An action research study on using social networking site to improve the tenth grade students’ vocabulary at a high school in Nam Dinh province

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* ********************* VŨ THỊ HUẾ VŨ THỊ HUẾ AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY ON USING SOCIAL NETWORKING AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY ON USING A SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE TO IMPROVE THE TENTH GRADE AT AVOCABULARY HIGH SCHOOL INAT NAM DINH PROVINCE STUDENTS’ A HIGH SCHOOL IN NAM DINH PROVINCE SITE TO IMPROVE THE TENTH GRADE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY (Nghiên cứu cải tiến sư phạm việc sử dụng mạng xã hội để cải thiện từ (Nghiên cứu cải tiến sư phạm việc sử dụng mạng xã hội vựng học sinh lớp 10 trường THPT tỉnh Nam Định) để cải thiện từ vựng học sinh lớp 10 trường THPT tỉnh Nam Định) M.A PROGRAMME THESIS M.A PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 16045220 HANOI – 2018 HANOI – 2019 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* VŨ THỊ HUẾ AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY ON USING SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE TO IMPROVE THE TENTH GRADE STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN NAM DINH PROVINCE (Nghiên cứu cải tiến sư phạm việc sử dụng mạng xã hội để cải thiện từ vựng học sinh lớp 10 trường THPT tỉnh Nam Định) M.A PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 Supervisor: Nguyen Thu Hanh, Ph.D HANOI – 2019 DECLARATION I declare that this thesis, which I submit to University of Languages and International Studies, is my own personal effort I have faithfully and accurately cited all my sources, including books, journals, handouts as well as any other media, such as the Internet, letters or significant personal communication I declare that I understood the concept of plagiarism and I acknowledge my thesis will be rejected in case of plagiarism i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS It is a pleasure to thank many people who made this dissertation possible I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Ms Nguyen Thu Hanh for her valuable guidance, precious advice, and constructive criticism I thank her for her understanding and encouragement I wish to address my sincere thanks to the head of English division of University of Languages and International Studies, Viet Nam National University I owe my thanks also to all the teachers who have accepted to fill in the interview, and special thanks are due to the students of grade 10 students in my school for their time to fill in the questionnaires, answer the interview and the tests ii ABSTRACT In the context of Vietnam, most high school students only study English in traditional classrooms However, with the development of technology, using social networking sites, especially Facebook, may be a new trend in coming years With the deep concerns about this situation, the researcher conducted a study titled “An action research study on using social networking site to improve the tenth grade students’ vocabulary at a high school in Nam Dinh province” This study was an action research project which was carried out to improve students’ vocabulary knowledge by using a social networking site: Facebook The main purpose of this study was to find out the influence of Facebook on students’ learning vocabulary process The participants were 94 students in grade 10 To collect the data for this research, quantitative and qualitative method were used Questionnaires, interviews and tests were employed to triangulate the information from various aspects to ensure the validity and reliability of the research The results showed that students’ scores improved after they joined in the research Additionally, Facebook also motivated the students to study not only at school but also at home In short, Facebook had a positive influence on the students’ learning vocabulary process so that the students felt interested in learning English vocabulary Basing on these findings, some suggestions for using of Facebook to teach English were mentioned in the paper Therefore, the paper would be a good reference for researchers, teachers and students to have a closer look on the issue and enhance students’ vocabulary knowledge Key words: vocabulary, social networking sites, Facebook, English vocabulary iii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Steps of teaching English vocabulary ( Marzano, 2004) Figure 2: Five essential steps of learning new words (Brown and Payne, 1995) Figure 3: A Facebook personal site Figure 4: Action research steps adapted by Susman (1983) Figure 5: An online lesson Figure 6: Data collection procedure Figure 7: Data from questionnaire and test analysis procedure Figure 8: Data from interview analysis procedure Figure 9: Students’ reasons