Learners needs and the use of textbook at lam dong college of technology and economics

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HOCHIMINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS & LITERATURE     LEARNER’S NEEDS AND THE USE OF TEXTBOOK AT LAM DONG COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS Submitted to the Faculty of English Linguistics & Literature in partial fulfillment of the Master’s degree in TESOL By TRINH THUY THUY VAN Supervised by NGUYEN HOANG TUAN, PhD HO CHI MINH CITY, APRIL 2013 i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I declare this thesis entitled “LEARNER’S NEEDS AND THE USE OF TEXTBOOK AT LAM DONG COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMICS” is the result of my own work except as cited in the reference This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other institutions Ho Chi Minh City, April 2013 TRINH THUY THUY VAN ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and above all, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to my thesis supervisor, Dr Nguyen Hoang Tuan, for his insightful comments, patience, great care and constant encouragement throughout the research process Without his guidance and support during the study, this research could not have been completed I would like to express my very great appreciation to all teachers of English at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics who kindly allowed me to observe their classes, shared their opinions in the interviews, and enthusiastically responded to the questionnaires Their contribution is an essential core that makes up the major content of the study I also wish to thank tourism personnel for their useful professional information, their support and encouragement for my study My special thanks also go to 150 learners learning Tourism at this college who participate in the study Additionally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my dear friends for their help and warm encouragement throughout my hard times doing the study Without them, I could not have overcome such times and concentrated on my study Finally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to my mum, and my family members whose prayers, love and best wishes were a source of inspiration, encouragement and motivation for me as I was successfully completing this study iii ABSTRACT Learner’s needs are admitted as the important component in education Many studies investigated learner’s needs and its relationship to various factors such as teaching methods, classroom environment, or learner’s attitude, etc However, very few of them concentrated on the relationship between learner’s needs and the use of textbook This study was carried out to explore the needs of Tourism learners and the use of the English textbook for the course English for Tourism to see the connection between them The participants of the study included 150 learners whose major was Tourism, teachers of English and personnel in Tourist Industry The data collected from the questionnaires to learners, the interviews with teachers and personnel, the classroom observations and the textbook use information record Four major needs about strategies, chances for practice inside and outside classroom as well as the ability to solve job- related situations were found in the study and the ways that the use of textbook met those needs were discovered Finally, some suggestions for the administrators, teachers and learners were specifically made to help create more courses which satisfy the needs of learners iv TABLE OF CONTENTS TITLE PAGE i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .iii ABSTRACT iv TABLE OF CONTENTS v LIST OF TABLES ix LIST OF CHARTS x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xi CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study 1.2 Rationale 1.2.1 Description of the English course for Tourism at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics 1.2.2 Description of the textbook for the English course for Tourism at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics 1.2.3 Some difficulties encountered by teachers and students at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics 1.3 Aims of the study 1.4 Research questions 1.5 Scope of the study: 1.6 Significance of the study Explore the ways of textbook use to fulfill the needs of Tourism students at LDCTE 1.7 Assumption 1.8 Limitation v 1.9 Organization of the study CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW 11 2.1 Needs analysis 11 2.2 Learner’s needs 12 2.2.1 Learning needs 14 2.2.2 Objective needs 16 2.3 Textbooks 17 2.3.1 Some concepts of textbooks 17 2.3.2 Textbook use 19 2.3.2.1 The use of textbooks 19 2.3.2.2 Adaptation- a technique in textbook use 22 2.4 Learner’s needs in relation to the use of textbook 24 2.5 Chapter summary 27 CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 28 3.1 Overview of the study 28 3.2 Research design 28 3.3 The setting 29 3.4 Participants 30 3.4.1 Teacher subjects 31 3.4.2 Student subjects 32 3.4.3 Tourism staff subjects 33 3.5 Instruments 34 3.5.1 Questionnaire for students 34 3.5.2 Interviews 37 3.5.2.1 Structure of teachers’ interview questions 38 3.5.2.2 Structure of personnel’s interview questions 39 3.5.3 Classroom Observation Data 40 3.5.4 Textbook use information record 41 3.6 