VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies DAM LAN HU EFFECTIVENESS OF GUESSING MEANING FROM CONTEXT IN IMPROVING STUDENTS’ WORD-ATTACK SKILLS AT UNIVERSTITY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (Hiệu quả của việc đoán tử theo ngữ cảnh nhằm nâng cao kỹ năng xứ lý từ mới của sinh viên trường Dại học Lao động Xã hội) M.A Minor Programme Thesis Field: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 TIANOI - 2009 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies DAM LAN HUONG EFFECTIVENESS OF GUESSING MEANING FROM CONTEXT IN IMPROVING STUDENTS’ WORD-ATTACK SKILLS AT UNIVERSTITY OF LABOR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (Iligu qua của việc đoán tử (heo ngữ cảnh nhằm nâng cao kỹ năng xử lý từ mới của sinh viên trường Dại học Lao động Xã hội) M.A Minor Programme Thesis Field: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 601410 Supervisor: Nguyén Huyén Minh, M.A TIANOI - 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENT LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS LIST OF TABLES: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the study 1.2 Statement of the problem 1.3 Purposes of the study 1.4 Scope of the study 1.5 Method of the study 1.6 Design of the study CITAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 What is reading? 2.1 Definition of reading 212 Types of reading 2.1 Definitton of reading strategies 232 Classification of reading strategies 2.3 Effect of reading strategies on reading comprehension 2.4 The strategy of guessing meaning from context 244.1 What is context? 242 What ix guessing from context? 243 Factors affecting students’ success in guessing meaning from context 244 Approaches to teaching of guessing strategy Of all the reading strategies commonly recognized today in second language reading, guessing fiom context seems to be one of the most valuable but difficult strategies for second language students to master. It was found out that they were offen reluctant to engage in the guessing proce: sas thy proferred first language (1. Furthermore, stndents do not have sufficiont skills Io derive the meaning of unknown words or phrases [hai they meet during reading comprehension process, Their guessing skills are often poor, especially where context clues are not in the immediate textual environment. Therefore, guessing strategies for unknown words has becn stongly emphasized 1.2 Statement of the problem.
Reading comprehension is essential to academic learning areas, to professional success and to lifelong learning. University students can not achieve success in reading comprehension without masteting reading strategies in general and the strategy of guessing from context in dcaling with reading texts in particular. At University of Labor and Social Affairs (ULSA), Linglish for Specific Purpose (SP) syllabus mminly focuses on reading skill. Yet many studenls have nol succeeded in their reading texts, which contain lots of professional words.
This is partly due to the fact that they lack the skills to cope with unknown words, or in other words, they are not equipped with the siralegy of guessing from context This fact raises the question on the necessity as well as the effectiveness of instruction on the strategy of guessing meaning from context for improving reading skills for students at UI.3 Purpos of the study Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of instruction programme on thy stralogy of gusssing from context for improving sludants’ word-allack skill and reading comprehension in teaching reading for second-year ESP students at University of Social and Labor Affairs. In addition, since this study was conducted in a university general LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS. EFL; English as a Foreign Language. ESL: English as a Second Language.
k FSP: English for Specific Purpose wah wy. Ll: First Language. ULSA: University of Labor and Social Affairs 245 Review of related studies CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS 3.1 The setting of the study 3.2 Pre-test and post-test 3.4 Materials and the Instruction programme 3.5 Procedure of the study CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 4.1 Pre-test and pesi-iest results 3.2 Discussion CITAPTER 5: CONCLUSION REFERENCES APPENDICES CHIAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This chaptor provides an overview on the background of the study, the stalemuon! of problam, 4 brief of the purpose of study, methodology of the study, followed by an ovarmew of forthcoming chapters 1.1 Background to the study Since 1986 when the Vietnamese government implemented open door policy, English has gained more significance and heen considered as an important tool for Vietnam’s integration into global world. Thus, the government has paid more and more attention to the teaching and learning of English at schools, colleges and universities.
English has rapidly become the most popular s cond language among Vielnamese people. TL is a tool for getting access to information ftom different sources including scientific and literary books and journals as well as the internet websites in an English as a Foreign Language (ETL) context, which helps to bring them opportunities lo enrich their knowledge in particular and to improve their falure prospect in general. Reading is a process which contributes to success in learning a foreign language and good language Iearners are considered to be good readers. In order to become good or successful readers, students need to be equipped with the skills to comprehend the reading texts.
Reading slralggics are siid in ficitilate succossfal sceand language leaning and be effcotive tools for students to develop thei reading skills, To help students master these reading strategies, instruction on reading strategies is said to be essential. However, empirical research indicates that in most reading classrooms students have received inadequate instruction on reading skills and strategics. There is a lack of connection between instruction and reading activity. The teacher's emphasis is often put on the production of comprehension rather than the processing skills.
