The effectiveness of using skyde to improve speaking skills for the first year english education students at Ha Noi Pedagogical University 2

HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY - TỐNG HUỆ PHƯƠNG THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SKYPE TO IMPROVE SPEAKING SKILLS FOR THE FIRST YEAR ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDENTS AT HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY (SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS OF ENGLISH) BA THESIS IN ENGLISH HANOI, 2017 HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY - TỐNG HUỆ PHƯƠNG THE EFFECTIVENESS OF USING SKYPE TO IMPROVE SPEAKING SKILLS FOR THE FIRST YEAR ENGLISH EDUCATION STUDENTS AT HANOI PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY (SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS OF ENGLISH) BA THESIS IN ENGLISH SUPERVISOR: NGUYỄN THỊ HÀ ANH, MA HANOI, 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express the deepest appreciation and my sincere thanks to my supervisor: Ms Nguyen Thi Ha Anh, M.A., for her guidance as well as encouragement, indispensable suggestions and advice I want to express my sincere gratitude to the committee members for their time, advice and valuable feedback that were invaluable In addition, I like to thank the first year students of English Education for their support and enthusiasm with my research A special thank goes to the students who were participating in my survey, a crucial component of my research i ABSTRACT As a result from the practical issue that students‟ English speaking skills are quite poor and their attitudes towards learning speaking English outside class are passive, the researcher was inspired to use Skype computer program to help them In general, the English language speaking sub-skills focused are comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar This study aims at investigating the effectiveness of using Skype on a group of three first year students of English Education at Hanoi Pedagogical University (HPU2) in English speaking skills The results collected from two tools: the speaking test interview to measure the students' speaking skills achievements and the survey questionnaire to determine the changes towards the improvement of speaking skills outside class due to the implementation of Skype Based on the results of the pre-speaking test interview and the pre survey questionnaire, the researcher had concluded that not only students‟ English speaking was low, but their errors in English speaking sub-skills were numerous, consequently the application of Skype outside class was scheduled with a number of topics for practice discussion Resulting from the post-speaking test interview and the post survey questionnaire, the employment of Skype was demonstrated that it was effective in improving students‟ speaking ability and their attitudes towards practicing speaking outside class ii STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I state that the thesis is truly my original work The thesis does not contain any material which has been written or published by another person except where referenced within the text Date submitted: May 2017 Student Supervisor Tong Hue Phuong Nguyen Thi Ha Anh, MA iii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Hanoi Pedagogical University HPU2 Student S1 Student S2 Student S3 Computer-Assisted Language Teaching CALL Second Language Acquisition SLA Student Oral Language Observation Matrix SOLOM iv TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I INTRODUCTION I RATIONALE II RESEARCH QUESTIONS III RESEARCH OBJECTIVES IV RESEARCH SCOPE .3 V RESEARCH TASKS VI RESEARCH METHODOLOGY VII SIGNIFICANCE VIII RESEARCH DESIGN .5 PART II DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW I.1 English speaking skills I.1.1 Definitions of speaking I.1.2.English language speaking skills .9 I.1.3 English language speaking sub-skills I.1.3.1 Accuracy I.1.3.2 Fluency 10 I.1.3.3 Pronunciation .11 I.1.3.4 Grammar 12 I.1.3.5 Vocabulary 12 I.1.3.6 Comprehension 13 I.2 The employment of technology in English speaking classroom 13 I.2.1 Technology and Language 13 v I.2.2 History of using