Data collection procedure 42 vi 3.6.1 Procedure for conducting the questionnaire survey 42 3.6.2 Procedure for conducting the interview 43 3.6.3 Procedure for conducting the observation 43 3.6.4 Procedure for conducting the textbook use information record 44 3.7 Chapter summary 45 CHAPTER IV: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF RESULTS 46 4.1 Results 46 4.1.1 Students’ questionnaire results 46 4.1.1.1 Students’ demographic information 46 4.1.1.2 Learner’s needs and the use of textbook 53 4.1.3 Personnel’s interview results 69 4.1.4 Observation results 73 4.1.5 Textbook use information record’s results 76 4.2 Discussion of results 78 4.3 Chapter summary 82 CHAPTER V: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION 83 5.1 Summary of Findings 83 5.2 Recommendations 86 5.2.1 Recommendations for the administrators 86 5.2.2 Recommendations for the teachers 88 5.2.3 Recommendations for the learners 90 5.3 Suggestions for further research 91 5.4 Chapter summary 92 REFERENCES 93 APPENDIX 1: STUDENTS’ QUESTIONNAIRE 102 APPENDIX : STUDENTS’ QUESTIONNAIRE (VIETNAMESE VERSION) 109 APPENDIX 3: TEACHER’S INTERVIEW 116 APPENDIX 4: PERSONNEL’S INTERVIEW 117 vii APPENDIX 5: SAMPLE CONTENT OF ONE LESSON 118 APPENDIX 6: SAMPLE OBSERVATION SHEET 120 APPENDIX 7: TEXTBOOK USE INFORMATION RECORD 126 viii LIST OF TABLES Pages Table 1.1 Typical time frame of a unit Table 3.1 Demographic data of teacher subjects 31 Table 3.2 Demographic data of student subjects 32 Table 3.3 Demographic data of personnel subjects 33 Table 3.4 Distribution of questions on students’ questionnaire 36 Table 4.1 Learner’s needs 54 Table 4.2 Learning needs 56 Table 4.3 Professional needs 58 Table 4.4 Textbook 60 Table 4.5 Textbook use 62 ix LIST OF CHARTS Pages Chart 4.1 Distribution of students by gender 47 Chart 4.2 Distribution of students by age 47 Chart 4.3 Distribution of students by classes 48 Chart 4.4 Student’s English learning experience 49 Chart 4.5 Student’s opinion about the necessity of English 50 Chart 4.6 Student’s reasons for learning English 50 Chart 4.7 Student’s future job 52 Chart 4.8 The necessity of doing needs analysis 64 Chart 4.9 Teachers’ activities 65 Chart 4.10 Relationship between learner’s needs and textbook 66 Chart 4.11 The suitability of the textbook Highly Recommended and learner’s needs 67 Chart 4.12 Techniques of textbook use 68 Chart 4.13 Working experience 69 Chart 4.14 Distribution of personnel by careers 70 Chart 4.15 The frequency of English use at work 71 Chart 4.16 Difficulties at work 72 x Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Starter ✔ Listening ✔ Sources Reasons Peter, S (2003) English for Help ss to brainstorm the International Tourism Pearson procedure of taking Longman Listening part page 56 reservations Peter, S (2003) English for Help ss get acquainted International Tourism Pearson with the forms in hotels Teacher(s) Teacher A Teacher C Longman Listening part page 56 Language study Listening Activity Starter Writing Language check should be ✔ taught before writing to Language study ✔ Teacher B help ss have background knowledge about letters Listening Activity Activity should be ✔ deleted to save time 128 Teacher D Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Starter Listening Language study Listening Activity Starter Listening Language study ✔ Jones, L (2001) Welcome! English To help ss know how to for the travel and tourism industry fill a registration card Teacher B Tre Publishing House Part D page 59 Listening Activity Delete Activity to save ✔ time 129 Teacher C Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Starter Listening Language study ✔ A Baude, M Iglesias and A More exercise for practice Teacher B Inesta (2002) Ready to order Pearson Longman Practice part page 44 Listening Activity Supply a given menu to help Teacher C ✔ the activity easier Starter ✔ Adamson, D (1989) More knowledge about International Hotel English meals in hotels and Communicating with the restaurants Teacher A international traveller Prentice Hall Language study page 35 Listening ✔ Eastwood J (1994) English for Supply a food service Travel Oxford University Press dialogue for reference Dialogue page 41 130 Teacher B Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Language study Listening Activity ✔ (cont.) Harding, K & Henderson, P The activity in the textbook (1994) High Season English for is quite difficult for the Hotel and Tourist Industry students Teacher C Oxford: Oxford University Press Part Speaking page 57 ✔ Eastwood J (1994) English for Give a menu for ss to Travel Oxford University Press practice Reading for information page 47 131 Teacher B Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Starter Listening Activity Listening is not ✔ Teacher D necessary Language study Listening ✔ ✔ www.english4tourism.com Information about Viet Nam ✔ www.english4tourism.com ✔ Eastwood J (1994) English Some explanation about travel for Travel Oxford University options Teacher A famous tourist attractions will Activity ✔ Starter 10 be more practical Teacher B Press Notes page Listening Local information will help ss ✔ to the activity more easily Language study Listening Activity 132 Teacher C Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Starter Listening 11 Language study NO ADAPTATION ARE APPLIED Listening Activity