VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES LÊ THỊ BẮC EVALUATING THE COURSEBOOK TIẾNG ANH 6 - TẬP 1 (SÁCH THÍ ĐIỂM) COMPLIED UNDER THE NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROJECT ENTITLED:"TEACHING AND LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, PERIOD 2008-2020" (ĐÁNH GIÁ SÁCH GIÁO KHOA TIẾNG ANH 6, TẬP 1 (SÁCH THÍ ĐIỂM) THÍ ĐIỂM BIÊN SOẠN TRONG KHUÔN KHỔ CỦA ĐỀ ÁN "DẠY VÀ HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ TRONG HỆ THỐNG GIÁO DỤC QUỐC DÂN, GIAI ĐOẠN 2008-2020") M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 60140111 HANOI - 2013 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES LÊ THỊ BẮC EVALUATING THE COURSEBOOK TIẾNG ANH 6 - TẬP 1 (SÁCH THÍ ĐIỂM) COMPLIED UNDER THE NATIONAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROJECT ENTITLED:"TEACHING AND LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM, PERIOD 2008-2020" (ĐÁNH GIÁ SÁCH GIÁO KHOA TIẾNG ANH 6, TẬP 1 (SÁCH THÍ ĐIỂM) THÍ ĐIỂM BIÊN SOẠN TRONG KHUÔN KHỔ CỦA ĐỀ ÁN "DẠY VÀ HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ TRONG HỆ THỐNG GIÁO DỤC QUỐC DÂN, GIAI ĐOẠN 2008-2020") M.A MINOR THESIS Field: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 60140111 Supervisor: Pro. Hoang Van Van HANOI - 2013 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com DECLARATION This paper is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Department of Post Graduate Studies - University of Languages and International Studies - Vietnam National University, Ha Noi. I certify that this thesis is the result of my own research, and it has not been submitted for any other degrees at any other educational institutions. Hanoi, December 2013 Le Thi Bac i LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am grateful to all the people who have helped me with this research study.
First of all, I want to express my deepest respect and special thanks to my supervisor - Prof. Hoang Van Van - for his valuable encouragement, professional guidance and expertise in every step of my thesis. Without his help and care, I could not have completed this research paper. Secondly, I would like to state my sincere thanks to the teachers and staff of the Postgraduate Department - College of Foreign Languages - Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their facilitation and guidance in the completion of my research.
Thirdly, I want to express my gratitude to the editors and writers of the series of English textbooks for lower secondary schools, the teachers and students teaching and learning the piloted textbook Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1 (Sách thí điểm) in Hai Duong province assistance and participation in my survey research. Lastly, my thanks go to my family members, friends and other colleagues at Hai Duong College for their patience and support in order for me to complete this study. ii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABSTRACT The current study aims at evaluating the textbook Tiếng Anh 6, tập 1 (Sách thí điểm) to find out whether the book is suitable with the requirements of the 2020 Project as well as the Piloted English Language Curriculum for lower secondary education in the context of teaching and learning this book in some lower secondary schools in Hai Duong province. A survey questionnaire has been designed basing on a combination of evaluation checklists and criteria suggested by different authors and informal talks with the respondents are utilized as the research instruments of the study.
The results of the study show a very high level of agreement for the suitability of the book among the participants. Recommendations and suggestions for future use of the book are also made in the last part of the study. iii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS PART A: INTRODUCTION. Background to the Study and Statement of the Problem.
National Foreign Languages Project, Period 2008-2020 (NFL 2020 Project) and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for Lower Secondary Education. The Context of Teaching and Learning Piloted English 6 in Hai Duong College and Hai Duong Province. Statement of the Problem. Aims of the Study.
Scope of the Study .5 Significance of the Study .6 Overview of the Study .7 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW. Teaching and Learning English in Vietnam under the National Foreign Language Project Entitled: “Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020”. Teaching and Learning English in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities 7 1. The Curriculum of Teaching English for Lower Secondary Schools.
The Textbook "Tiếng Anh 6" - Tập 1 (Sách Thí Điểm). Roles of Textbooks. Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Textbooks .11 iv LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. The Needs for Textbook Evaluation.
Defining Textbook Evaluation. Textbook Evaluation Criteria. Previous Studies on Textbook Evaluation. Data Collection Procedure .23 CHAPTER 3: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS.
Design and Illustration. Social and Cultural Context .40 PART C: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .47 v LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com PART A: INTRODUCTION 1. Background to the Study and Statement of the Problem 1. Theoretical Background Theoretically, textbooks are considered the key component in most language programmes in that they provide the basis for the content of the lesson, the balance of skills taught and the kinds of language practice the students take part in and in some situations they serve as the basis for much of the language input learners receive and the language practice that occurs in the classroom.