technology in language classrooms 14 I.2.3 Online discussion 16 I.2.4 Communication software .17 I.3 Skype 17 I.3.1 Concepts of Skype .17 I.3.2 Benefits of using Skype in learning languages 18 I.3.3 Challenges of using Skype in learning language ………………… … …………….18 I.4 The previous studies .19 CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY II.1 Research methods 23 II.1.1 Rationales behind the case study .23 II.1.2 Case study research procedure 25 II.1.2.1 Describing background .25 II.1.2.2 Identifying problems 26 II.1.2.3 Producing vision/objectives 26 II.1.2.3 Proposing solutions .26 II.1.2.4 Implementing case study 26 II.1.2.5 Results and evaluation .27 II.2 Data collection instruments 27 II.2.1 Speaking test interview 27 II.2.1.1 Pre-speaking test interview .27 II.2.1.2 Post- speaking test interview 28 II.2.1.3 Checklist .28 II.2.2 Survey questionnaire .29 II.2.2.1 The pre-survey questionnaire 29 II.2.2.2 The post-survey questionnaire 29 II.3 Research setting 30 vi II.4 Participants .30 II.5 Research procedure 31 II.5.1 Describing the background 31 II.5.2 Identifying problems 31 II.5.3 Producing vision/objectives 32 II.5.4 Proposing solution .32 II.5.5 Implementing case study 33 II.5.6 Results and evaluation 34 II.6 Data analysis 34 II.6.1 Test interview .34 III.6.1.1 Oral test interview .34 II.6.1.2 Interview’s checklist .34 II.6.2 Survey questionnaire .35 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS III.1 Description of procedure and the outcome 36 III.1.1 Week 36 III.1.2 Week 38 III.1.3 Week 39 III.1.4 Week 40 III.1.5 Week 41 III.1.6 Week 43 III.1.7 Week 43 III.2 The results from the speaking test interview .45 III.2.1 Result from the pre-speaking test interview 46 III.2.1.1 Comprehension 47 III.2.1.2 Fluency 48 III.2.1.2.1 Non-lexical words repetition 48 vii III.2.1.2.2 Lexical words pronunciation repetition 49 III.2.1.3 Vocabulary 50 III.2.1.3.1 Words‟ pronunciation 50 III.2.1.3.2 Limited vocabulary also causes words usage reiteration 51 III.2.1.4 Pronunciation 51 III.2.1.4.1 Stress and Intonation 51 III.2.1.4.2 English consonants .52 III.2.1.5 Grammar .53 III.2.1.5.1 Wrong verb tense 53 III.2.1.5.2 Subject-verb disagreement .54 III.2.1.5.3 Clipped sentences 54 III.2.2 Result from the post-speaking test interview 56 III.2.2.1 Comprehension 57 III.2.2.2 Fluency 57 III.2.2.2.1 Non-lexical words repetition 57 III.2.2.2.2 Lexical words pronunciation repetition 57 III.2.2.3 Vocabulary 58 III.2.2.3.1 Words‟ pronunciation 58 III.2.2.3.2 Words‟ reiteration .58 III.2.2.4 Pronunciation 59 III.2.2.4.1 Stress and Intonation 59 III.2.2.4.2 English consonants .59 III.2.2.5 Grammar .60 III.2.2.5.1 Wrong verbs tense .60 III.2.2.5.2 Subject verb disagreement .60 III.2.2.5.3 Clipped sentences 61 III.2.3 Comparison and evaluation .61 viii Expert: Ok Tell me, how often you use it? S3: Um, I‟m…use the Internet…um… hours a day Expert: What you use it for? S3: Um, um, I use um um search Facebook and search some information Expert: Do you use its Internet for Youtube? S3: Um, used to um (thinking) Expert: Music video on Youtube? S3: Yes Expert: Oh, you see Youtube How often you use it? S3: Um, I see Intenet um usually um um, I use um hours a day Expert: Ok hours a day and you use it for Facebook and for information Do you text? S3: Um, no Expert: How many Facebook friends you have? S3: Whats? Expert: How many Facebook friends you have? S3: I have um two…two thousands, more than two thousands Expert: Really? S3: Yes Expert: That‟s a lot S3: Um It‟s Internet, in Facebook á? Yes Expert: You send the message? S3: Um (thinking) I…send the message some of um them But most of them Expert: So I can post Facebook, your 2000 friends will get message S3: Um (silent- looking away) Expert: Do you have penpals? S3: No 91 Expert: Besides information and Facebook and what else can you use its Internet? S3: Um, watch video /vɪzeo/ um watch video (emphasized) Expert: What kind of video you watch? S3: Um I wants video of music of video um film Expert: What kind of film? S3: I usually um watchs horror film um Expert: Horror film? S3: Yes I like this Expert: That scaries you? S3: No Expert: Do you watch romantic? S3: Oh, no, I thinks Expert: No? You don‟t