Nghiên cứu các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến kết quả thi nghe TOEIC của sinh viên năm nhất tại Trường Đại ...

Nghiên cứu các yếu tố chính ảnh hưởng đến hiệu suất sinh viên năm nhất trong bài kiểm tra nghe TOEIC tại Trường Đại học Hàng hải Việt Nam.

Người đăng

Ẩn danh

Thể loại

Minor Thesis

2012

75
0
0

Phí lưu trữ

30 Point

Mục lục chi tiết

Declaration

Acknowledgements

Abstract

List of tables, figures, and abbreviations

1. Part one: Introduction

1.1. Rationale for the study

1.2. Aims and objectives of the study

1.3. Scope of the study

1.4. Significance of the study

1.5. Method of the study

1.6. Organization of the study

2. Part two: Development

2.1. Chapter 1: Literature Review

2.1.1. Definitions of Listening

2.1.2. Definitions of Listening Comprehension

2.1.3. Sources of Listening Difficulties

2.1.3.1. Linguistic Factors
2.1.3.1.1. The sounds and pronunciation
2.1.3.1.2. The stress and intonation
2.1.3.1.3. Speech
2.1.3.1.4. The syntax and vocabulary
2.1.3.1.5. Formal and informal language
2.1.3.2. Non-linguistic Factors