This reality called for the inlegration of reattimg strategies into reading instruction io help students become more strategic readers. English reading class where students’ reading proficiency was mixed, the second objective of this study was to find out how students with different reading proficiency are influenced by the instruction programme. The following specific research questions were addr 1) Does instruction on the strategy of guessing fiom context enhance second language students’ word-attack skill in particular and reading ability in general? 2) How to empower students to become more self-directed and cffoctive in their learning of guessing strategy? 1.4 Scope of the study The study is focused only on the second-year students at ULSA who begin to have ESP lessons. ‘The subjects of the study were chosen at random and various among 68 second-year students of ULSA.
Yel, the sturly results carmol. be true to all Vietnamese students. Thus, my recommendations for teaching and learning the strategy of guessing from context might work well only for ULSA teachers and students, and for the ones who are teaching and learning at such universities with similar English syllabus or education training, or for the ones who concern.5 Methodology of the study This study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods. An explicit instruction programme on the strategy of guassing from context was conducted in addition to regular English curriculum.
Data fiom questionnaires were eollceted to study the students’ changes in attitudes towards the strategy of guessing from context. A pre-test and post-test were done to study the actual performance of students in the use of the strategy before and after the programms, Observations and inlerviews with students war so used lo gel more valid and reliable results.6 Design of the study ‘The research consists of four main chapters: Introduction, Literature Review, the Study and Conclusion. Chaplor 1, Introduction, presents the background and statement, of the problem, the purpose, and the design as well as the scope of the study. Chapler 2, Tileralure Review, discusses issues of reading, reading processes, major approaches to teaching reading, reading strategies in general and the strategy of guessing meaning from context in particular.
Chapter 3, Ri arch Design and Methods, explains the methodotogy usod im the study including the population information, instrumentation, and data collection and data analysis, Chapler 4, Findings and Discussion, reporls the fndin Chapter 5, Conclusion, offers a summary of the findings and fiuther implication for using the strategy of guessing from context in teaching reading skills. LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Results of pre-test and post-tast ‘Table 2: Students’ attitudes towards reading comprehension and the strategy of guessing Tearing from context Table 3: Students’ opinions on the effectiveness of the programme Table 4: Overall students’ guessing strategies for two passages Table 5: Tow level group's guessing strategies Table 6; Intermediate level group’s guessing strategies ‘Table 7: High level group’s guessing strategies English reading class where students’ reading proficiency was mixed, the second objective of this study was to find out how students with different reading proficiency are influenced by the instruction programme. The following specific research questions were addr 1) Does instruction on the strategy of guessing fiom context enhance second language students’ word-attack skill in particular and reading ability in general? 2) How to empower students to become more self-directed and cffoctive in their learning of guessing strategy? 1.4 Scope of the study The study is focused only on the second-year students at ULSA who begin to have ESP lessons. ‘The subjects of the study were chosen at random and various among 68 second-year students of ULSA.
Yel, the sturly results carmol. be true to all Vietnamese students. Thus, my recommendations for teaching and learning the strategy of guessing from context might work well only for ULSA teachers and students, and for the ones who are teaching and learning at such universities with similar English syllabus or education training, or for the ones who concern.5 Methodology of the study This study employs both qualitative and quantitative methods. An explicit instruction programme on the strategy of guassing from context was conducted in addition to regular English curriculum.
Data fiom questionnaires were eollceted to study the students’ changes in attitudes towards the strategy of guessing from context. A pre-test and post-test were done to study the actual performance of students in the use of the strategy before and after the programms, Observations and inlerviews with students war so used lo gel more valid and reliable results. Of all the reading strategies commonly recognized today in second language reading, guessing fiom context seems to be one of the most valuable but difficult strategies for second language students to master. It was found out that they were offen reluctant to engage in the guessing proce: sas thy proferred first language (1.
Furthermore, stndents do not have sufficiont skills Io derive the meaning of unknown words or phrases [hai they meet during reading comprehension process, Their guessing skills are often poor, especially where context clues are not in the immediate textual environment. Therefore, guessing strategies for unknown words has becn stongly emphasized 1.2 Statement of the problem. Reading comprehension is essential to academic learning areas, to professional success and to lifelong learning. University students can not achieve success in reading comprehension without masteting reading strategies in general and the strategy of guessing from context in dcaling with reading texts in particular.
At University of Labor and Social Affairs (ULSA), Linglish for Specific Purpose (SP) syllabus mminly focuses on reading skill. Yet many studenls have nol succeeded in their reading texts, which contain lots of professional words. This is partly due to the fact that they lack the skills to cope with unknown words, or in other words, they are not equipped with the siralegy of guessing from context This fact raises the question on the necessity as well as the effectiveness of instruction on the strategy of guessing meaning from context for improving reading skills for students at UI.3 Purpos of the study Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of instruction programme on thy stralogy of gusssing from context for improving sludants’ word-allack skill and reading comprehension in teaching reading for second-year ESP students at University of Social and Labor Affairs.