THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------------------------- TRAN THI NAM PHUONG AN EVALUATION OF STUDENTS’ AUTONOMY IN THE ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY THROUGH THE MODEL OF ENGLISH CLUB (Đánh giá năng lực tự chủ của sinh viên chương trình tiên tiến Đại học Nông Lâm Thái nguyên thông qua mô hình câu lạc bộ tiếng Anh) M.A THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c THAI NGUYEN - 2019 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------------------------ TRAN THI NAM PHUONG AN EVALUATION OF STUDENTS’ AUTONOMY IN THE ADVANCED EDUCATION PROGRAM - THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY THROUGH THE MODEL OF ENGLISH CLUB (Đánh giá năng lực tự chủ của sinh viên chương trình tiên tiến Đại học Nông Lâm Thái nguyên thông qua mô hình câu lạc bộ tiếng Anh) M.A THESIS (APPLICATION ORIENTATION) Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Hong Minh Ph. THAI NGUYEN - 2019 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c DECLARATION I hereby certify that the thesis entitled “An evaluation of Students’ Autonomy in the Advanced Education Program - Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry through the Model of English club” is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Thai Nguyen University, and this thesis has not been submitted for any other degrees. Thai Nguyen, September 2019 Supervisor Student Nguyen Thi Hong Minh Tran Thi Nam Phuong Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to Nguyen Thi Hong Minh. PhD for assisting me in the process of implementing this study.
This paper would not have been completed without her constant support and encouragement. Her patience and helpful criticism helped me confidently express my ideas into this paper. I regard myself extremely fortunate in having her as my dissertation supervisor. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to all my lecturers at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Thai Nguyen University for their valuable lectures which have helped to enrich my theorical knowledge as well as my practical skills.
Finally, I would also like to express my deep gratitude and love to my devoted parents and sisters who gave me time and encouraged me to complete this study. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION. ii LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS .v LISTS OF FIGURES AND TABLES. vii Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION.
Aim of the study. Scope of the study. Significance of the study. Structure of the study.
4 Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW. Dynamic model of Autonomy. Language learning environment. Types of learning environment.
Benefits of extracurricular activities. Relationship between autonomy and extracurricular activities. Community-based English club. Activities in community-based English club.
Participants of the study. 17 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc. Respondents of the questionnaires. Data collection instruments.
Procedures of data collection. Procedures of data analysis. 22 Chapter 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. Results of the pre-survey questionnaire about autonomy.
Results of the post-survey questionnaire about autonomy. Results of the questionnaire about the implement of the English club. Frequency of participation. Levels of usefulness and interest of activities employed in the English club.
Challenges confronted by students when participating in the English club 37 4. Expectations of students for future implement of the English club. Findings from observation. Discussion of all findings.
39 Chapter 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Suggestions for futher studies .52 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS AEP : Advanced Education Program EFL : English as a Foreign Language ELT : English Language Teaching IELTS : The International English Language Testing System TUAF : Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c LISTS OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 2.1: Dynamic of learner Autonomy (Tassinari, Maria Giovanna (2010)) .1: Action research cycle.1: results of the pre-survey questionnaire .2: Statistics of the result of the pre-survey questionnaire .3: Results of the post-survey questionnaire .4: statistics of the post-survey questionnaire result .5: Pair differences between pre-survey and post-survey .6: Realibilty of the pre-survey and post-survey results .7: Frequency of participating in the English club .8: Results of the level of usefulness and interest survey .9: Challenges confronted by students when participating in the English club .10: Expections of students for future implement of the club .38 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c ABSTRACT The study intend to exame the autonomy among students in Advanced Program - University of Agriculture - Thai Nguyen University. To the end, 30 students who are memberd of English club in this program were selected to participate in the study. Initially, a survey was carried out to collect the data by introducing a questionnaire and an observation, next students experience 10 week participating in the English club with the activities were chosen by the leaders of the club.
