Using dictation to improve listening skills of grade 10 students at a high school in ha nam province

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* NGUYỄN THỊ QUỲNH ANH USING DICTATION TO IMPROVE LISTENING SKILLS OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HA NAM PROVINCE (Sử dụng tả để cải thiện kỹ nghe hiểu cho học sinh lớp 10 trường trung học Tỉnh Hà Nam) M.A MINOR THESIS (Type I) Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 Hanoi - 2019 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* NGUYỄN THỊ QUỲNH ANH USING DICTATION TO IMPROVE LISTENING SKILLS OF GRADE 10 STUDENTS AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HA NAM PROVINCE (Sử dụng tả để cải thiện kỹ nghe hiểu cho học sinh lớp 10 trường trung học Tỉnh Hà Nam) M.A MINOR THESIS (Type I) Field: English teaching methodology Code: 8140231.01 Supervisor: Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân Hanoi – 2019 DECLARATION I certify that the minor thesis entitled “Using dictation to improve listening skills of grade 10 students in a high school in Ha Nam province” and the work presented in it is the result of my own work, and that the minor thesis or any part of the same has not been submitted to any university and institution I also accept all the requirements of ULIS relating to the retention and use of M.A Graduation Thesis deposited in the library Hanoi, October 2019 Author‟s signature Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to express my deep gratitude to my supervisor Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân for his valuable guidance, encouragements, criticisms and correction throughout my research Without his help, this study would be far from finished He consistently allowed this paper to be my own work, but steered me in the right direction whenever he thought I needed it I am greatly indebted to all my lecturers at Faculty of Post-graduate Studies of University of Languages and International Studies – Vietnam National University, Hanoi who have provided me an invaluable source of knowledge for my completion of this thesis I would also like to thank fourty 10th grade students at a local school in Ha Nam province Without their passionate participation and input, the validation survey could not have been successful I must express my very profound gratitude to my family and friends whose unfailing support and continuous encouragement help me throughout my years of study and the process of researching and writing this thesis This accomplishment would not have been possible without them Last but not least, I wish to thank my readers for their interest and comments on the thesis Hanoi, October 2019 Author‟s signature Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh ii ABSTRACT How to improve English listening skill effectively is always a topic that has attracted much attention from language teachers Students of English find listening lessons difficult because they not have appropriate methods to get over the difficulties As a result, this research attempts to look at one method called dictation to improve high school students‟ listening skills This study is conducted to find out: (1) a clear view of dictation, (2) how the method works on the students, and (3) how much the student‟s listening skills are improved The data were collected through action research with 40 grade 10 students in a local high school in Ha Nam province All of the groups were pre-tested at the beginning of the study Throughout the learning process in class for 18 weeks, the teacher gave the students dictation practice tasks All students in the class were post-tested at the end of the intervention For the detailed outcome, the data was collected and analyzed carefully An analysis of survey questionnaires is done on the students to find out their attitudes towards this technique As the findings show, the research reveals that dictation contributes positively to improving listening skills for students iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .ii ABSTRACT iii LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF CHARTS viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the problem and rationale of the thesis 1.2 Aims of the thesis 1.3 Scope of the thesis 1.4 Methods of the thesis 1.5 Significance of the thesis 1.6 Design of the thesis CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Listening 2.1.1 Definition of listening 2.1.2 The importance of listening 2.1.3 Listening problems 2.2 Dictation 2.2.1 History of dictation 2.2.2 Definition of dictation .9 2.2.3 Characteristic of dictation .10 2.2.4 Types of dictation .11 2.2.5 The advantages of dictation 12 2.2.6 The disadvantages of dictation 14 2.2.7 Related studies 14 2.3 Summary 16 iv CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 17 3.1 Research site 17 3.2 Research design .20 3.2.1 Initial relection 21 3.2.2 Planning 22 3.2.3 Action and observation 22 3.2.4 Reflection 25 3.3 The participants 26 3.4 Research questions 26 3.5 The data collection instruments 27 3.5.1 Pre- and Post-tests 27 3.5.2 Questionnaires 28 3.6 Method of data analysis 29 3.6.1 Quantitative data .29 3.6.2 Qualitative