Grade 10th students learning english vocabulary a case study at phalai high school

HANOI OPEN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ENGLISH CODE: 09 GRADUATION THESIS B.A DEGREE IN ENGLISH STUDY GRADE 10TH STUDENTS' LEARNING ENGLISH VOCABULARY: A CASE STUDY AT PHALAI HIGH SCHOOL Supervisor : Dr Nguyen Van Quang Name of student : Tran Van Thuat Date of birth : 25/07/1994 Class : 1271A03 (2012- 2016) Hanoi, 2016 DECLARATION GRADE 10TH STUDENTS' LEARNINGENGLISH VOCABULARY: A CASE STUDY AT PHALAI HIGH SCHOOL (Graduation paper submitted in partial fulfill for B.A degree in English studies) I certify that no part of the research has been copied or reproduced by me from any other person’s work without acknowledgement and that the research is originally written by me under strict guidance of my supervisor Hanoi, April, 2016 Student Tran Van Thuat Supervisor Dr Nguyen Van Quang ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am, first of all, particularly indebted to my supervisor, Dr Nguyen Van Quang, for his invaluableadvice, instructions and correction, excellent suggestions and constant encouragement during the research period Without his guidance and help, this work would not have been accomplished Secondly, my sincere thanks also go to all lecturers and staff of the Faculty of English, Hanoi Open University for their valuable lessons and precious helps Thanks to their lessons as well as needed helps, I could overcome enormous obstacles when doing the research Besides, I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to the teachers and grade 10th students at Pha Lai High School who have participated in this research and many others who helped me during my study at Pha Lai High School Last but not least, I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to my family members for their constant support and thorough understanding Their great encouragement and love have helped me to overcome the difficulties during my study Hanoi, April, 2016 Student Tran Van Thuat Graduation Paper TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT PART A: INTRODUCTION 1 Rationale Aims of the study 3 Scope of the study 4 Research questions Methods of the study Design of the study PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: THEORITICAL BACKGROUND 1.1 Theory on vocabulary 1.1.1 Definition of vocabulary 1.1.2 The importance of vocabulary 1.1.3 Classification of vocabulary 1.1.3.1 According to the concept of morpheme 1.1.3.2 According to the meaning 1.1.3.3 According to the function 10 1.1.3.4 According to the frequency of use 10 1.2 Vocabulary learning 12 1.2.1 Aspects need to be studied 12 1.2.2 English vocabularylearning strategies 13 1.2.2.1 Definition of English vocabulary learning strategies 13 1.2.2.2 Classification of English vocabulary learning strategies 13 CHAPTER 2: FINDINGS, INTERPRETATIONS & ANALYSES 19 2.1 Methodology 19 2.1.1 Methods 19 Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper 2.1.2 Subjects 19 2.1.2.1 Grade 10th students at Phalai high school and their learning background 19 2.1.2.2 English teachers at Pha Lai High school 20 2.1.2.3 Tieng Anh 10 coursebook and its vocabulary topics 20 2.1.3 Questionaires 23 2.1.3.1 Purposes 23 2.1.3.2 Discription of survey questionaires 23 2.1.4 Procudure 24 2.1.5 Data analysis 24 2.2 Findings and discussions 34 CHAPTER 3: SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE ENGLISH VOCABULARY LEARNINGFOR GRADE 10TH STUDENTS AT PHALAI HIGH SCHOOL 36 3.1 Learning English vocabulary from pictures 36 3.2 Learning English vocabulary from funny games 38 3.2.1 The jumble word game 39 3.2.2 The “Crossword” game 40 3.2.3 The word search game 42 3.3 Leaning English vocabulary through mass media 43 3.3.1 Using books, magazine, newspapers 43 3.3.2 Learning vocabulary by watching films or cartoons with English subtitles 46 3.3.3 Learning English vocabulary through Internet 56 PART C: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 48 REFERENCES 49 APPENDICES APPENDIX APPENDIX Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper LIST OF FIGURES ANDTABLES LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Students’ interests in learning English 24 Figure 2: The ways students often apply in memorizing words 28 Figure 3: Students’ opinions toward current teaching method 32 Figure 4: Teachers’ opinions on using various techniques on teaching vocabulary 33 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Vocabulary topics presented in Tieng Anh 10 coursebook 22 Table 2: Teachers’ and students’ opinions toward the role of English vocabulary 25 Table 3: Students’and teachers’ difficulties in learning and teaching vocabulary 26 Table 4: Strategies employed by students in getting the meaning of the words 27 Table 5: Current teaching techniques and thier effectiveness 29 Table 6: The frequency of adopted techniques on teaching vocabulary 300 Table 7: Students ’expectations to improve their vocabulary learning 33 Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale Each nation has their own language, custom and culture To have a common voice, all nations in the world need have a common language and English is such a language In Vietnam, since the implementation of the open door policy, it is now a great demand to learn English for the process of integrating into regional and international economic and diplomatic development Studying English, students have chances to know many interesting things around the world However, it is not easy work because English is very variety and complex It has been, in fact, said that if language were a house, vocabulary would be a construction material to build up that house Therefore, studying a language cannot be separated from studying vocabulary Yet it is true that the vocabulary is the focus of language It is in words that sound and meaning interlock to allow us to communicate with one another, and it is word that we arrange together to make sentences, conversation, and discourse of all kinds However, it is not easy to study perfect English vocabulary Almost students often face up with some problems in learning vocabulary at first In fact, it is difficult to memorize a new word with its meaning, spelling and pronunciation, many students are often confused with knowing how can apply grammar into sentences, sometimes, they can not understand when being opposed to video and audio For a long time, methodologists have continuously kept seeking effective ways to teach and learn English vocabulary Some books on learning English vocabulary have been written by scholars such as Nation (1982, 1990 and 2000), Rubin and Thomson (1994) and Taylor (1990), etc Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper In Vietnam,several studies into this field have been conducted with different type of learners to find out particular strategies employed by effective and ineffective learners in learning English vocabulary such as Huyen Tran’s study (2004) on vocabulary learning strategies used by students of English at Quy Nhon University or Mai Van Binh's (2007) on vocabulary learning strategies preferred by students at College of Finance and Business Administration However, research on effective ways to learn English vocabulary for 10th form students at Phalai High School has not been done yet From the above reasons, the researcher has the ambition of presenting some effective techniques to learn English vocabulary for students at PhaLai high school, where the researcher studied in his school days and practiced teaching, with hope that students will be interested in learning English Due to his English knowledge limitation and the frame of the graduation paper, the researcher would like to choose the research paper entitle: “Grade 10th students’ learning English vocabulary: a case study at Pha Lai High school” Aims of the study With the hope of helping grade 10th students at Pha Lai high school make progress in studying vocabulary, this graduation paper is about to help the students improve their own vocabulary and to prepare for them to the basic knowledge of vocabulary with higher requirement for the next grades Specifically, the research aims at: - Covering background knowledge of vocabulary - Finding out reality of teaching and learning English at school - Investigating difficulties experienced by students of grade 10th when learning English vocabulary; - Suggesting some ways of learning English vocabulary effectively for students of grade 10th in Phalai High school Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper 3.Scope of the study In fact, there are various techniques to study English vocabulary It requires much of time and effort; therefore, due to the limitation of knowledge and time, the researcher has no ambition to study all techniques In this graduation paper, the reseacher mainly focuses on studying some difficulties faced by grade 10th students at Phalai high school (Phalai ward, Chilinh district, Haiduong) and suggesting some effective techniques in learning English vocabulary Research questions The research was carried out with an attempt to find out the answers to the following questions: - How grade 10th students at Phalai high school learn English vocabulary? - What difficulties grade 10th students at Phalai high school face when learning English vocabulay? - How can grade 10th students at Phalai high school learn English vocabulay effectively Methods of the study To complete this graduation paper, a series of methods have been applied: First, collected references, books and websites related to vocabulary and techniques to study English were analyzed in details to form the theoretical background of this paper Besides, in order to achieve the aims of the study mentioned above, the quantitative analysis is the main tool for analyzing the data, which is collected from the questionnaire for students and teachers of grade 10th at Phalai high school, the information