watch romantic move? I love romantic movie S3: No, I don‟t like It a isn‟t my cup of tea 92 APPENDIX E Questions of Post- speaking test interview This speaking test interview is conducted to investigate the effectiveness of English speaking competence of students after the application of Skype A Student 1, topic “Shopping” I Introduction (2-3 minutes) Tell me about yourself II Topic’s question (7 minutes) Do you like shopping? What is the negative and positive of shopping? Supermarket or local market Which you prefer and Why? B Student 2, topic “Future plan” I Introduction (2-3 minutes) Tell me about yourself II Topic’s question (7 minutes) What you want to be in the future? How you improve yourself to get it? What might prevent you from this? C Student 3, topic “Future plan” I Introduction (2-3 minutes) Tell me about yourself II Topic’s question (7 minutes) What you want to be in the future? How you improve yourself to get it? What might prevent you from this? This is the end of this speaking test interview Thank you for your cooperation! 93 APPENDIX F: TRANSCRIPT IN THE POST- SPEAKING TEST INTERVIEW A Student topic “Shopping” Expert: Tell me about yourself: hometown, mother, father, boyfriends, girlfriends, dog, cat, pagoda in your hometown you think famous S1: My name is Mai Anh and I come from a province, it is um um far from… Expert: hours? S1: hour Expert: I see you from Bắc Ninh? Can you sing good? I‟m joke Good, good So tell me about Bắc Ninh, anything you can tell your world? S1: Um um Bắc Ninh is known as for um known as known for “quan họ” folk song Expert: Folk singers? Ok folk song S1: And they are some pagoda such as “Đô” Temple um “Dâu” pagoda um um Expert: Any big factories down there, they make cell phone S1: Samsung electronic Expert: Yes You know S1: Um my family has members My um my parents, my two younger brothers and me My parents both are farmers and two younger brothers are students Um um… Expert: Do you have a lot of friends in Bắc Ninh? S1: Yes Expert: Someone else came to school with you here? S1: Two friends Expert: Are you friendly with them when you see them here much? S1: Yes, because they still they study with me in my class 94 Expert: So you in the same cycle, very good Tell me more about yourself S1: I like listening to um various music such as KPOP, VPOP, US, UK and I‟m really into surfing Facebook in my free time Expert: Ok so you‟re Facebook person and spend some free time here OK Do you like shopping? S1: Um at the weekend I often go shopping with my friends or go to cinema and I the housework Expert: Help your mother? So, OK, um go to the next question What is the negative and positive of shopping? Good and bad that what we need OK? S1: Going shopping um has has sides um advantage /ədˈv æːn.tɪs/ and disadvantage um First I want to talk about advantage of going shopping Expert: Advantage /ədˈvæn.tɪdʒ/ S1: Advantage /ədˈvæn.tɪdʒ/ Expert: Good girl, keep going S1: Um first when I going when I go to shopping I feel um I feel relax and it reduces stress um the colors of the clothes um Expert: So when you go shopping the color attracts you? S1: Yeah Expert: OK Anything you want to tell me about when you go to Mê Linh Plaza or you go wherever, so you actually buy things, clothes or you buy… S1: And I buy some cosmetics Expert: So you go you buy cosmetics Cosmetics are so expensive in Vietnam S1: And about disadvantages, um, going shopping um sometims um um (thinking) wastes time and wastes money um Expert: Is that what you think or what your mother said? S1: Um my mother said 95 Expert: Yeah I thought so OK I want you relax, don‟t pressure OK Anything else you see is advantage or disadvantage, anything else you want to say? Take a breath, tak a second S1: Um (thinking) Expert: OK we can move along next topic Which one you prefer? Local market or supermarket? S1: Um I prefer supermarket When we buy things in supermarket the things are more quol more quol… Expert: They are quite quality S1: Yes, and the ma materials and Expert: You go to Big C is that your store? Big C? S1: Sometimes Expert: That‟s quality, the level OK Big C is your level OK Supermarket or local market Which you prefer and Why? You want to