data 29 3.7 Summary 30 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 30 4.1 Analysis of listening practice tasks 30 4.1.1 Standard dictation 31 4.1.2 Error identification 31 4.1.3 Jigsaw dictation .31 4.1.4 Listening cloze 32 4.1.5 Elicited imitation .32 4.2 Analysis of the listening tests .33 4.3 Analysis of the survey questionnaire 36 4.4 Discussion of the findings .40 4.4.1 Achievement and difficulties 41 4.4.2 Attitudes 43 4.5 Summary 43 v CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION 45 5.1 Summary of the study 45 5.2 Pedagogical implications 45 5.3 Recommendations 46 For the other researchers 47 5.4 Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research 47 5.6 Conclusion .48 REFERENCES 49 APPENDICES I APPENDIX : A Lesson Plan I APPENDIX 2: Pre-Test VIII APPENDIX 3: Dictation 1: Unit 1: Family Life XI APPENDIX 4: Dictation 2: Unit 2: Your Body And You XII APPENDIX 5: Dictation Unit 3: Music XIV APPENDIX 6: Dictation 4: Unit 4: For A Better Community XV APPENDIX 7: Dictation 5: Unit 5: Invention XVI APPENDIX 8: Post-Test XVII APPENDIX 9: Questionnaires XX vi LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Listening practice task for dictation XV Table 4.2: The results of pre-test and post-test 33 Table 4.3 Student‟s response to the questionnaires 37 vii LIST OF CHARTS Chart 3.2 Action Research Model (Source: Kurt Lewin, (1934)) 21 Chart 3.2.3: Conceptual framework 25 Chart 4.2: Students‟ mean score of average mark 36 Chart 4.3.1: Students‟ attitudes towards dictation 38 Chart 4.3.2 The benefits of dictation 39 Chart 4.3.3 Student‟s difficulties when doing dictation 40 viii IV HOMEASSIGNMENT (1ms) - T asks Ss to exercise at home * Homework: - Prepare for the next lesson Learn new words by heart : - Ss listen and take note Prepare the next lesson carefully.unit : lesson Writing VI APPENDIX 2: PRE-TEST LISTENING TEST I Listen to an interview with Grace about her „Text a friend‟ service Are the sentences (1–5) true (T) or false (F)? (2.5p) Grace has always had a wonderful time at school F The „Text a friend‟ service is for students who are having a hard time at school One of Grace‟s problems was her bad grades Grace dealt with her problems alone Grace started the „Text a friend‟ service because she wanted students to know they‟re not alone The „Text a friend‟ service is only for students who are new to the school II Listen to a conversation between a couple about their wedding anniversary For each question, choose the best answer A, B or C (2.5p) What is the problem at the beginning of the conversation? A The man forgot to buy his wife's favorite flowers B The man didn't remember their anniversary C The man didn't take his wife out last week Where does the woman want to go on her dream vacation? A Chicago B Europe C Nigeria What new item does she want in the kitchen? A a kettle B a stove C a microwave Why does the woman want more clothing? A Because she has lost weight B Because she wants more comfortable clothing for the winter C Because she doesn‟t want to wear old, used clothing 10 What does the woman suggest doing before they plan their trip? A having a light lunch VIII B talking with friends about the trip C buying some travel books 10 III You will hear a recorded message about Finchbrooke Country Part For each question, fill in the missing information in the numbered space (5p) Finchbrooke Country Park Opening times Park: Every day (8 a.m – p.m.) Visitors‟ Centre: Tuesday – Sunday (9 a.m – 5.30 p.m.) From the town centre, take bus number (11) …………… Inside the Visitors‟ Centre, you can buy books and videos and get free (12) …… If the Visitors‟ Centre is shut, a telephone can be found at the (13) … to the park In the park, you can go cycling, (14) …………… and camping Group visits include a (15) …………… and a guided tour 11 12 13 14 IX 15 KEYS FOR PRE-TEST I/ (PROGRESS TEST 06) 0.1p/1s T T F T F B C 10 A 13 14 FISHING 15 TALK ENTRANCE (ON THE (TO THE LAKE) II/ (ESL-LAB.COM) 0.1p/1s B B III/ (PET EXTRA) 1p/1s 11 109 12 MAPS PARK) X APPENDIX 3: DICTATION 1: UNIT 1: FAMILY LIFE Housework There is always housework to when you live in a house You have to wash the windows so that you can see outside The floors and the carpets need to be vacuumed The floors also need to be washed, and some of them need to be waxed The furniture has to be polished The bathroom has to be kept clean After you have a bath, you need to clean out the bathtub Laundry needs to be done regularly, or you will run out of clothes to wear The clothes go into the washing machine, and then they have to be dried in the dryer Sometimes, we hang the clothes out on the line to be dried Some of the clothes need to be ironed You have to buy groceries and put them away Meals need to be made You can‟t let the dishes pile up in the kitchen The dishes have to be washed You can make the beds The beds have to be changed too They need to have clean sheets put on them There are just so many things to Household chores take up a lot of time XI APPENDIX 4: DICTATION 2: UNIT 2: YOUR BODY AND YOU  Dictation with errors Health Our health is very important to us People can have good jobs, money or