2.2. Chapter 2: Methodology

2.3. Chapter 3: Results and Discussions

3. Part three: Conclusion

3.1. Summaries of major findings

3.2. Pedagogical recommendations to improve freshmen’s final TOEIC listening results

3.2.1. Recommendations for English study in the class

3.2.2. Recommendations for facilities

3.2.3. Recommendations for TOEIC-based listening test

3.3. Limitation of the study

3.4. Recommendations for further related study

REFERENCES

APPENDICES

LISTS OF FIGURES AND ABBREVIATION

Trích đoạn nội dung tài liệu

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYEN THI HUYEN TRANG A STUDY ON MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING THE FRESHMEN’S PERFORMANCES ON TOEIC LISTENING TEST AT VIETNAM MARITIME UNIVERSITY NGHIÊN CỨU CÁC NHÂN TỐ ẢNH HƯỞNG ĐẾN KẾT QUẢ BÀI THI NGHE TOEIC CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC HÀNG HẢI VIỆT NAM M. Minor Thesis Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60.10 HA NOI – 2012 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYEN THI HUYEN TRANG A STUDY ON MAJOR FACTORS AFFECTING THE FRESHMEN’S PERFORMANCES ON TOEIC LISTENING TEST AT VIETNAM MARITIME UNIVERSITY NGHIÊN CỨU CÁC NHÂN TỐ ẢNH HƯỞNG ĐẾN KẾT QUẢ BÀI THI TOEIC CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC HÀNG HẢI VIỆT NAM M. Minor Thesis Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60.10 Supervisor: Phạm Thị Hạnh, M. HÀ NỘI - 2012 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Table of content Declaration Acknowledgements Abstract List of tables, figures, and abbreviations Part one: introduction ……………………………………………… 1 1. Rationale for the study ………………………………………………………. Aims and objectives of the study ……………………………………………. Scope of the study ……………………………………………………………. Significance of the study ……………………………………………………. Method of the study …………………………………………………………. Organization of the study ……………………………………………………. 3 Part two: Development ……………………………………………. 4 Chapter 1: Literature Review …………………………………….1 Definitions of Listening ……………………………………………….2 Definitions of Listening comprehension ……………………………… 4 1. Sources of listening difficulties ………………………………………. Non- linguistic factors ………………………………………. Listening TOEIC test ……………………………………………………. Definitions of a test …………………………………………. Types of tests ………………………………………………. 12 iv LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.1 The setting of the study …………………………………………………….2 Materials and current English study situation …….2 Data collection instruments ……………………………………………….2 Semi-structured interviews …………………………………………….3 Data collection procedures ……………………………………………….2 Holding the semi-structured interviews ……………………………….3 Carrying out observations ……………………………………………. 18 Chapter 3: Results and discussions ……………………………. What are Vimaru freshmen’s attitudes towards TOEIC listening? …. Reading Comprehension vs. Listening Comprehension in TOEIC test 19 3. Vimaru freshmen’s attitudes towards TOEIC listening ……………….Vimaru freshmen’s feelings when taking TOEIC listening test ………. What are Vimaru freshmen’s current study situation and performances on TOEIC listening test? ……………………………………. Vimaru freshmen’s results in semester 1- TOEIC test ……………… 21 3.Difficult parts of TOEIC listening perceived by Vimaru freshmen.Vimaru freshmen’s strategies while doing TOEIC listening test …….Vimaru freshmen’s habits before doing TOEIC listening test ……….Vimaru freshmen’s habits while doing TOEIC listening test ………… 25 3.Vimaru freshmen’s habits when they cannot listen to TOEIC test …… 25 3.TOEIC practice before taking the final test …………………………. 26 v LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.Factors causing difficulties in doing TOEIC listening test …………… 27 3. What are linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening?………………………………………………………… 28 3. What are non-Linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening?…………………………………………… 30 3. What are Vimaru freshmen’s suggestions for improving TOEIC listening skill? ………………………………………………………………… 33 3. What are Vimaru freshmen’s expectations to improve the final TOEIC listening results? ………………………………………………………………. 34 PART three: Conclusion ……………………………………………. Summaries of major findings ……………………………………………… 35 1. What are Vimaru freshmen’s attitudes towards TOEIC listening? ……. What are Vimaru freshmen’s current study situation and performances on TOEIC listening? ………………………………………………………. What are linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening? ………………………………………………………… 36 1. What are non - linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening? ………………………………………… 37 1. What are suggestions and expectations made by the freshmen to improve their TOEIC listening results ………………………………………. Pedagogical recommendations to improve freshmen’s final TOEIC listening results ………………………………………………………………… 38 2. Recommendations for English study in the class ………………………. Recommendations for facilities ………………………………………… 39 2. Recommendations for TOEIC-based listening test ……………………. Limitation of the study ……………………………………………………. Recommendations for further related study ……………………………… 40 vi LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com REFERENCES 41 APPENDICES LISTS OF FIGURES AND ABBREVIATION vii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Figure 1: Reading comprehension vs. Listening comprehension in TOEIC test Figure 2: Vimaru freshmen’s attitudes towards TOEIC listening Figure 3: Vimaru freshmen’s feelings when taking TOEIC listening test Figure 4: Vimaru freshmen’ TOEIC results in semester 1 Figure 5: Difficult parts of TOEIC listening perceived by Vimaru freshmen Figure 6: Vimaru freshmen’s strategies while doing TOEIC listening Figure 7: Vimaru freshmen’s habits before doing TOEIC listening test Figure 8: Vimaru freshmen’s habits while doing TOEIC listening test Figure 9: Vimaru freshmen’s habits when they cannot listen to TOEIC test Figure 10: TOEIC practice before taking the final test Figure 11: Vimaru freshmen’s suggestions for improving TOEIC listening skill Figure 12: Vimaru freshmen’s expectations towards the final TOEIC listening test : Table 1: Factors caused difficulties in doing TOEIC listening test Table 2: Linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening Table 3: Non-Linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performances on TOEIC listening Abbreviation: Vimaru: Viet Nam Maritime University viii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Part one: Introduction 1. Rationale for choosing the topic In the age of economic growth and global integration, English obviously plays a very important role. However, the criteria for evaluating one’s English competence are more and more difficult. In today’s context, the A, B, C certificates used for people wishing to find a job are out-of- date, and the so-called IELTS, TOEFL or TOEIC have been the best choices. TOEIC, together with other requirements for job seekers, is preferred by most companies in order to assess