me about the other market? Why don‟t you think it‟s so good? S1: About the local market? I think that the quality is not good and it‟s not sure… Expert: It‟s not exactly sure it‟s safe? S1: Yes, Expert: You basically say higher quality, you don‟t worry much about that thing being in food and so you prefer shopping in… S1: Supermarket Expert: Alright We cover everything and we need to talk… Anything else you wanna talk more? S1: (thinking and silent) Expert: OK Thank you You‟ve done B Student topic “Future plan” 96 Expert: Tell me about yourself S2: First of all, I um I want to tell you … my name is Ngọc, yes, I come from “Phú Thọ” province Expert: What is that? S2: “Phú Thọ” province Expert: OK S2: Yes Um and about my family ah I live in um family include um my parents um and my elder brother and I Expert: Good He is older, right? S2: Yeah Expert: I‟m just kidding Got it S2: Um and my father is a businessman, businessman Expert: Businessman S2: My mother is a teacher in a primary school Expert: OK Got it, OK Go on S2: And my elder brother, he is, now he is in shopkeeper Expert: Shopkeeper? S2: Yes Expert: Anything else about your city where you come from, your province, and what is it famous for anything? S2: Um about my hometown OK My hometown is Phú Thọ province and it‟s famous for Hùng king Temple, you know? I think you don‟t know Expert: I know the temple, I know you say it‟s famous temple, I believe you I will not know because I‟m American You know American are not too smart Keep going S2: And um my hometown is a mountainous area Expert: You come from mountains? It‟s central of highlands 97 S2: It‟s not central Expert: Where? S2: You know… countryside Expert: Your father is businessman and your older brother is shopkeeper, you come from mountains OK S2: Yeah, he goes to Hanoi city Expert: Your father? For business? S2: OK He go to so many place for his job He travel um um and um… Expert: Anything else you want to tell about grandparents? Your friends? S2: They live in a place is far from my home and every year on holiday we go to my dad‟s hometown to visit them and about my friends I have um I have so much friend and a lot of friends um in my class My classmates, almost of them are goods, yes, just have a boy and… Expert: Stop here, stop right there, next general question Tell me what are you gonna be in the future In the future what would you be and why would you be that person? Why? Think about what you wanna be in future, whatever… S2: As you know I‟m here, I‟m study I‟m studying here to become an English teacher, yeah When I was a child, I dream, dreamt about um English teacher, I can become an English teacher um I want to become that because my mother is a teacher Expert: Uhhuh? S2: Yes And she‟s so um I think that she is a good teacher and she‟s so dedicated to her students Expert: OK So take a breath relax I think you told me why little bit, yeah? OK Let‟s go down to question What you need to get better to become 98 an English teacher? How you improve yourself, get smarter, whatever you have to to get the target? S2: Um I think that I need to improve four skills Expert: Four skills? S2: Yes Writing, speaking, reading and listening Yes and I think that I have to become a person who is more active um and I need to improve my knowledge, I need to get more knowledge to teach my students in the future Expert: OK Keep going What else you wanna say? S2: English is my favourite subject when I was high school but I don‟t find a good method to manage Expert: So you‟re searching for better way to learn English S2: Yes Expert: That‟s right That you have to S2: I want to change the method because when I was high school I just only learn about grammar Expert: Right, grammar S2: I don‟t… Expert: Conversation when you didn‟t get enough talking and listening OK I understand S2: Yeah, speaking and listening, um I didn‟t learn a lot when I was high school Expert: I understand but it‟s not bad because don‟t know your grammar you never get good at speaking and listening, don‟t be hard for your high school The grammar is very important at the first step Baby crawls then baby walks The grammar is crawl , the walking is becoming listening and