VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES ĐÀO THỊ PHƢƠNG THẢO A STUDY ON USING TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE METHOD (TPR) TO IMPROVE ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR THE SECOND GRADE STUDENTS AT LOMONOXOP PRIMARY SCHOOL (Nghiên cứu về việc sử dụng phương pháp Phản xạ toàn thân (TPR) để nâng cao vốn từ vựng tiếng Anh cho học sinh lớp 2 trường tiểu học Lomonoxop) MA MINOR THESIS (Type 1) Major: English Teaching Methodology Course code: 8140231.01 HANOI - 2019 z VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES ĐÀO THỊ PHƢƠNG THẢO A STUDY ON USING TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE METHOD (TPR) TO IMPROVE ENGLISH VOCABULARY FOR THE SECOND GRADE STUDENTS AT LOMONOXOP PRIMARY SCHOOL (Nghiên cứu về việc sử dụng phương pháp Phản xạ toàn thân (TPR) để nâng cao vốn từ vựng tiếng Anh cho học sinh lớp 2 trường tiểu học Lomonoxop) MA MINOR THESIS (Type 1) Major: English Teaching Methodology Course code: 8140231. Nguyễn Hòa HANOI - 2019 z STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby acknowledge that this study is mine. The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true. I further declare that this thesis has not been published elsewhere.
Author Đào Thị Phương Thảo i z ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis could not be completed without the assistance of many people. On this occasion, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Prof. Nguyễn Hòa who had given me the valuable advice, guidance and also motivation to complete this thesis. It is an honor for me to extend my special thanks to the Head of English Department and all of my colleagues as well as the students in class 2A1 at Lomonoxop primary school.
Without their help and encouragement, I would not have accomplished my work. Finally, I would like to show my deepest gratitude to all of my friends and my family, especially my parents, and my brother, whose continuous encouragement, support and love have helped me pass through insurmountable difficulties during my project. This thesis is expected to be able to provide useful knowledge and information to the readers. I realize that it is far from being perfect.
Therefore it is really a pleasure for me to receive suggestions and contributions to improve my thesis. Hanoi, June 2019 Đào Thị Phương Thảo ii z ABSTRACT This study aims to describe how Total Physical Response improves students‟ English vocabulary retention as well as motivate them to study vocabulary. This research was conducted in a class with 25 students. It is a Classroom Action Research using the cycle model of Kemmis and Taggart.
It adopted the concurrent embedded strategy of mixed methods design. Quantitative data from pre-tests and post- tests as well as the result from the interviews were used to analyze the improvement of the students‟ vocabulary. Qualitative data from observation, interview and the results of the questionnaire were used to figure out the students‟ attitude towards learning English by TPR. The research findings showed that, there was a significant improvement in students‟ vocabulary retention after TPR was used in class.
Additionally, students expressed positive attitudes towards using TPR in their English vocabulary lessons. These findings can lead to the conclusion that the writer concluded that teaching English vocabulary through TPR is very beneficial for the students in learning English vocabulary. Therefore, the Total Physical Response method is recommended for English teachers in teaching vocabulary. iii z TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP.
iii LIST OF TABLES. vii LIST OF FIGURES. vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. Significance of the study.
Teaching English vocabulary. Teaching vocabulary to young learners. Teaching English vocabulary to young learners with TPR method. Context of the research.
Data analysis procedure .1 Quantitative data analysis. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. To what extent can the use of TPR method affect 2nd graders‟ vocabulary retention at Lomonoxop Primary School?. What are the students‟ attitudes towards using TPR in learning English vocabulary?.
CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS. INTERVIEW NOTE-TAKING SAMPLE. INTERVIEW NOTE-TAKING SAMPLE. XVI vi z LIST OF TABLES Table 3.
Content for testing in cycle 1. Content for testing in cycle 2. Field note sample. Interview participants description.
Classification of Graded Scores. Pre-test 1 scores. Post-test 1 scores. Paired Samples Statistics cycle 1.
Paired Samples Correlations cycle 1. Paired Samples Test cycle 1. Pre-test 2 scores. Post-test 2 scores.
Paired Samples Statistics cycle 2. Paired Samples Test cycle 2. Interview result for question 1. Category of the criterion.
Interview result for question 2 .43 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3. Classroom action research cycle .23 vii z LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS TPR: Total Physical Response No. : Number Q: Question viii z CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION In this chapter the writer introduces the rationale, the objectives, the scope, and the outline of the study.
Besides, the research questions and the significance of the study are also mentioned. Rationale English as a means of communication is widely used among people around the world. Learning vocabulary is, therefore, very important because vocabulary provides learners with materials in order to produce complete utterances. It is the key component that links the four language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing all together.
Wilkins (1972) wrote that “…while without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. We can often manage to communicate with some useful words or expression even without grammar. Lewis (1993) went further to argue, “Lexis is the core or heart of language”. At the school where the research was conducted, the students start learning English from grade 1.