for learning English vocabulary Figure 10: Students’ learning means Figure 11: The amount of vocabulary learnt in a week Figure 12: Students’ purposes for using Facebook Figure 13: Students’ attitudes towards learning on Facebook Figure 14: Students’ test score improvement Figure 15: Diagnostic test result Figure 16: Final achievement test result Figure 17: Test results Figure 18: An exercise to revise student vocabulary learning iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS EFL: English as a Foreign Language FL: Foreign Language L1: First Language SNSs: Social Networking Sites LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Classification of the items in the two questionnaires Table 2: Classification of the items in the semester tests Table 3: Classification of the items in the pre- test and post- test Table 4: Classification of the items in the interview questions Table 5: Vocabulary delivered to students through Facebook Table 6: Students’ studying places Table 7: Table 8: Students’ strengths and weaknesses in learning English vocabulary at the beginning of the research Students’ strengths and weaknesses in learning English vocabulary at the end of the research Table 9: Places for students to study English vocabulary Table 10: Advantages of using Facebook for educational purposes Table 11: Disadvantages of using Facebook for educational purposes v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION…………………………………………………………… i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………… ii ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………… iii LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………… iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………… v LIST OF TABLES…………………………………………………………… v TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………… vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………………… 1 Rationale of study………………………………………………………… Aims and objectives of the study………………………………………… Research questions………………………………………………………… Scope of the research……………………………………………………… Significance of the study…………………………………………………… Hypotheses………………………………………………………………… Research methodology…………………………………………………… Structural organization of the study……………………………………… CHAPTER 2: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND……………………… Overall view of English vocabulary……………………………………… 1.1 Definition of English vocabulary……………………………………………… vi 1.2 Types of English vocabulary…………………………………………………… 1.3 The importance of vocabulary in learning a language…………………… Teaching and learning English vocabulary………………………………… 2.1 Teaching English vocabulary………………………………………………… 2.1.1 Principles of teaching vocabulary………………………………………… 2.1.2 Steps of teaching vocabulary……………………………………………… 10 2.2 Learning English vocabulary………………………………………………… 12 2.2.1 Principles of learning vocabulary……………………………………… 12 2.2.2 Steps of learning vocabulary…………………………………………… 12 2.3 Problems in teaching and learning English vocabulary………………… 15 Facebook as a social networking site……………………………………… 17 3.1 Definition of Facebook……………………………………….……………… 17 3.2 Advantages and disadvantages of using Facebook for educational purposes………………………………………………………………………… 18 3.2.1 Advantages of using Facebook as an educational tool…………… 19 3.2.2 Disadvantages of using Facebook as an educational tool 20 Previous studies………………………………………………………… 21 4.1 Previous studies overseas…………………………………………………… 21 4.2 Previous studies in Vietnam………………………………………………… 23 Summary……………………………………………………………………… 23 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY………………………… 25 Design of the study………………………………………………………… 25 1.1 Action research……………………………………………………………… 25 1.2 Mixed methods………………………………………………………………… 27 vii Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word for each of the blanks from to (1.0 point) VOLUNTEERS ABROAD More and more young people are doing voluntary work abroad The wild variety of jobs and destinations available is making it an increasingly attractive option for those who have just left school and have a year free before university Many choose to spend these twelve months working in poor countries There they will earn little (1) no money But they will be doing something useful – and enjoying the experience The work may (2) of helping the local communities, for example by helping to build new road or provide water supplies to isolated rural villages Other projects may concentrate more on conservation or environmental protection (3) kind of job it is, it is certain to be (4) and worthwhile, and an experience that will never be forgotten 1: A with B but C or D and 2: A consist B include C contain D involve 3: A any B what C however D whatever 4: A challenging B dangerous C difficult D attracted Read the passage and then answer the questions (2points) I was able to see when I was young I worked for a brewery factory in a big city Then