i VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ------------------- PHẠM THỊ PHƢƠNG LIÊN AN EXAMINATION OF VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN USSH – VNUH (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ CHIẾN LƢỢC HỌC TỪ VỰNG CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KHXHNV – ĐHQGHN) M. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 Hanoi, 2010 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com ii VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES ------------------- PHẠM THỊ PHƢƠNG LIÊN AN EXAMINATION OF VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES OF FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN USSH – VNUH (NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ CHIẾN LƢỢC HỌC TỪ VỰNG CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KHXHNV – ĐHQGHN) M. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 Supervisor: Dr. Dƣơng Thị Nụ Hanoi, 2010 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CANDIDATE‟S STATEMENT.
iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. vi LISTS OF TABLES, FIGURES AND ABBREVIATIONS. viii PART 1: INTRODUCTION. Aims of the Study.
Scope of the Study. Method of the Study. Structure of the thesis .5 CHAPTER 1 – LITERATURE REVIEW. The importance of learning strategies.
7 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail. Factors affecting learners in learning English vocabulary. Vocabulary learning strategies. Classification of vocabulary learning strategies.
Classification of Schmitt‟s vocabulary learning strategies……………. An overview of vocabulary learning strategies researches. The context of the Study. Instrument for data collection.
Data collection procedures. Data analysis procedures.22 CHAPTER 3 – FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.23 PART 3: CONCLUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Summaries of the main findings. Limitation and suggestions for further research .37 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.
Suggestion for further studies .41 LISTS OF TABLES, FIGURES AND ABBREVIATIONS List of tables Table 1: Nation‟s (2001) taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies……………………………….12 Table 2: Schmitt‟s taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies .13 Table 3: Overall mean score of vocabulary learning strategies used by the students .28 Table 4: Mean scores of each vocabulary learning strategy used by students .31 List of figures Figure 1: Students‟ use of DET strategies in vocabulary learning .23 Figure 2: Students‟ use of SOC strategies in vocabulary learning .24 Figure 3: Students‟ use of MEM strategies in vocabulary learning .25 Figure 4: Students‟ use of COG strategies in vocabulary learning .26 Figure 5: Student‟s use of MET strategies in vocabulary learning……………………………………27 List of abbreviations VLS: Vocabulary Learning Strategies USSH: University of Social Sciences and Humanities L1: first language L2: second language TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.VNUH ix PART 1: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale Human beings are limited in their capacity to process information. The knowledge and skills requires would in fact quickly overwhelm the capacity of any learner to deal with them, if a number of strategies were not brought into action. Thus the need to cope with language generates the motivation and rationale for learning strategies.
These strategies can be defined as methods employed by the person for the processing of input language information so as to gain control of it, thus enabling the assimilation of that information by the self. By using learning strategies, learners are able to manage their own learning as a whole process (e. having relevant knowledge about learning, making plans, utilizing communicative situations, self-monitoring and evaluating). These strategies will ultimately be employed with a degree of control and self-awareness which is in keeping with the learners‟ individual cognitive style and general personality.
Better learning strategies would enable learners to go on improving their English on their own in the long, complex process of language learning. In Vietnam, language learning strategies have recently been paid much attention by both teachers and learners. In order to improve English skills, learners make significant changes in terms of using learning strategies in studying and practicing English, especially in their vocabulary learning. “Acquisition depends crucially on the input being comprehensible.
And comprehensibility is dependent directly on the ability to recognize the meaning of key elements in the utterance. Thus, acquisition will not take place without comprehension of vocabulary.” Krashen and Terrell (1983 as cited by Youngkyu Kim, 2006) Obviously vocabulary learning plays an important part in language acquisition. Inadequate vocabulary could lead to learners‟ difficulties in language reception and TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail. Thus learners have to use vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) in order to broaden their vocabulary in an effective way.
A large number of researches have been carried out so as to show out an overview of VLS in ELT. For instance Coady (1993) pointed out that the vast majority of words in L1 come from extensive and multiple exposures through use rather than direct instruction, and therefore, vocabulary learning in a second language should follow the same route. Boyle (1987) found that, despite a female superiority in general proficiency, male students outperformed their female counterparts in listening vocabulary. Oxford, Lavine, Hollaway, Felkins, and Saleh (1996), on the other hand, discovered that females were significantly more willing than males to try out new vocabulary learning strategies, a finding that has been corroborated in a few other studies (Gu, 2002; Young & Oxford, 1997) and etc.
As an English teacher at University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), I believe that it is essential to explore current situation of students‟ use of vocabulary learning strategies in this university. However, up to now, there have not been any researches on vocabulary learning strategies of first-year students. General English knowledge at first- year course aims to establish background knowledge for students. At third year, students at some faculties have to study English for specific purposes in which they mainly learn specialized vocabulary.