from which has provided invaluably Design of the study The study is divided into three main parts: Introduction, Development, and conclusion Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper Part A: Introduction shows the reasons to choose the study, the aims, scope, methods and design of the study Part B: Development consists of three chapters: Chapter 1: “Theoretical background” focuses on the aims to answer the questions related to vocabulary, and strategies of learning English vocabulary Chapter 2: “Findings, Interpretations and Analyses” refers to the survey questionnaire and analyzed findings of questionnaire results Chapter 3: “Suggestions to improve English vocabularylearning for grade 10th students at PhaLai high school”contains some techniques to learn vocabulary and some more suggested ways to help students make progress in studying English vocabulary Part C: Conclusion in which all the issued mentioned in the previous parts are summarized Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) Graduation Paper 3.3 Leaning English vocabulary through mass media Mass media is an indispensable part in our life today In fact, it is very useful for the students to studying vocabulary For example, everyday they spend a little time reading newspaper or magazines to enrich English vocabulary After seeing some new words, words, it is necessary to take note and try to learn vocabulary In fact, it is hard to understand much information through these news However, it really boosts students’ listening skill Mass media consists of main means of mass communication such as newspaper, aper, television & radio, books, magazines, adverts, cinema, videos, internet (personal website pages, blogs)…etc blogs)… which occupy a central part and pivotal role in our lives We can learn a enormous number of vocabulary from this Importantly, these vocabula vocabulary are very up-to-date date and denote the fact of each events happened everyday in detail The four basic skills in English will be better when studying from mass media 3.3.1 Using books, magazine, newspapers For example, here are some reference books which can can help students to have more knowledge about English vocabulary Tran Van Thuat- 1271A031271A03 (2012- 2016) 43 Graduation Paper It will be very useful if students have chances to read some English newspapers to get information and learn vocabulary: Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 44 Graduation Paper When having difficulties in understanding the meaning of the new words in a certain context, students can ask each other, even ask teachers for help Reading newspapers and magazines written in English will improve student’s reading skill and widen English vocabulary Besides, students can also enhance their vocabulary through poems found in some books It is easy to remember English vocabulary Moreover, students can share and discuss about these vocabulary - Poem about parts of the body: Cái mũi nose Ta legs Cái đầu head Ta xách hands Từ neck cổ Khi ăn dùng teeth Nhìn rõ nhờ eyes Full lips mơi dày Đơi tai ears Từ face khuôn mặt Từ hair mái tóc Gánh nặng showders Dáng vóc body Fingers cầm bút - Poem about seasons and weather: One year có bốn seasons Summer mùa hạ, winter mùa đông Spring xuân đền nở hoa Mùa thu mát mẻ từ fall Summerhot Winter cảm giác lại cold vô Spring cảm giác warm Fall cảm giác nghe cool - Poem about places Capital thủ đô City thành phố , local địa phương Country có nghĩa q hương Field đồng ruộng cịn vườn garden Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 45 Graduation Paper 3.3.2 Learning vocabulary by watching films or cartoons with English subtitles This is also a very interesting technique to learn English vocabulary Students will not only listen to the conversation between characters but they can read the dialogues on the screen Hence, it is helpful to remember new words Moreover, there are now some films or cartoons with English subtitles for you to watch and contents of these ones 3.3.3 Learning English vocabulary through Internet Nowadays, Internet is an indispensable part in our life and has a great influence on our life Every time, students can learn directly through online websites which teach English It is convenient for them to study new words, pronunciation and meaning This is s very interesting technique Through internet, students can download many documents related to English vocabulary t o improve their English Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 46 Graduation Paper Many websites which help students tocheck and broaden their vocabulary source are available in the Internet nowadays The lesson in these websites are designed in different topics and levels, generally from the easy and familiar topics to the more complicated ones Following the curriculum of these websites, students can steps by steps improve their vocabulary Some highly recommended websites for learning English vocabulary including: www.vocabulary.com