well looks However, if sick, those things don't mean a thing It is wonderful to feel good Feeling good isn‟t just about our body, it is also about our my and spirit We need to fit well in every area of our life One of the things we can to be health is to get often sleep If we don‟t sleep well or enlarge it hurts our body It is during sleep that they become our body restocks itself Everybody knows we should also eat good foods We need meal produces, meats fruits and vegan, and breads and cereals We shouldn‟t eat too much fat or sugar things either Of course, we just shouldn‟t eat too much at all Other thing that is very important is water Most people know our bodies are fairly water and we need to keep that replaced with good water Often exercise is very good for both our body and mine It is good for our heart, legs, mussels and bones It gets oxygen to our brain to help us think better It can help us be smarter Doing things that we believe are right and good gives us peach inside It makes us nicer people and is good for our spirit When we what we know is right it helps to reduce stress which isn‟t good for any part of us When we take care of our body mind and spirit we feel good all over and inside too What a beautiful world this could be if we could all work at doing these things for ourself and also trying to be a help to others  Dictation without errors Health Our health is very important to us People can have good jobs, money or good looks However, if they become sick, those things don‟t mean a thing It is wonderful to feel good Feeling good isn‟t just about our body, it is also about our mind and spirit We need to feel good in every area of our life One of the things we can to be healthy is to get enough sleep If we don't sleep well or enough it hurts XII our body It is during sleep that our body restores itself Everybody knows we should also eat good foods We need milk products, meats fruits and vegetables, and breads and cereals We shouldn‟t eat too many fat or sugar things either Of course, we just shouldn‟t eat too much at all Another thing that is very important is water Most people know our bodies are mainly water and we need to keep that replaced with good water Often exercise is very good for both our body and mind It is good for our heart, lungs, muscles and bones It gets oxygen to our brain to help us think better It can help us be smarter Doing things that we believe are right and good gives us peace inside It makes us nicer people and is good for our spirit When we what we know is right it helps to reduce stress which isn't good for any part of us When we take care of our body mind and spirit we feel good all over and inside too What a beautiful world this would be if we could all work at doing these things for ourselves and also trying to be a help to others XIII APPENDIX 5: DICTATION UNIT 3: MUSIC Tata Young was born as Amita Marie Young in Thailand in 1980 She is a Thai superstar and is popular all over Asia She became an international success after she released her first English-language album, „I Believe‟ in 2004 This followed four albums sung in her native Thai She has won a string of awards and regularly tops the “best this”, “sexiest that” lists Tata has an American father and Thai mother Success for her began at the age of 11, when she beat over 5,000 children in a Thai TV talent contest She won a contract with Yamaha Music, which set about preparing her for stardom In 1994, aged 14, she caught the eye of Thailand‟s biggest record label, which offered her a recording contract Tata‟s debut album sold more than million copies and she became Thailand‟s biggest pop sensation Still just 15, she won Thailand‟s Entertainer of the Year award, as well as Best Recording Artist for 1995 A year later she gave a concert in Hollywood She was signed by the music agency that also manages acts such as Bon Jovi Tata has also developed a modeling and acting career Her 1997 acting debut helped the movie „The Red Bike Story‟ break all Thai box office records She represented Thailand at the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997 Her single “Zoom” was used in the top-selling PC game The Sims Tata released her second English album in 2008 XIV APPENDIX 6: DICTATION 4: UNIT 4: FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY Being a Good Citizen A good citizen will also avoid doing things that interfere with others For example, a considerate person does not smoke cigarettes in areas, where this might irritate others Also, a polite person avoids playing music so loudly that other people will be annoyed And of course, a good citizen avoids littering or making a mess Other ways of being a good citizen involve greater efforts Some people serve their community by doing volunteer work of some kind Other people help by donating money to a charity Another way to serve the community is to donate blood Blood donors are needed so that there will be enough blood available to help people who are sick or injured Being a good citizen is very helpful for the community and it also gives a feeling of satisfaction and pride Listen to a man talk about how to be a good citizen