one day a terrible fire happened in my factory I was not able to see any more and stopped working after that The compensation for injuries at work was not enough for me to live I began training for a new job However, what could a blind man then? Many years later, a local charity organized a music class for the disabled in my community With the help of the local authorities and much of my effort, I was admitted to the music class with the children Although I was not able to see the music notes, I could remember very well what I had heard And now I play the guitar in a band of disabled musicians to earn my living 5: Could the writer see when he was young? VII ……………………………………………………………………………………… 6: What happened to him while he was working in a factory? ……………………………………………………………………………………… 7: How could he learn music when he was not able to see? ……………………………………………………………………………………… 8: What does he to earn his living now? ……………………………………………………………………………………… PART IV: WRITING ( points) Write these sentences, using the words given in brackets (2 points) 1: Speaking English fluently is fantastic ->It 2: The father forced his son to stay at home in the evening -> The father made……………………………………………………………… 3: The sneaky man denied that he had taken the money ->The sneaky man denied ……………………………………………………… 4: He had lunch with his wife Then he went to work in the afternoon -> Having…………………………………………………………………………… Write a paragraph of 80- 100 words about the reasons why more people want to volunteer work You may follow these guidelines (1 point) • making disadvantaged and handicapped people’s lives better and better • making the world a better place to live in • bringing happiness to others is their happiness The end! VIII APPENDIX PRE –TEST TEST (30 minutes) Fill in the blank with the correct word form: The flat looks nice and comfortable (extreme) I want to slip away without drawing too much to myself (attentive) My little girl is always too _ to ask anyone for help (shy) A car usually becomes _ without any gas in the tank (use) It’s very of you to cross that busy street without paying attention to the traffic (care) That inexperienced teacher doesn’t seem enough to cope with the excellent students of this gifted class (compete) My mother is a very well _ woman She can always find what she needs almost immediately (organize) You can rely on Nam since he is very _ person (think) We set all the beginners into groups based on their different (level) 10 .Normally he is rather but sometimes he talks freely about himself (reserve) Choose the word whose bold/ underlined part is pronounced differently form that of the other three A receive B rebel C retreat D relate A they B chimney C key D money A shy B fly C sky D easy A piece B chief C friend D thief A bank B dad C pans D last A balloon B blood C soon D zoo IX A complete B engine C heavy D many A snow B crowd C brown D down A rain B paint C main D plait Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from that of the other three A alternative B biodata C available D biography A expose B manure C exploit D prospect A electric B biomass C arduous D biotech A dioxide B production C operate D percentage A nuclear B supply C lantern D station A appropriate B celebration C observances D traditional Select the synonym of the following bold and underlined word in each sentence I cannot understand why she did that, it really doesn't add up A doesn't calculate B isn't mathematics C doesn't make sense D makes the wrong addition These anniversaries mark the milestones of a happy and lasting relationship between married couples A signs B achievements C landmarks D progresses He has sold his house and has no job and so now he has next to nothing A he is unemployed B he has a few things C he has almost no money D he has nothing at all As a newspaper reporter, she always wanted to get information at first hand A quickly B slowly C easily D directly The notice should be put in the most conspicuous place so that all the students can be well-informed X A easily seen B beautiful C popular D suspicious It was very difficult to understand what he was saying about the noise of the traffic A pick up B make up C turn out D make out The situation seems to be changing minute by minute A from time to time B time after time C again and again D very rapidly I am looking for a dependable person who can stand out for me at the meeting A dependent B talented C energetic D reliable My little boy Tom never screams though he is scared A in pain B frightened C embarrassed D confused 10 Sometimes when I hear the news, I feel very miserable A confused B frightened C upset D disappointed 11 The film is not worth seeing The plot is too dull A slow B simple C complicated D boring 12 We now can find a wide range of ready-cooked food in supermarkets A variety B classification C small number D popularity 13 I