Teaching speaking skill to students with low english proficiency difficulties and suggested solutions

1 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN THỊ VÂN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL TO STUDENTS WITH LOW ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: DIFFICULTIES AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS Nghiên cứu việc dạy kỹ nói cho người học có ngữ tiếng Anh yếu: Những khó khăn giải pháp M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 Hanoi - 2010 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN THỊ VÂN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL TO STUDENTS WITH LOW ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: DIFFICULTIES AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS Nghiên cứu việc dạy kỹ nói cho người học có ngữ tiếng Anh yếu: Những khó khăn giải pháp M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 Supervisor: DƯƠNG THỊ NỤ, PhD Hanoi - 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ……………………………………………………………………i ABSTRACT …………………………… ……………………………………………………ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ………………………………………………… ………… iii LIST OF TABLES …………………………………………………………………………….iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ………………………………………………………………………v PART A INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………… 1 Rationale …………………………………………………………………………………….1 Aim of the study …………………………………………………………………………… Research questions ………………………………………………………………………… Scope of the study … ……………………………………………………………………….2 Method of the study………………………………………………………………………….2 Design of the study ……………………………………………………………………… PART B DEVELOPMENT ….………………………………………………….4 Chapter Literature Review …………………………………………………………… 1.1 Theoretical background of speaking skill in second language learning …………… 1.1.1 Definition of speaking ………………………………………………………………… 1.1.2 Approaches to the teaching of speaking ……………………………………………… 1.1.3 Factors affecting learners’ speaking achievement ………………………………… 1.1.3.1 Teachers’ roles ……………………………………………………………………… 1.1.3.2 Learners’ roles ……………………………………………………………………… Aptitudes …………………………………………………………………………………… Motivation and attitude ……………………………………………………………………… Learning strategies ………………………………………………………………………… 11 Learners’ needs ……………………………………………………………………………….11 1.2 Students with low English proficiency (SLEP)……………………………………… 12 1.2.1 Definition of SLEP …………………………………………………………………….12 1.2.2 Ways to help SLEP …………………………………………………………………….12 Chapter The study …………………………………………………………………… 15 2.1 The context …………………………………………………………………………… 15 2.2 The study ……………………………………………………………………………… 15 2.2.1 Participants ………………………………………………………………………… 15 2.2.2 Instruments and methodology ……………………………………………………….16 2.2.3 Data analysis … ……… ……………………………………………………………16 2.2.3.1 Questionnaire for students … 16 Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………… 16 Statistical result ……………………………………………………………………………… 17 - Students’ English learning background …………………………………………… 17 - Students’ attitude and motivation to English speaking skill and English speaking skill learning ……………………………………………………………………………… 18 - Students’ strategies in English speaking skill learning …… ……………………… .21 - Students’ desires in English speaking skill learning ……………………… ……… 25 2.2.3.2 Questionnaire for teachers …………………………… 27 Methodology ………………………………………………………………………………… 27 Statistical result ……………………………………………………………………………… 27 - Teachers’ experience, and opinion on SLEP and teaching speaking skill to SLEP 27 - Teachers’ techniques in teaching English speaking skill to SLEP…………… … 28 Chapter Findings and recommendations …………………………………………… 31 3.1 Difficulties in teaching speaking skill to SLEP ………… ………………………… 31 3.2 Suggested solutions in teaching speaking skill to SLEP …………………… …… 31 3.2.1 Creating a pleasant and supportive classroom atmosphere …………………………….31 3.2.2 Having high expectation and using reward appropriately …………………………… 32 3.2.3 Providing opportunities for students to experience success ………………………… 33 3.2.4 Using various and interesting activities and new and effective techniques ………… 33 3.2.5 Training the students with more strategies in learning English speaking skill……… 36 3.3 An example of applying some techniques in teaching plan of English speaking … 37 PART C CONCLUSION……………………………………………………… 44 REFERENCE ………………………………………………………………………………… I APPENDIX Questionnaire for students IV APPENDIX Questionnaire for teachers XII ... GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** NGUYỄN THỊ VÂN TEACHING SPEAKING SKILL TO STUDENTS WITH LOW ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: DIFFICULTIES AND SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS Nghiên cứu việc dạy kỹ nói cho người học... ……………………………………………………………………………… 17 - Students English learning background …………………………………………… 17 - Students attitude and motivation to English speaking skill and English speaking skill learning ………………………………………………………………………………... Teachers’ experience, and opinion on SLEP and teaching speaking skill to SLEP 27 - Teachers’ techniques in teaching English speaking skill to SLEP…………… … 28 Chapter Findings and recommendations