VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES HOÀNG THỊ PHƯƠNG LOAN IMPROVING ENGLISH VOCABULARY RETENTION BY USING MEMORY STRATEGIES: AN ACTION RESEARCH NÂNG CAO KHẢ NĂNG LƯU NHỚ TỪ VỰNG TIẾNG ANH BẰNG CÁCH SỬ DỤNG CÁC THỦ THUẬT GHI NHỚ: NGHIÊN CỨU HÀNH ĐỘNG M. Combined Program Thesis Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60.10 HANOI – 2013 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES HOÀNG THỊ PHƯƠNG LOAN IMPROVING ENGLISH VOCABULARY RETENTION BY USING MEMORY STRATEGIES: AN ACTION RESEARCH NÂNG CAO KHẢ NĂNG LƯU NHỚ TỪ VỰNG TIẾNG ANH BẰNG CÁCH SỬ DỤNG CÁC THỦ THUẬT GHI NHỚ: NGHIÊN CỨU HÀNH ĐỘNG M. Combined Program Thesis Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 60.10 Supervisor: Phạm Thị Hạnh, M. HANOI – 2013 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com iv TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Candidate‘s statement……………………………………………………………… i Acknowledgement………………………………………………………………….
iii List of tables and figures…………………………………………………………… vii PART A: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………. Statement of the problem and rationale for the study…………………………… 1 2. Aims of the study and research questions………………………………………. Significance of the study………………………………………………………… 4 4.
Scope of the study………………………………………………………………. Methods of the study……………………………………………………………. An overview of the rest of the paper……………………………………………. 6 PART B: DEVELOPMENT……………………………………………………… 7 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………….
Language Learning Strategies……………………………………. Definition of Language Learning Strategies…………………………. The importance of Language Learning Strategies in Language 9 Learning and Teaching………………………………………………. Features of Language Learning Strategies…………………………….
LLS – a sufficient condition for successful learning? ………………. Vocabulary and Vocabulary Learning Strategies………………………… 13 1. The importance of vocabulary in second language learning…… 14 1. Vocabulary retention and memory systems‘ process of working.
Vocabulary learning strategies (VLS)…………………………………. Classification of VLS…………………………………………… 18 1. Definition of memory strategies………………………………………… 24 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail. Why memory strategies?.
Classification of Oxford‘s Memory strategies…………………………. Placing a new word into a context……………………………. The background of the study………………………………………………. The study setting ……………………………………………………….
TOEIC and TOEIC vocabulary………………………………………… 33 2. Implementation of the Action Research…………………………………… 34 2. Data collection instruments…………………………………………………. Vocabulary Knowledge Scale.
Pre-test and post-tests ………………………. Data collection procedure……………………………………………………. Methods and data analysis procedures……………………………………. 43 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION………………………………… 45 3.
Results from VKS………………………………………………………. Result from the interview………………………………………………… 46 3. Results from the immediate post-test …………………………. Results from the delayed post-test ……………………………………….
Results from learners‘ diaries …………………………………………… 56 3. Results from the self-report column in the immediate post-test ………… 58 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail. Students‘ attitudes towards the strategy training scheme………………… 59 3. The students‘ attitudes towards four sub-memory strategies…………….
Students‘ suggestions for future program………………………………. Suggested activities for introducing and practicing memory strategies. Other recommendations for teachers………………………………………. Major findings of the study……………………………………………………… 74 2.
Limitations of the study…………………………………………………………. Suggestions for further study……………………………………………………. 77 APPENDICES I Appendix 1: Vocabulary teaching schedule………………………………………. II Appendix 2: Schmitt‘s taxonomy of VLS………………………………………… IV Appendix 3: Oxford‘ taxonomy of LLS………………………………………… VI Appendix 4: VKS test……………………………………………………………… VIII Appendix 5: Pre-test/post-test 1/post-test 2……………………………………….
X Appendix 6: Questionnaire………………………………………………………… XVI Appendix 7: Sample of in-class & at-home handouts……………………………. XVIII Appendix 8: Sample of learners‘ diaries…………………………………………… XXVIII Appendix 9: Suggested activities employing memory strategies…………………. XXXIX TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com vii LISTS OF TABLES, FIGURES, AND ABBREVIATIONS TABLES PAGE Table 1: Definitions of Language Learning Strategies…………………………… 8 Table 2: Features of Language Learning Strategies……………………………… 10 Table 3: A collection of some important principles needed to retain vocabulary items………………………………………………………………………………. 16 Table 4: Gu & Johnson‘s taxonomy of VLS……………………………………… 20 Table 5: Nation‘s taxonomy of VLS……………………………………………… 21 Table 6: Oxford‘s memory strategies…………………………………………….
25 Table 7: Student profile…………………………………………………………… 31 Table 8: Schedule of vocabulary teaching for TOEIC A class…………………… 32 Table 9: Students‘ problems in independent learning vocabulary……………. 49 Table 10: Strategies used as reported in students‘ diaries………………. 51 Table 11: Report of strategies used in the immediate post-test……. 52 Table 12: Mean scores gained by the group in the pre-test and immediate post- test………………………………………………………………………………… 52 Table 13: Individuals‘ performance in the pre-test and immediate post-test…….
53 Table 14: Mean scores gained by individuals in the pre-test and immediate post- test………………………………………………………………………………… 55 Table 15: Mean scores gained by the group in the pre-test and delayed post- test………………………………………………………………………………… 55 Table 16: Individuals‘ performance in the pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test………………………………………………………………….