Listen carefully and fill in the blanks with suitable words Should not (1) (2) (3) A good citzen Should (4) _ (5) _ (6) _ Table 4.1: Listening practice task for dictation XV APPENDIX 7: DICTATION 5: UNIT 5: INVENTION I think the Internet is the greatest invention ever Think how it has changed the world So much information is out there It has totally changed my life I can chat with friends, download music, buy books and get all the info I need for my homework It took days or weeks to any of these things before the Internet I spend hours every day online I think I spend a little too long I‟m sure staring at a computer screen all day isn‟t good for my eyes I think it‟s also making me fat I need to exercise a little more The only thing I don‟t like about the Internet is that it can be dangerous I don‟t really like putting my personal information online, especially on social networking sites like Facebook XVI APPENDIX 8: POST-TEST LISTENING TEST Part 1: There are five questions in this part For each question, decide whether the statement is TRUE or FALSE ( 2.5p) TRUE FALSE A Vietnamese family often includes married sons and daughters in-law, unmarried adult daughters, and grandchildren In a traditional Vietnamese family, the husband is in charge of the issues outside the home Individualism is one of the qualities that are encouraged by the Vietnamese family The women and the children are often the interpreters of the Vietnamese families in the Western society When women adapt to the Western society more quickly than men do, their authority in the Vietnamese families can increase Part 2: Listen to the following conversation and complete the notes with no more than three words and numbers for each blank (5p) ADVICE FOR EXAMS • Eat food that provides (0) energy like fruit and cereals • Find a place with full of (1) • Stay (2) and relaxed • Choose important things that will help you get the most points in an exam to learn • Make notes of the key points and try to remember them as (3) help you to remember • Study with previous exam papers which are available in the (4) _ • Stay (5) _ by drinking water XVII Part 3: You will hear a news reporter called Angela Bond, talking on the radio about her job Choose the best answer to each question (2.5p) Where is Angela working at the moment? A Britain B The USA C Asia D Brazil Angela likes her job because A she loves being in dangerous situation B she never knows where she‟ll go next C she enjoys watching important events happen D her job doesn‟t have any disadvantages What did Angela bring home from Hong Kong? A pictures B carpets C furniture D bits of art What time does Angela‟s working day begin? A 8.00 a.m B 6.30 a.m C 10.00 a.m D 8.30 a.m Where did Angela meet her boyfriend? A at her sister‟s house B at university C in Hong Kong D in London XVIII KEYS OF POST -TEST Part 1: There are five questions in this part For each question, decide whether the statement is TRUE or FALSE ( 5p) T T F 4.F T Part 2: Listen to the following conversation and complete the notes with no more than three words and numbers for each blank (2.5p) light positive library Hydrated repetition Part 3: You will hear a news reporter called Angela Bond, talking on the radio about her job For each question, put a tick (√) in the correct box (2.5p) 1.A 2.C 3.C XIX 4.D 5.A APPENDIX 9: QUESTIONNAIRES BẢN KHẢO SÁT Xin chào em! Tên cô Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh Anh, học viên cao học lớp QH 2017.D1-K26 khoa Sau đại học, trường Đại học Ngoại Ngữ, ĐHQGHN Hiện tại, cô thực luận văn tốt nghiệp với đề tài nghiên cứu: “Áp dụng phương pháp nghe chép tả để cải thiện kĩ nghe cho học sinh lớp 10 trường THPT Hà Nam.” Mục đích nghiên cứu tìm hiểu thái độ học sinh việc áp dụng phương pháp nghe chép tả tiết dạy nghe số lợi ích khó khăn học sinh tham gia dự án Sự hợp tác tích cực em góp phần tạo nên thành công cho nghiên cứu Mọi thông tin cá nhân liên quan đến em bảo mật sử dụng cho mục đích nghiên cứu Cảm ơn giúp đỡ em! Câu hỏi 1: Trước đây, em học nghe chép tả tiếng Anh chưa? A Đã học □ B Chưa học □ Câu hỏi 2: Em nghĩ phương pháp nghe chép tả tiết học nghe? A Rất thú vị □ B Khá thú vị □ C Bình thường □ D Khơng thú vị □ Câu hỏi 3: Bài tập nghe chép tả giúp em việc học nghe? A Cải thiện từ vựng □ B Cải thiện phát âm □ XX C Cải thiện ngữ pháp □ D Cải thiện kĩ nghe hiểu □ Ý kiến khác: Câu hỏi 4: Khó khăn mà em gặp phải làm tập nghe chép tả gì? A Từ vựng □ B Giọng nói □ C Cấu trúc ngữ pháp □ D Phát âm □ E Tốc độ □ F Chất lượng nghe □ Ý kiến khác: Cảm ơn hợp tác em! XXI ... listening skill at a high school in Ha Nam province? ?? was conducted 1.2 Aims of the thesis In traditional listening teaching methods in general and, in particular, teaching listening tends to treat... that teachers can facilitate students? ?? English listening learning 20 Classroom Action Research is combination of qualitative research and Quantitative research The data was collected qualitatively... listening as a means of acquiring language, and evaluation standard on listening skill In addition, the followings are also included in this chapter: the history of dictation, definition of dictation,