www.vocabla.com www.vocabulary.co.il www.quizlet.com www.voca.vn www.manythings.org Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 47 Graduation Paper PART C: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION In general, this graduation paper has been carried out with the aim to investigate the current English teaching and learning situation at Pha Lai high school in Hai Duong province Therefore, it is necessary to point out workable and various techniques to improve the effectiveness learning English vocabulary In Chapter 1, some related background knowledge were presented such as: What is vocabulary, types of vocabulary, Englishvocabulary learning strategies With the purpose of research the opinion of teachers and students on the reality of teaching and learning English, especially leaning English vocabulary, the survey which was carried out with the hope to find out workable and effective techniques to teach vocabulary in each English lesson has been clearly introduced in Chapter In Chapter 3, some suggested techniques for grade 10th students at Pha Lai high school in Hai Duong province to learn English vocabulary were demonstrated With the wish to contribute some interesting and effective techniques for students at Pha Lai high school in Hai Duong province to learn English vocabulary, the researcher has completed this research paper with a special care and attention in order to make students interested in learning English vocabulary However, due to the time and knowledge limitation, mistakes and shortcomings are unavoidable Any further comments and contributions for perfection of this paper are gratefully appreciated Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 48 Graduation Paper REFERENCES English materials Bauer, L (2002) English Word- formation Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Brown, D H (2000) Principles of Language Learning & Teaching (4th ed.) Longman New York Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary Cook, V (2001) Second Language Learning and Language Teaching Routledge Jeanetes, D (2001) English as a Second Language Thomson, London Grabe, W and Stoller, F.L (1997) ‘Reading and Vocabulary Development in a Second Language: A case study’, in Coady, J and Huckin, T (eds) Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Harmer, (1993), The Pracrice of English Language Teaching, Essex: Longman Group UK Limited, ISBN 978-019-442169-0 Nguyen, B & Nguyen N (2002) A course in TEFL – Theory and practice II Hanoi: English Department – College of Foreign Languages- National University Nation, P (1994) New Ways in Teaching Vocabulary Pantagraph Priting Blomington 10 Nation, I.S.P (2001) Learning Vocabulary in Another Language Cambridge:Cambridge University Press 11 O’ Malley, J.M and Charmot, A.U (1990) Learning strategies in Second Language Acquisition Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 12 Paul Nation,(1990) Teaching and Learning Vocabulary Sebastian Wren, Ph.D Vocabulary BalancedReading.com Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 49 Graduation Paper 13 Richards, J., Platt, J & Weber H (1992) Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics Longman, London 14 Rubin, J and Thomson, I (1994) How to be a more successful language learner: Toward Learner Autonomy (2nd edition) Heinle and Heinel Publisher, Boston 15 Rubin (1987) Learner Strategies: Theoretical Assumptions, Research History and Typology In Wenden & Rubin (Eds.) 16 Sanaoui, R (1995) Adult Learners’ Approaches to Learning Vocabulary in Second Languages The Modern Language Journal 79/1: 15-28 17.Schmitt, N (1997) Vocabulary Learning Strategies Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Vocabulary: Description, In N Schmitt, & M.McCarthy (Eds.), Acquisition, and Pedagogy (pp.237-257) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 18 Schmitt, N (2000) Vocabulary in Language Teaching Cambridge:Cambridge University Press 19 Steven, S and Barbara, K (2001) What Every Educator Needs to Know about Teaching Vocabulary National Education Association of the United States, USA 20 Taylor, L (1990) Teaching and Learning English Vocabulary Prentice Hall, New York 21 Thornbury, S (2002) How to Teach Vocabulary Longman Harlow 22 Ur, P (1996) A Course in English Language Teaching Cambridge University Press, Cambridge 23 Wood, L (1981) Foreign and Second Language Learning Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Vietnamese materials Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 50 Graduation Paper 24 Nguyen Thuy Minh and Luong Quynh Trang (2010) Thiết kế giảng Tiếng Anh 10 NXB Hà Nội, Hà Nội Sources from Internet 25 http://www.highfrequencywords.org/first-100-high-frequency-word-list- precursive.html 26.http://www.languagemonitor.com/number-of-words/no-of-words.html 27 http://tienganhdhm.com/1201n/english-learning-by-alexandrine.html Tran Van Thuat- 1271A03- (2012- 2016) 51 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1: SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE FOR TEACHERS Dear teachers! My name is Tran Van Thuat from Hanoi Open University This questionnaire is conducted for my graduation paper entitled“Grade 10th students’ learning English vocabulary: a case study at Phalai High school” Your contribution in this survey questionnaire is highly appreciated! I would like to express my sincere thanks to your cooperation in completing this survey questionnaire What you think of the role of vocabulary to your students’ learning English? A Very important C Important B Not very important D Not important In your opinion, what are difficulties your students can face while learning vocabulary ? Difficulties They remember and forget quickly the word’s meaning They easily get bored They find it difficult to write some words They cannot pronoun some syllables Their concentration is low You lack teaching aids Which teaching techniques you often use most and its effectiveness? Frequency Techniques frequently Effectiveness sometimes never Effective normal not very effective Questions Handouts Games Songs Poems Pictures From your point of view, how to attract students’ attention to teach English vocabulary lesson? A By games E By textbooks B By exercises F By explanation C By pictures G By asking question D By songs H By using various techniques APPENDIX 2: SURVEY QUESTIONAIRE FOR STUDENTS Dear 10th graders! This survey questionnaire is designed to find out your attitude and your expectations toward teaching and learning English vocabulary Your answers will be used for researching purpose of my graduation paper entitled “Grade 10th students’ learning English vocabulary: a case study at Phalai High school.” Thank you for your cooperation in completing this survey questionnaire Các em lớp 10 thân mến! Phiếu điều tra tiến hành nhằm tìm hiểu thái độ mong muốn em việc dạy học từ vựng tiếng Anh lớp Những câu trả lời em dùng cho mục đích nghiên cứu khóa luận tốt nghiệp với đề tài “Việc học từ vựng Tiếng Anh học sinh lớp 10: nghiên cứu trường THPT Phả Lại” Cảm ơn đóng góp em ! Complete the following questions by circling the answers you choose ( Em khoanh tròn vào câu trả lời em lựa chọn) Do you like learning English ? ( Em có thích học tiếng anh khơng?) A Yes ( có ) B No ( khơng) In your opinion, learning English vocabulary is: ( Theo em, học từ vựng tiếng Anh có quan trọng khơng?) A Very important ( quan trọng) B Important ( quan trọng) C Not important ( không quan trọng) Which difficulties you have in learning English vocabulary? ( Em gặp khó khăn q trình học từ vựng tiếng Anh? ) Difficulties I remember and forget quickly the word’s meaning (Em nhớ quên nghĩa từ nhanh chóng) I easily get bored(Em dễ chán nản) I find it difficult to write some words (Em gặp khó khăn viết từ mới) I can not pronounce some syllables (Em phát âm vài âm tiết) My concentration is low (Độ tập trung em kém) How you usually get the meaning of a strange word? (Em thường biết nghĩa từ cách nào?) A Guess the meaning from the context (Đoán nghĩa dựa vào ngữ cảnh) B Look up the word in the dictionary (Tra từ điển) C Ask your teacher for the meaning (Hỏi giáo viên) D Ask your classmates or peers for the meaning (Hỏi bạn lớp) E Learn from word lists or glossary in the end of the book (Học từ danh sách từ vựng cuối sách) F Ignore it (Bỏ qua từ đó) How you memorize new words? ( Ở nhà em học từ nào) A Write many times and learn by heart (Viết lại nhiều lần học thuộc lòng) B Do exercises ( Em làm tập nhà) C.Write many times ( Em viết lại từ nhiều lần) D.Think about them in your mind (Luôn nghĩ đến từ mới) E Read them and repeat ( Đọc nhắc lại) F Make sentences with them ( Đặt câu có sử dụng từ mới) G Others ( cách khác) Please write down in the provided space below( em viết vào chỗ trống đây) ……………………………………………………………………………… What does your teacher often in vocabulary lesson, its frequency and effectiveness? ( Giáo viên em thường làm vào học từ vựng Em đánh giá tần suất sử dụng hiệu chúng) Frequency Techniques Frequently Effectiveness Sometimes Never Effective Nomal Not very (thường (thỉnh (không (hiệu (bình effective xun) thoảng) bao quả) thường) (khơng hiệu giờ) Questions (câu hỏi) Handouts (bài tập) Games (trò chơi) Songs (bài hát) Poems (thơ) Pictures (tranh ảnh) lắm) Which techniques by your teacher are your preference? ( You can choose more than one) (Em thích giáo viên dùng phương pháp sau để dạy từ vựng tiếng anh, Em chọn nhiều đáp án) A By games ( trò chơi) B By exercises ( tập) C By pictures ( tranh) D By songs ( hát) E By textbooks ( sách giáo khoa) F By explanation (bằng cách giải thích ) G by asking question ( cách đặt câu hỏi) Do you feel satisfied with the current teaching method? (Em có thấy thỏa mãn học tiếng anh với phương pháp giảng dạy giáo khơng?) A Yes ( có) B No ( không) What you expect your teacher to to better your vocabulary learning? ( Em mong muốn cô giáo em làm để học từ vựng em tốt hơn) ……………………………………………………………………………………………