After 10 weeks, the survey was conducted the second time, to collected the data. The result of the two surveys were compared and analized, and the outcome of this process was the result of the automomy of students before and after 10 weeks of participation in the English club. The data showed the alteration in positive way of autonnomy among students. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the reasons for selecting this study, as well as the scope and participants of the study.
The structure of this study is also intoduced in this chapter. Rationale Recently, learner-center teaching method has been introduced to many schools in Viet Nam, this method is applied to be the placement for teacher-center teaching method that was used for a long time before the revolution of education. The application of a new teaching method revealed the importance of the education that concentrates on the development of students rather than teachers’ performance. In other words, the improvement of learners in various aspects should be paid attention.
Vietnam culture influenced considerably by the Confuciasm owing to the invasion of China in the past, as a result, the ideology of people in Viet Nam partly bears the characteristics of Confuciasm which curbed the freedom in classroom of students as well as increased the dependence of students on teachers; that prevented the development of learners’ autonomy in both classes and in daily life, while autonomy is an indespensible part of each person’s characteristics to help them have a more successful life. According to Benson (2003, p.290), reseachers content that the most significant capabilities are those that provide learners with their planning of learning actitivies, management their progress and evaluation their results. It is noticeble that these abilities are hard to be found in a variety number of students in Viet Nam due to the impact of culture and teaching methodology that have been existing for a long time. English clubs have gradually become common in Viet Nam, it appeared in not only tertiary institutions but also in secondary and high schools where this kind of learning has demonstrated the effectiveness in English level as well as life skills of students.
English clubs could be described as playgrounds where students illustrate their personnalities, creativity and values that teachers can hardly recognize in Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc. It is worthy noticing that tertiary education emphasises the development of autonomy on students; therefore, there is little of teachers’ guidance in these education instituitions which leads to the signifcance of English clubs where students have opportunities to share their experience and help each other in different fields of life. Since its establishment, English club of Advanced Education Program(EAP) in Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF) has been showing its attraction to the students of the University due to the fact that the number of members always maintains from 20 to 30 including both Viet Nam students and foreign students. The meeting of the club are held twice a week with the control of a managing board, the club members are involved in the variety of indoor and outdoor activities which are designed creatively and logically, suitable with members’ level.
In addition, the club plays an pivotal role in the improvement of English speaking skills of students which was proved through results in classes, some members got 5.5 in IELTS tests. The success of this club is undeniable which was acknowledged by both teachers and students in the University, however, there are also aspects changing after participating in activities of English club recieved no comment from both members and teachers at University. One important aspect that should be received greater attention is the improvement of autonomy has been ignored for a long time despite the fact that the autonomy is a key factor contributing to the well-rounded development of the students in their higher education life. This thesis was choosen because of the requirement to have an evaluation of learners’ autonomy after a period taking part in English club, what are strong points and weak points and what should be implemented to increase the development of autonomy for members of club in particular and for students in general.
Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc. Aim of the study The study focuses mainly on the investigation of alterations in the students’ autonomy after a period taking part in the English club organized by the Advanced - Education Program - Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry. Firstly, the study concentrates essentially on the assessment of autonomy among students in Advanced - Education Program. Secondly, the study explores the changes in terms of autonomy of English club participants.
Thirdly, the study investigates possibilities and provides recommendations to improve the implementation of the English club for the development of learners’ autonomy. Particularly, it seeks to anwer the following questions: 1. How are students in Advanced - Education Program assessed in terms of autonomy through the model of English club? 2. To what extent does the participation in the English club improve learners’ autonomy? 3.
What could be done to better enhance the implementation of English club in Advanced - Education Program for the improvement of students’ autonomy? 1. Scope of the study The study was conducted among students in the Advanced Education Program at Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry. The Advanced Education Program trains two majors manely Food Technology and Environment Management which provides students with one year learning English and 3 years studying major subjects that are taught in English. The participants of the study, mainly the first and second year students with the shortage of English skills, are members of an English club founded 2 years ago with the support in terms of financial and academic aspect by the director of the Program.
The operating rule of this club is all members have to join activities using English and there is no usage of books. The meetings take place twice a week with the change of meeting locations from meeting room of library to Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c coffee shops.