Added to this, textbooks can act as a good medium for presenting new language, such as dialogues or written texts (Johnson, 2001: 239). Despite these important roles assigned for textbooks, not all textbooks can meet these requirements. National Foreign Languages Project, Period 2008-2020 (NFL 2020 Project) and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for Lower Secondary Education Currently in Vietnam, the subject of English in the education system from primary to high school is in the initial process of a comprehensive reform. Among the decisive factors in this reform, textbook is paid special attention to not only because it is the most widely used tool for curriculum interpretation and implementation but also because it is the major teaching and learning resource at school.
Complying with the Vietnamese Prime Minister's Decision No.1400, the NFL 2020 project Entitled: “Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020” and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for Lower Secondary Education , a 10-year-curriculum series of English textbooks from grade 3 to grade 12 has been designed with an aim to "form and develop English language communication competence" (Piloted English Language Curriculum for Lower Secondary Education - p3). The piloted English textbooks for grades 3, 4, and 5 have been taught in primary schools nationwide and have 1 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com received positive feedbacks. In the school year 2012 -2013, the English textbook for grade 6 has been taught for more than 7,000 sixth grade students with A1 certificate (according to the Common European Framework Reference - CEFR standard) of 88 secondary schools in 30 provinces. Beside textbooks and students' quality, teachers' quality and methodology have also been emphasized.
To be qualified for teaching the piloted textbooks, secondary teachers are required to have B2 certificates and attend a training course in methodology. The Context of Teaching and Learning "Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm) in Hai Duong College and Hai Duong Province Hai Duong College is among 18 key universities and colleges nationwide selected to be the training centers for providing the training courses in language competence and methodology for primary and secondary English teachers. From September 2011 up to now, teachers in Hai Duong College, Foreing Languages Department and I am one of its members have trained 240 primary, secondary and high school English teachers from Hai Duong and Bac Ninh provinces. Currently, we are training 124 primary and secondary school English teachers.
Training teachers to meet the requirements of the National Foreign Languages Project and to be qualified for teaching the piloted English textbooks is of our primary concern. In Hai Duong province, "Tiếng Anh 6 "(Sách thí điểm) textbooks have also been taught for 6 groups of 240 students in 3 lower secondary schools in the school year 2012 -2013. Of these three schools, two are located in Hai Duong city (Le Quy Don and Binh Minh lower secondary school) and one in the rural district of Tu Ky (Phan Boi Chau lower secondary school). There will be 13 more secondary schools qualifying for teaching the piloted English 6 in the school year 2013-2014.
Statement of the Problem "Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm) for sixth graders are designed to comply with the Vietnamese Prime Minister's Decision No.1400, the NFL 2020 Project, Period 2008-2020 and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for LSE and are adopted as textbooks for 240 piloted students in Hai Duong province in the 2 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com school year 2012-2013. It is necessary that an evaluation on the book be carried out to discover whether it really matches the aims and requirements of both the NFL 2020 Project and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for LSE and to identify whether the book is suitable within the context of teaching and learning in Hai Duong. It is also hoped that recommendations and suggestions are made in order to improve the textbooks' quality and make the best use of the textbooks in the current situation. Aims of the Study This research aims at evaluating "Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm) compiled under the NFL Project Entitled: “Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages in the National Education System, Period 2008-2020” to determine whether this textbook meets the aims and requirements of the NFL 2020 Project and Piloted English Language Curriculum for LSE and whether the employment of this textbook is appropriate in the context of teaching and learning in Hai Duong secondary schools.
Basing on the findings, suggestions and recommendations to improve the book for future use will be made. Research Questions The study aims at answering the following questions: 1. To what extent does the textbook "Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm) used in Hai Duong lower-secondary schools match with the requirements of the NFL 2020 project and the Piloted English Language Curriculum for LSE? 2. What suggestions should be made to improve the book for future use in the context of teaching and learning the book in Hai Duong lower secondary schools? 5.
Scope of the Study In terms of theoretical framework for textbook evaluation, there have been various checklists and criteria suggested and developed by different authors. These evaluation frameworks vary considerably in their scope, form, detailed criteria and the terms used to describe criteria. With respect to the study's subject matter, the 3 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com textbooks for English 6 consists of two volumes. However, due to time constraints, this research only focuses on evaluating the first volume - "Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm).
As any of the frameworks and checklists aim at evaluating textbooks in general with no specifications for a specific textbook under a particular context of evaluation like this, the evaluation criteria used in the study is a combination of the evaluation frameworks and checklists proposed by Cunningsworth (1984, 1995), Davies (2006), Ellis(1997), Hutchison and Waters (1993), Littlejohn (1998), Mc Donald and Shaw (1993), Sheldon (1988), Skiero (1991), Tomlinson (2003) and Williams (1983). The population is restricted to 60 sixth grade students and 6 teachers in 3 lower secondary schools in Hai Duong in the academic year 2012-2013 and 1 editor and 5 writers of Tiếng Anh 6 - Tập 1" (Sách thí điểm).