An investigation into problems faced by teachers and the first year students in large multilevel classes at Electric Power University when teaching and learning speaking skill

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** BÙI THỊ MINH AN INVESTIGATION INTO PROBLEMS FACED BY TEACHERS AND THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN LARGE MULTILEVEL CLASSES AT ELECTRIC POWER UNIVERSITY WHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING SPEAKING SKILL NGHIÊN CỨU NHỮNG VẤN ĐỀ GIÁO VIÊN VÀ SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRONG CÁC LỚP HỌC LỚN NHIỀU TRÌNH ĐỘ TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC ĐIỆN LỰC PHẢI ĐỐI MẶT KHI DẠY VÀ HỌC KỸ NĂNG NÓI M.A MINOR THESIS FIELD: METHODOLOGY CODE: 601410 Hanoi – 2010 VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ***************** BÙI THỊ MINH AN INVESTIGATION INTO PROBLEMS FACED BY TEACHERS AND THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN LARGE MULTILEVEL CLASSES AT ELECTRIC POWER UNIVERSITY WHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING SPEAKING SKILL NGHIÊN CỨU NHỮNG VẤN ĐỀ GIÁO VIÊN VÀ SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRONG CÁC LỚP HỌC LỚN NHIỀU TRÌNH ĐỘ TẠI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC ĐIỆN LỰC PHẢI ĐỐI MẶT KHI DẠY VÀ HỌC KỸ NĂNG NÓI M.A MINOR THESIS FIELD: METHODOLOGY CODE: 601410 SUPERVISOR: TRẦN THANH NHÀN, M.A Hanoi - 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATION ACKNOWKEDGEMENTS ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES PART A: INTRODUCTION 1 RATIONALE OF THE STUDY AIMS OF THE STUDY RESEARCH QUESTIONS SCOPE OF THE STUDY METHODS OF THE STUDY DESIGN OF THE STUDY PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW I.1 Large multilevel classes I.1.1 Definitions of large multilevel classes I.1.2 Challenges and benefits of teaching a large multilevel class I.1.2.1 Challenges I.1.2.2 Benefits I.2 An overview of speaking skills I.2.1 Roles and status of speaking in language learning and teaching I.2.2 Characteristics of a successful speaking activity 10 I.2.2.1.High learner‟s talking time 11 I.2.2.2 High motivation 11 I.2.2.3 Even participation 12 I.2.2.4 An acceptable level of language 12 CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY 13 II.1 Setting of the study 13 II.1.1 An overview of Electric Power University and English courses at EPU 13 II.1.2 Learners at Electric Power University 14 II.1.3 Teachers at Electric Power University 15 II.1.4 Teaching and learning conditions 15 II.2 Methodology 16 II.2.1 Methods of the study 16 II.2.2 Description of data collection instruments & procedures 17 II.2.2.1.Subjects 17 II.2.2.2 Instruments 17 II.2.3 Data collection and data analysis procedures 18 CHAPTER III: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 19 III.1 Current situations of teaching and learning English at EPU 19 III.2 Difficulties in teaching &learning English speaking skills in large multilevel classes 20 III.3 teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards teaching and learning speaking skills 24 III.4 Teachers‟ current methods and techniques for English language speaking teaching 24 III.5 Teachers‟ and students‟ evaluation on the effectiveness of teaching and learning through group work and pair work activities in large multilevel classes 30 CHAPTER IV: RECOMMENDATIONS 35 IV.1 SOME GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEACHERS 35 IV.1.1 Understanding individual students as much as possible in large class English teaching 35 IV.1.2 Clarifying learning goals to inspire the motivation and interest of the students 35 IV.1.3 Use of group work and collaborative learning 36 IV.1.4 Foster the students' independent learning abilities and reduce their dependence on teachers 37 IV.1.5 Form the students‟ habit of speaking in the class 37 IV.1.6 Use different learning materials and different teaching forms 38 IV.2 SOME ACTIVITIES FOR USE IN LARGE MULTILEVEL CLASSES 39 IV.2.1 Using information gap activities 39 IV.2.2 Using role plays 39 IV.2.3 Using communicative games 40 IV.2.4 Using Discussions or opinion-sharing activities 40 VI.2.5 Using project presentations 41 VI.2.6 Using interviews and surveys 42 PART C: CONCLUSION 44 REFERENCES APPENDICES