speaking That‟s good if you have grammar OK What could slow you down, prevent you? 99 S2: After that, I think that it has so many, a lot Expert: Name that difficulty, name the hard things you might see I‟ll try to help you little bit S2: I think that um I need to good at English first I need fluently um I need to understand four skills and use it more um Expert: Think, breath S2: First of all, four skills, anyone when they need to become an English teacher they need to improve four skill, I think that um Expert: Good, four skills, first one? S2: Writing Expert: You get that from grammar, that‟s good you took that in high school Keep going S2: Yeah, I think that listening and speaking is the most important, more important than anothers and they‟re more difficult C Student topic “Future plan” Expert: Tell me about yourself, your friend, your hometown, your personal life S3: My name is Phuong Anh I was born in Bắc Ninh province Coming to my family, there are members in my family: my parents, my elder sister, my younger brother and I Um and my parents are photographers Expert: Photographers? S3: Yes Expert: I got it S3: And my sister and my younger brother is students They study in Hanoi city um and about my hometown It‟s not far from here, it‟s about 20km Expert: What is the name? S3: Bắc Ninh 100 Expert: Bắc Ninh? S3: Yes Expert: Good singer from Bắc Ninh S3: Yeah Expert: So tell me little bit about Bắc Ninh, what is this like and is it a big industrial plane out there? S3: Yeah, it has some famous, you know um “quan họ” it is folk music Expert: I know that S3: And it has some famous place like /naik/ “Phật tích” Temple um “Đơ” Temple, you know it? Expert: I don‟t know it but you know it It‟s good enough Many Bắc Ninh people know about these temples S3: Yeah, it‟s quite famous and um my hometown had some special food like “phu thê”, it is used for someone married, they will use it Expert: So you point out different foods and go different ceremonies OK Very good Anything you want to tell me more about that? What are you gonna be in the future and Why? S3: I want to be a teacher, English teacher because I dreaming of about being a English teacher because I want to teach everybody /ˈeve.riˌb ɒd.i/ about English to make them love my teach and so that‟s reason to for why I choose this school to study Expert: Anything else about the why? S3: Um I think I need to improve my skill um skill: listening, speaking… because I think I‟m better all about the skil and I need /li:d/ to become more confident because I‟m shy to talk about, as you can see I don‟t can look at you 101 Expert: Relax, take a deep breath, relax, come on, it‟s not hard, relax, be confident, I‟m here to help OK? Alright So you wanna say something more about that question? Or you wanna move on to the next question? S3: I will move to the next question Expert: Think of some difficulties when you try to become a teacher? S3: It is not many foreign /fɒrizən/ people in this school, I know you um the another teacher is come from abroad Expert: America S3: You come from America? Expert: Yeah, I‟m from New York city S3: Yes and not many chance to talk about talk with foreign people and I think it is not good because my major is English and I want to more English because… Expert: So you like to have more contact with foreign English teachers and you can hear from them S3: It also improves my listening, my speaking Expert: That‟s very correct That‟s true So that would help you if you have more contact OK 102 APPENDIX G: TOPICS FOR THE APPLICATION OF SKYPE IN SEVEN WEEKS 103 104 105 ... of English Education at HPU2 The study is aimed at the following objectives: To help the first year students of English Education at HPU2 be better at speaking skills To point out which sub -speaking. .. effectiveness of using Skype on a group of three first year students of English Education at Hanoi Pedagogical University (HPU2) in English speaking skills The results collected from two tools: the speaking. .. questions form the basis of this study: How effective is the employment of Skype in English speaking skills practice among the first year students of English Education at HPU2? What are attitudes of the