Starter Listening 12 Language study Listening Activity 133 Reasons Teacher(s) Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Starter ✔ Sources Adamson, D (1989) Reasons Teacher(s) Some complaints Teacher B A Baude, M Iglesias and A Ss can guess what are the Teacher A Inesta (2002) Ready to order people in the pictures Pearson Longman Speaking page complaining International Hotel English Communicating with the international traveller Prentice Hall To start you off page 119 13 ✔ 72 ✔ Peter, S (2003) English for Match the complaints and International Tourism Pearson the responses can be an Longman easier work for ss and save Listening part 19 page 46 time 134 Teacher C Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Listening ✔ ✔ 13 (cont.) Sources Reasons Adamson, D (1989) International Some of the main rules Hotel English Communicating with for handling complaints the international traveller Prentice (clearer than the steps of Hall Developing the topic, part dealing with complaints page 121 in the textbook) A Baude, M Iglesias and A Inesta Look at the pictures as (2002) Ready to order Pearson the suggestion for doing Longman Vocabulary page 73 the Activity Jones, L (2001) Welcome! English Supply rules for using for the travel and tourism industry the phone Teacher(s) Teacher D Language study Listening Activity Starter ✔ ✔ Tre Publishing House Part B1 page 14 28 Listening Language study Listening/ Activity 135 Teacher B Teacher B Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Starter Listening Language study ✔ 15 Đỗ Thị Kim Oanh (2005) Tiếng Supply the knowledge of anh chuyên ngành Nghiệp Vụ Lễ changing cheques into Tân- English for Front Office Vietnam dong Teacher D Staff Nxb Hà Nội Activity page 160 ✔ Đỗ Thị Kim Oanh (2005) Tiếng Supply the knowledge of anh chuyên ngành Nghiệp Vụ Lễ changing cheques into Tân- English for Front Office Vietnam dong Teacher C Staff Nxb Hà Nội Activity page 195 ✔ Đỗ Thị Kim Oanh (2007) Tiếng Ss know how to express the Anh chuyên ngành Khách Sạn- mathematical signs and English for Hotel Industry Nxb symbols 136 Teacher B Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Hà Nội Calculating page 111 15 ✔ (cont.) Đỗ Thị Kim Oanh (2007) Tiếng Ss can make a checking out Anh chuyên ngành Khách Sạn- reservation Teacher A English for Hotel Industry Nxb Hà Nội Work book Unit 8, exercise page 220 Listening Activity Starter Listening 16 Language study Listening Activity Delete activity A because it has the ✔ same requirement with activity A 137 Teacher D Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Starter Listening 17 Language study NO ADAPTATION ARE APPLIED Listening Activity Starter Listening 18 Language study Reading Activity 138 Reasons Teacher(s) Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Starter Listening 19 Language study NO ADAPTATION ARE APPLIED Listening Activity Starter Listening 20 Language study Listening Activity 139 Reasons Teacher(s) Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding Sources Reasons Teacher(s) Starter Listening ✔ Peter, S (2003) English for Check the understand of ss International Tourism Pearson about a CV Teacher A Longman Listening part 12 page 10 21 Language study Writing ✔ ✔ Peter, S (2003) English for Supply a sample CV in International Tourism Pearson addition to the existing Longman application letter to help ss Listening part 13 page 11 compare and contrast Adamson, D (1989) An example of a CV International Hotel English Communicating with the international traveller Prentice Hall Developing the topic part page 144 140 Teacher C Teacher B Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding ✔ Sources Reasons Adamson, D (1989) Read the information and International Hotel English write a CV Teacher(s) Teacher D Communicating with the Writing international traveller Prentice Hall Developing the topic part 10 page 21 (cont.) 148 ✔ Adamson, D (1989) Read the information and International Hotel English write a letter of application Communicating with the international traveller Prentice Hall Developing the topic part 13 page 150 141 Teacher C Adaptation Unit Procedure Modi Dele Ad Reorga Exten -fying -ting -ding -nizing -ding ✔ Sources Reasons Adamson, D (1989) International Supply the necessary 21 (cont.) Hotel English Communicating language items for writing a with the international traveller CV, a application letter or Prentice Hall for job interviews Teacher B Language reference page 151 Activity ✔ Peter, S (2003) English for Supply a background International Tourism Pearson knowledge about an Longman application letter to help Cover letter part 16 page 12 them write their own letter better Starter Listening 22 Teacher(s) Language study Reading/ Activity 142 Teacher A ... the real needs of learners together with the use of textbook has become the goal of Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics recently As a new college upgraded from Lam Dong High School of. .. it focuses on the aims of the study, the research questions, and the significance of the study, and the assumption Lastly, it gives the limitation of the study and the organization of the thesis... course for Tourism at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics 1.2.2 Description of the textbook for the English course for Tourism at Lam Dong College of Technology and Economics