Therefore, the researcher‟s ambition in this paper is offering an insightful understanding of the current vocabulary learning situation among the first-year students. With a better understanding, we can find ways to help students to become more autonomous learners with, for example, vocabulary language learning strategy training. Aims of the Study It was hoped that this study could get us closer to a comprehensive understanding of vocabulary learning strategies of freshmen in USSH and provide some implications for both the learning and teaching of English as a foreign language contexts. TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.
Research questions The study will be conducted to answer the following questions: - What are the most and the least frequently used vocabulary learning strategies by freshmen in USSH? - What are the differences in the use of vocabulary learning strategies among these students in different faculties? 4. Scope of the Study This paper reports on the learning of English vocabulary by elementary college students (N = 421) on a first year course in USSH – VNUH. Comparison is also made to find out the differences of vocabulary learning strategies between students in different faculties. Method of the Study In order to achieve the aims mentioned above, the study was designed to use a questionnaire as the way of data collection.
After collecting, analyzing and discussing data, some conclusion will be drawn. Furthermore, English teachers at the USSH will be interviewed about the strategies their students use in learning vocabulary to support information for the conclusion. Structure of the thesis This thesis consists of three parts, namely Introduction, Development and Conclusions and Recommendations. Part 1, the Introduction, presents the rationale, the aims, the scope and the method of the study.
Part 2 is the Development which includes three chapters as follows: TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.VNUH xii Chapter 1 (Literature review) introduces the theoretical foundations for the whole paper. Besides providing the definition of key terms such as learning strategies, vocabulary learning strategies, it offers a critical review of studies related to the research problem. Chapter 2 (Methodology) elaborates on the participants, the instruments, the procedure of collecting data and the procedure of processing data from the questionnaire and interviews. Chapter 3 (Findings and Discussion) presents and analyses all the collected data to find out the answers to the two research questions.
Part 3, the Conclusions and Recommendations summarizes all the major points raised in the paper and presents the author‟s suggestions on the vocabulary learning and teaching for first- year students in USSH_VNUH based on the research findings and the related literature. TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.VNUH xiii PART 2: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1 – LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Introduction This chapter provides an overview of the literature related to this study, laying the foundations for the subsequent development of the paper. Beside some basic concepts like vocabulary level, language learning strategies, vocabulary learning strategies and critical background information about these key terms are presented to ensure a thorough understanding of the research matters.
Learning strategies and learning strategy classification systems are also reviewed to set up the theoretical framework for the examination in the next chapter. This review will reveal the research gap, thus rationalizing the need to carry out the study. Definitions Learning nowadays can be defined as the process by which the external and unfamiliar becomes internal, familiar and usable. Learning is more accurately depicted as an active process and that to learn, the learners will employ a number of specific means.
The word “strategy” refers to those means. However, there is no agreement regarding the definition of the term “language learning strategies”. Learning strategies are defined by O'Malley and Chamot (1990) as "special thoughts or behaviors that individuals use to comprehend, learn, or retain new information" (p. According to Bialystock (1985) “learning strategies reflect the ordinary processes of learning that occur whether or not the learner is attending to and deliberately manipulating them.
Thus, learning strategies are not different from learning processes…” Learning strategies, defined by Weinstein and Mayer (1986) (in O‟Malley and Chamot 1990) have learning facilitation as a goal and are intentional on the part of the learner. The TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.VNUH xiv goal of strategy use is to “affect the learner‟s motivational or affective state, or the way in which the learner selects, acquires, organizes, or integrates new knowledge” (p 43). Although the terminology is not always uniform, with some writers using the terms "learner strategies" (Wendin & Rubin, 1987), others "learning strategies" (O'Malley & Chamot, 1990; Chamot & O'Malley, 1994), and still others "language learning strategies" (Oxford, 1990a, 1996), there are a number of basic characteristics in the generally accepted view of LLS. Oxford (1990) summarizes her view of language learning strategies by listing twelve key features: Contribute to the main goal, communicative competence Allow learners to become more self- directed Expand the role of teachers Are problem-oriented Are specific actions taken by the learner Involve many aspects of the learner, not just the cognitive Support learning both directly and indirectly Are not always observable Are often conscious Can be taught Are flexible Are influenced by a variety of factors Each researcher defines learning strategies from different perspectives.
In this study I adopted the definition by Oxford in the account that it covers the essential aspects of language learning strategies. The importance of learning strategies Side by side with the development of language skills in English, considered as content, it is important also that learners “learn how to learn”. The primary benefit to learners would be TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.VNUH xv in the long term. Good learning strategies would enable learners to go on improving their English on their own in the very long, complex process of language learning.
The main benefit gained from all learning strategies … is the fact that they enable learners to take more control of their own learning so that students can take more responsibility for their studies. (Nation, 2001) The strategies, consequently, help learners create their independence, autonomy and, self-direction in study. When students are equipped with a range of different learning strategies, they can decide upon how exactly they would like to deal with difficulties.