The 2nd graders have eight periods of English every week with the book Super Minds 2 published by Oxford University Press, (2013). The students have chance to learn and practice using new vocabulary frequently. However, how to encourage students in learning English vocabulary and guide them to learn it effectively are the two important points which needs putting under consideration by teachers. Among many activities, TPR is considered to be a very useful way because it can make used of the main characteristics of children.
It catches the attention of the children, it makes the children give attention to the form meaning or use of the words. Objectives This study attempts to solve the problems which need positive solution. They are: To know how Total Physical Response help improve students‟ English vocabulary retention and how to motivate them to study vocabulary. Research questions In order to get the objectives of the study systematically, the following questions 1 z are raised: 1) To what extent can the use of TPR method help improve 2nd graders‟ vocabulary retention at Lomonoxop primary school? 2) What are the students‟ attitudes towards using TPR in learning English vocabulary? 1.
Scope This study is only conducted at a local class of a primary school with 25 second graders, in the academic year 2018-2019. It focuses on teaching vocabulary by using TPR in class. Significance of the study a. Theoretical significance This study will provide useful information about how English is taught at primary school using Total Physical Response with the purposes of improving students‟ vocabulary and motivating them in learning.
Practical significance This study will contribute to the improvement of students‟ English vocabulary retention as well as help the English teachers in designing the process of teaching English especially in using TPR method in teaching English at primary school. Additionally, the result of this research is expected to be used as an additional reference in carrying out further researches. Research outline Chapter 1 is introduction. In this part, rationale, objectives, research questions, benefits, scope and outline of the research are introduced.
Chapter 2 is literature review which discusses the theoretical framework which consists of the discussion about: Teaching English vocabulary, teaching English vocabulary to young learners, teaching English vocabulary to young learners with TPR method and attitude. The previous studies in this field are also mentioned. Chapter 3 is methodology. It covers the context of the research, research design, research procedure, data collection and data analysis.
Chapter 4 is findings and discussions. In this part, the findings of the research in 2 z accordance with the two research questions and some discussions are mentioned. Chapter 5 is conclusion. This chapter covers the main points of the research, the conclusion and some implications and limitations of the study 3 z CHAPTER 2.
LITERATURE REVIEW In this chapter, the conceptual framework of this study which consists of teaching English vocabulary, teaching English vocabulary to young learners, teaching English vocabulary to young learner with TPR method and attitudes. The previous studies related to this field are also mentioned by the writer. Teaching English vocabulary 2. Definition of vocabulary Hornby (1995) defines vocabulary as „total number of words which make up the language with rules for combining them‟ while Linse (2005:121) considers it as „the collection of words that an individual knows‟.
According to Laufer (1997:54) vocabulary learning is at the heart of language learning and language use. In fact, it is what makes the essence of a language. Without vocabulary, speakers cannot convey the meaning and communicate with each other in a particular language. Webster (1983: 2046) states that vocabulary is a list of words, and sometimes, phrases, usually arranged an alphabetical order and defined: a dictionary, glossary, or lexicon.
According to him, vocabulary is all the words of a language and they are used by a particular person, class, profession, etc. Sometimes, they are all the words recognized and understood by a particular person, although not necessarily used by him (in full, passive vocabulary). Talking about the importance of vocabulary, Schmitt (2000) emphasizes that “lexical knowledge is central to communicative achievement and to the acquisition of a second language” Other researchers such as Laufer and Nation (1999), Maximo (2000), Read (2000), Gu (2003), Nation (2001) and others have realized that the acquisition of vocabulary is essential for successful second language use and plays an important role in the formation of complete spoken and written texts. From the above definitions, it comes to the conclusion that vocabulary is an important tool to express the idea.
For anyone who learns a second language, 4 z vocabulary knowledge is considered as a crucial tool because vocabulary directly affects the success of communication. Vocabulary proficiency depends much on the quality and quantity of the vocabulary that the learners have mastered. The richer the number of word that the students can know, the better they can be in using language. This study followed the definition of Linse (2005:121) which defines vocabulary as the collection of words that a person knows.2 Types of vocabulary There are many ways to classify vocabulary.
According to Judy K. Montgomery (2007), there are four kinds of vocabulary. They are: Listening vocabulary, speaking vocabulary, reading vocabulary and writing vocabulary. Listening vocabulary are the words we hear and understand.
When people were the babies, they just listen then look and get the meaning of the words. They continue to learn new words this way all of their lives; Speaking vocabulary are the words people use when speaking. The number of people‟s speaking vocabulary is much less than their listening vocabulary most likely due to the ease of use; Reading vocabulary is the words people understand when reading texts. Among these words, there are words people do not use in speaking vocabulary; Writing vocabulary are the words people can retrieve when they write to express themselves.
They are strongly influenced by the words they can spell. Harmer (1991) divides vocabulary into two types: active and passive vocabulary. The first type, active vocabulary is the vocabulary that the students have been taught and that they are expected to be able to use.