sometimes give my friends a ride in my car A ask my friends drive for me B let my friends drive my car C hitch-hike my friends D give my friends a lift 14 A woman had a narrow escape when the car came round the corner A was hurt B was nearly hurt C ran away D bumped into the car XI 15 He was asked to account for his presence at the scene of crime A complain B exchange C explain D arrange 16 I’ll take the new job whose salary is fantastic A reasonable B acceptable C pretty high D wonderful 17 The whole village was wiped out in the bombing raids A changed completely B cleaned well C destroyed completely D removed quickly 18 I will communicate with you as soon as I have any news A be related B be interested in C get in touch D have connection 19 He is an honest man You can rely on him to a good job A take in B count on C base on D put up with 20 We’ll have to use the others on the next floor because the ones on this floor are not in working condition A out of work B run out of C out of order D torn down 21 “Please speak up a bit more, Jason You’re hardly loud enough to be heard from the back”, the teacher said A visible B edible C eligible D audible 22 I couldn’t see what she was doing It was so dark down there A make out B make up C make for D make from 23 It was boiling yesterday We have a very humid and dry summer this year A very hot B cooking C dry D cooked 24 It was inevitable that the smaller company should merge with the larger one A vital B unnecessary C urgent D unavoidable 25 A frightening number of illiterate students are graduating from college XII A unable to read and write B able to join intramural sport C inflexible D unable to pass an examination in reading and writing Choose the correct prepositions to complete the sentences If I say that John is making out well in his work, I mean that he _ A likes his work B is succeeding C is leaving D is about to begin When one makes good time, he _ A has a good time B travels at a good speed C is connected D has busy time To learn something by heart is to learn it _ A quickly B slowly C well D by memory One way of getting rid of something is to _ A look at it B admire it C keep it D throw it away If Mary’s purse goes well with her dress, then her purse and dress _ A match B are expensive C are pretty D are worn out She _ down completely on hearing of her friend's death A broke B turned C put D fell I was talking to my aunt when suddenly my cousin George _ in on our conversation XIII A went B interrupted C intervened D broke It’s no use getting _ him He won’t change his mind A on B across C up D off - THE END- XIV APPENDIX POST- TEST TEST 2( 30 minutes) Fill in the blank with the correct word form: 1.The best time to visit Cuc Phuong National Park is from October to April when the season is over.(rain) 2.There is a large _ of animals that live in Nairobi National Park.(vary) 3.The _ is the place where parentless children are taken care of.(orphan) 4.The _ has threatened the parks and animals that live in it (contaminate) 5.December is an time to visit the park.(suit) 6.Tyler is remarkably (world) _-wise for such a young girl He never goes out without his security men in (attend) _ 8.People are _ doing harm to the environment (constant) 9.Many species of plants and animals have been virtually (eliminate) 10 Trees, grasses, and other plant life play an important part in the natural of water.(circulate ) Choose the word whose underlined part has a different pronunciation from the others in each group: A national B plan C establish D that A parks B trees C caves D goes A found B south C mountain D wound A here B clear C idea D there A tour B sure C pair XV D poor A cheer B where C care D pair A conservation B nation C mention D question A medicine B protect C species D never A variety B pattern C vary D back Choose the word whose main stress is placed differently from the others in each group: A national B abandon C orphanage D chemical A locate B smallest C surprise D depend A mystery B understand C overcome D submarine A Atlantic B paragraph C Antarctic D.contribute A vegetation B eliminate C disappearance D intonation A photo B rapid C pattern D about Select the synonym of the following bold and underlined word in each sentence in the unit: Cuc Phuong National Park is located 160 km South West of Ha Noi A settled B lain C laid D placed It is the first of Viet Nam’s nine national parks to be established and it contains over 200 square km of rainforest A bears B includes C controls D limits Nairobi National Park is Kenya’s smallest park, but you may be surprised at the large variety of animals that live there A attacked B encountered C astonished D interested An interesting feature of this park is the Orphanage where lots of orphaned or abandoned animals are taken care of XVI A immoral B wicked C shameless D deserted An interesting feature