their employees’ qualifications. Therefore, a lot of people are trying hard to achieve the success in a TOEIC test. It is no doubt that among the four skills normally mentioned in English, listening is always considered “a key language skill” which “has a vital role in the language acquisition process” ( Brett, 1997). Nevertheless, it is listening that is always a nightmare for English learners due to its difficulty. My primary observation shows that students normally get lower marks in listening test in comparison with other skill tests. In addition, being a lecturer of English at Vimaru University, through my teaching experience, I have found out that my students are always more afraid of listening as compared to other skills. Students, especially freshmen, find listening boring and stressful, and unfortunately, they have to sit for a TOEIC- based test which includes Reading and Listening comprehension for the final examination. Therefore, many of the students get bad results because of low scores in English subject in which listening is always a target of blaming. For all of the abovementioned, I would like to carry out a small- scaled study on “major factors affecting the freshmen’s performance on TOEIC listening tests at Vietnam Maritime University” so as to help solve out the problems. 1 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Aims and objectives of the study The purposes of the study will be achieved through the answering of five research questions: 1. What are Vimaru freshmen’ attitudes towards listening TOEIC? 2. What are Vimaru freshmen’s current performance and study situation on listening TOEIC? 3. What are linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performance on listening TOEIC? 4. What are non- linguistic factors affecting Vimaru freshmen’s performance on listening TOEIC? 5. What are Vimaru freshmen’s suggestions and expectations to improve their TOEIC listening results? 3. Scope of the study: There are three terms that should be specified in the study. Firstly, there are many kinds of English tests, but the author considers TOEIC test only. Secondly, it is TOEIC listening which is the focus of the study, not TOEIC reading. Finally, the study is aimed at the freshmen of Vimaru University whose proficiency levels are from low to high basing on their latest TOEIC results. Significance of the study Investigating the “major factors affecting the freshmen’s performance on TOEIC listening tests at Vietnam Maritime University”, the study is expected to make certain contributions to the related populations including freshmen taking TOEIC test, teachers teaching TOEIC, and researchers of the same subjects. First of all, through the problems pointed out and the suggestions made, the freshmen may improve their performance in listening TOEIC test. Similar to the students, the study would help teaching TOEIC teachers to realize their problems in guiding their students in sitting for a test in order to achieve the best results. Moreover, by noticing the students’ difficulties in listening, 2 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com teachers can have their in-time consideration and correction in teaching listening effectively In addition to the benefits given to the two above subjects, the study may serve as the foundation based on which further related research would be carried out. Particularly, future research could be made better after the limitations of the study are considered. Method of the study Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are utilized in order to “provide a better understanding of the research problem and question than either method by itself” (Creswell, 2002). Questionnaire is the first thing to be made which is delivered to the freshmen after they take the first TOEIC- based test and have the final results. Then, it is the turn of interview in which the author wishes to have the reliable share from the students. The last but not least, test room observations are carried to have the direct data. Organization of the study The rest of the study includes two parts as follow: Part 2 consists of: Chapter 1 Literature Review presents related theoretical background of the study in which concepts of listening and factors affecting the students’ performances in listening TOEIC would be discussed. Chapter 2, Methodology, covers four major parts, namely, participants, data collection instruments, data collection procedures, and data analysis procedures. Chapter 3, Results and Discussions, presents, analyzes and discusses the findings in order to answer the five research questions of the study. Part 3, Conclusion, provides summaries of the main findings, suggestions for better results, limitations of the study, and lastly, recommendations for further related researches. 3 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Part two: Development Chapter 1: Literature Review In this chapter, relevant knowledge collected from various sources will be presented so that it can suitably serve as a foundation for the research. The paper is divided into two parts including theories on listening difficulties and TOEIC listening.1 Definitions of listening It is believed that listening is a significant and essential element of communication and interaction in a native language and in second language as well. In fact, there have been numerous definitions of listening (Bentlyey & Bacon, 1996; Gary Buck, 2001; Scarcella & Oxford, 1992) which present different views of scholars towards the concept. There are some traditional views that consider listening as a passive language skill alongside with reading skill. However, listening is a really receptive skill and the role of the listeners is no longer passive but active in many scholars’ point of views. Bentley and Bacon (1996), define listening as “an active process during which the listener constructs meaning from oral input”. Sharing the same idea towards the activeness of listening, Underwood (1989) shows that “listening is the activity of paying attention to and trying to get meaning from something we hear” 1. Definitions of listening comprehension Mentioning the definition of listening comprehension, Gary Buck (2001) suggests that “listening comprehension is an active process of constructing meaning and this is done by applying knowledge to the incoming sound” in which “number of different types of knowledge are involved: both linguistic knowledge and non- linguistic knowledge” . 4 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Unlike the other authors, Brown (1994) sees both narrow and broad definition towards listening comprehension. According to him, in its narrowest definition, listening is the process by which listeners come to an interpretation for a stream of speech. In its broader definition it also includes the process by which listeners use those interpretations for intended process.

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