procedure 3 1.4.6. Data analysis 4 1.5. Organization of the study 4 PART B - DEVELOPMENT 5 CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 5 1.1. Literature Review 5 1.2. Theories of English intonation 5 1.2.1. Definitions of intonation 5 1.2.2. Systems of English intonation 7 1.2.3. Structure of English intonation 9 1.2.4. Basic tune shapes of English intonation 10 1.2.4.1. The falling tune 10 1.2.4.2. The first rising tune 11 1.2.4.3. The second rising tune 12 1.2.4.4. The falling-rising tune 13 1.2.5. Functions of English intonation 14 1.2.5.1. The organization of information 14 1.2.5.2. The realization of communicative functions 14 1.2.5.3. The expression of attitude 15 1.2.5.4. Syntactic structure 15 1.2.5.5. Textual structure 16 1.2.5.6. The identification of speech styles 16 1.3. Theories of language learning strategies 17 1.3.1. Definitions 17 1.3.2. Classification of Language Learning Strategies 17 1.3.2.1. Direct Language Learning Strategies 18 1.3.2.2. Indirect Language Learning Strategies 18 1.3.3. Characteristics of Language Learning Strategies 18 1.4. The relations between the competence of intonation and communicative language ability. 19 1.5. Strategies used to enhance the understanding English intonation for the development of listening skill among second language learners in the study 23 CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY 26 2.1. Research questions 26 2.2. Research approach 26 2.3. Selecting subjects 27 2.4. Data collection 27 2.4.1. Data collection methods 27 2.4.1.1. Tests 27 2.4.1.1.1. Meta-linguistic tests 27 2.4.1.1.2. Listening comprehension tests 27 2.4.1.2. Questionnaire 27 2.4.2. Data collection procedures 28 2.5. Data analysis 29 CHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS 30 3.1. Data analysis 30 3.1.1. Learners’ meta-knowledge of English intonation and the development of their listening skill 30 3.1.1.1. Learners’ meta-knowledge of English intonation 30 3.1.1.2. Learners’ development of listening skill 33 3.1.2. Strategies used by learners 35 3.1.2.1. Memory strategies 36 3.1.2.2. Cognitive strategies 36 3.1.2.3. Metacognitive strategies 37 3.1.2.4. Compensation strategies 37 3.1.2.5. Social strategies 37 3.1.2.6. Affective strategies 37 3.2. Discussions 37 PART C - CONCLUSION 39 1. Conclusion 39 2. Limitations of the research 39 REFERENCES 40 APPENDICES References. Bachman, L.F. (1990). Fundamental Consideration in Language Teaching. Oxford University Press. Bialystok, E. (1978). A Theoretical Model of Second Language Learning. SEAMEO Language Centre. Brazil, D. (1997). The communicative value of intonation in English. Cambridge University Press. Every, P & Ehrlich, S. (1992). Teaching American English Pronunciation. Oxford University Press. Halliday, M.A.K. (1970) A course in Spoken English: Intonation. London: Oxford UP. Hancock, M. (2003). English Pronunciation in Use. Cambridge University Press. Johnson, K. (1996). Language Teaching and Skill Learning. Blackwell. Kelly, G. (2000). How to teach pronunciation. Longman. Kenworthy, J. (1992). Teaching English Pronunciation. Longman Kỷ, Nguyễn Huy. (2006). Intonation by Vietnamese. Nxb Văn hóa-Thông tin Hà Nội. Mortimer, C. (1985). Elements of Pronunciation: Intensive Practice for Intermediate and more Advanced Students. Cambridge University Press. Nunan, D. (1991). Language Teaching Methodology. Prentice Hall International Ltd. Nunan, D. (1992). Research methods in language learning. Cambridge University Press. O’Connor, J.D. (1980). Better English pronunciation (Second Edition). Cambridge University Press. O’Malley, J.M & Chamot, A.U. (1990). Learning Strategies in Second Language Acquisition. Cambridge University Press. Oxford, R.L. (1990). Language Learning Strategies. Newbury House Publishers. Richards, J.C., Platt, J., Platt, H. (1992). Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching & Applied Linguistics (Second Edition). Longman. Roach, P. (1983). English phonetics and phonology: A practical course. Cambridge University Press. Rubin, J. (1975). What the good learner can teach Us? TESOL Quarterly, 9, 1: 41-50. Tench, P. (1996). The intonation systems of English. Cassell. . to devise learning strategies to help second language learners enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of their communicative language ability. The study was administered. Strategies to enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of communicative language ability among second language learners Những chiến lược. 1.4. The relations between the competence of intonation and communicative language ability. 19 1.5. Strategies used to enhance the understanding English intonation for the development of listening