of this park is the Orphanage where lots of orphaned or abandoned animals are taken care of A looked through B looked down C looked for D looked into This national park is special because it has plants and animals from both tropical and temperate zones A places B regions C parks D classes This contamination has threatened the park and many of the animals in it A dirt B dust C pollution D ugliness This contamination has threatened the park and many of the animals in it A killed B endangered C kicked D weakened Why would November be a suitable time to visit this park? A nice B great C meaningful D proper 10 What you think will happen to the park if more chemicals are released into the water? A let out B let by C let down D let into 11 It is divided into five different parts: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Antarctic and Arctic Oceans A individual B dissimilar C singular D many 12 Together, they cover 75% of our Earth A spread B curtain C comprehend D report 13 Today’s scientists have overcome many of the challenges of the depth by using more sophisticated tools XVII A passed B run C flown D conquered 14 Today’s scientists have overcome many of the challenges of the depth by using more sophisticated tools A summons B dare C objection D stimuli 15 Today’s scientists have overcome many of the challenges of the depth by using more sophisticated tools A complicated B worldly C experienced D aware 16 They can send submarines and devices to investigate the ocean depths, taking photographs and samples of animal life to bring back to the surface for further study A trace B explore C track D look for 17 Understanding the interactions of the ocean and marine life gives us an indication of the planet’s health and the effects of human activity A information B direction C contribution D evidence 18 Small or oversized, plant or animal, the ocean’s living things contribute to its endless variety, its biodiversity A start B send C give D throw 19 How can scientists now reveal the secrets of the ocean and marine life? A announce B say C retell D report 20 The loss of much forest is destroying Earth’s plant and animal variety A consuming B demolishing C erasing D removing 21 This is especially worrying when there are about 3,000 plants with values as medicines against cancer, AIDS, heart disease and many other sicknesses A well B suddenly C particularly XVIII D highly 22 This is especially worrying when there are about 3,000 plants with values as medicines against cancer, AIDS, heart disease and many other sicknesses A annoying B hurting C caring D fearing 23 This is especially worrying when there are about 3,000 plants with values as medicines against cancer, AIDS, heart disease and many other sicknesses A illness B disorder C derangement D derangement 24 Man and most animals need a constant supply of water to live A uniform B changeless C true D steady 25 Without plants, most water would run off as soon as it falls, taking away valuable soil A costly B estimable C cherished D admirable Choose the correct prepositions to complete the sentences The teacher asked a difficult question, but finally Ted _ a good answer A put up with B keep pace with C made way for D came up with We can put you _ for a few days if you have nowhere else to live A on B out C up D off It’s hard to _ well with him He’s got such a difficult character A get over B get on C get into D get in Hard work can often bring _ success A into B in C about D up He _ a big fortune when he was young, so he didn’t have to work hard A came into B came up C came across Now and then means _ XIX D came round A often B suddenly C occasionally D early To make sure of something is to _ A be certain of it B call it off C turn it off D cancel it To keep house is to _ A refuse to sell B lock the door against thieves C the usual work in a house D wash the house To be mixed up is to be _ A happy B worried C confused 10 To see about something is to _ A attend to it B go to see it C admire it D look at it -THE END- XX D late APENDIX GUIDED QUESTIONS FOR INTERVIEW Interviewee’s name…………………………………… Class:………………………………………………… Date………………………………………………… Can you make a comparison between your vocabulary learning before the research and that after the research? (A Do you acquire more words than before? B Do you spend more time surfing the Internet as well as Facebook? C Are you under pressure when learning vocabulary online?) Do you think that using Facebook, especially for educational purposes, is simple? What are difficulties that you meet when studying vocabulary on Facebook? If there is any difficulty, can you suggest some solutions for it? How useful is Facebook as a learning tool? How you think about using Facebook to study English vocabulary? Do you prefer it or not? Will you continue to deploy Facebook to study English vocabulary in the future? XXI