MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY NGUYEN THI MY HANH TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES OF USING TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE IN TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY TO YOUNG LEARNERS AT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN QUY NHON CITY MASTER THESIS IN THEORY AND METODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING Binh Dinh, 2023 MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING QUY NHON UNIVERSITY NGUYEN THI MY HANH TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES OF USING TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE IN TEACHING ENGLISH VOCABULARY TO YOUNG LEARNERS AT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN QUY NHON CITY Field: Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching Code: 8140111 Supervisor: Ha Thanh Hai, Ph.D BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC QUY NHON NGUYỄN THỊ MỸ HẠNH NHẬN THỨC VÀ THỰC TẾ GIẢNG DẠY CỦA GIÁO VIÊN TRONG VIỆC SỬ DỤNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP PHẢN ỨNG CƠ HỌC ĐỂ DẠY TỪ VỰNG CHO HỌC SINH TẠI CÁC TRƯỜNG TIỂU HỌC Ở THÀNH PHỐ QUY NHƠN Ngành: Lý luận và phương pháp dạy học bộ môn Tiếng Anh Mã số: 8140111 Người hướng dẫn: TS. Hà Thanh Hải i STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby acknowledge that this study is mine. The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true and have not been published elsewhere. Quy Nhon, 2023 Nguyen Thi My Hanh ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Without the support, encouragement, and contributions from my supervisor, my professors, my school, colleagues, friends, and family, the successful completion of this thesis work would not have been possible.
I take this chance to express my deepest thanks to them for their support. First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my thesis supervisor, Dr. Ha Thanh Hai, for his continuous support, expert guidance, and patience throughout the study. He provided me with assistance at every stage of the process and always expressed his faith in me.
I am gratefully indebted for his very valuable comments on this thesis. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the teachers at primary schools in Quy Nhon City who devoted their time to taking part in this research. I was also thankful to my colleagues for their support during my study time. I am also grateful to Quy Nhon University, Post-graduate Department, and the Foreign Languages Department for the administrative assistance.
Last but not least, I must express my gratitude to my family for providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout the course and the study of this thesis. iii ABSTRACT This study aims at exploring teachers’ perceptions of using TPR in teaching vocabulary to young learners in primary school. It also examines how teachers use it in the classroom. The research was conducted with the participation of 50 EFL teachers at 18 primary schools in Quy Nhon City.
This research implemented quantitative and qualitative approaches to collecting the data by using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and observation checklists. The findings showed that teachers had a positive perception of using TPR in their vocabulary teaching. However, the limited time and classroom conditions, coupled with some noisy students and some shy students were obstacles to teachers using TPR. Hence, some suggestions were forwarded so as to minimize problems encountered and maximize the implementation of TPR for young learners at primary schools.
Based on the findings, implications for educators, school administrators, and teachers were also offered. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv LIST OF TABLES.
vii LIST OF CHARTS. viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. Aim and Objectives of the Study. Aim of the Study.
Objectives of the Study. Scope of the Study. Significance of the Study. Organization of the Study.
4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW. Definitions of Vocabulary. Types of Vocabulary. Teaching Vocabulary to Young Learners.
Young Learners and Their Characteristics. Teaching English Vocabulary to Young Learners at Primary Schools. Total Physical Response (TPR). Definition of TPR.
Principles of TPR. Teachers’ and Learners’ Roles in TPR. Instructional Materials’ Roles. Implementation of TPR in Language Classroom.
The Procedure of Vocabulary Teaching Using TPR. Advantages and Disadvantages of TPR. Advantages of TPR. Disadvantages of TPR.
Introduction to Perception. Definitions of Perception. Types of Perception. 32 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Teachers’ Perceptions of Using TPR Method to Teach English Vocabulary To Young Learners at Primary Schools. Teachers’ Perceptions of Advantages of TPR Method. Teachers’ Perceptions of Disadvantages of TPR Method. Teachers’ Perceptions of Necessity of TPR Method.
Implementation of TPR to Teach English Vocabulary. Frequency of Using TPR in Teaching Vocabulary. How do Students Respond when TPR is Implemented?. Factors Affecting Implementation of TPR.
Factors from Teachers. Factors from Learners. Challenges of Using TPR Method faced by EFL Teachers. Summary of the Key Findings.
Teachers’ Perceptions of Using TPR in Teaching Vocabulary to Young Learners at Primary Schools. Teachers’ Practices of Using TPR in Teaching Vocabulary to Young Learners at Primary Schools. Implications for Educators. Implications for Teachers.
Limitations of the Study. Suggestions for Further Research. 71 APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2 APPENDIX 3 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1 A brief description of survey participants p.1 Teachers’ perceptions of advantages of TPR method p.2 Teachers’ perceptions of disadvantages of TPR p.3 Teachers’ perceptions of necessity of TPR method p.6 Challenges that teachers may face when using TPR p. 54 viii LIST OF CHARTS Chart 4.1 Frequency of using TPR in the classroom p.2 TPR activities used frequently by the teachers p.3 Factors from teachers affecting implementation p.
50 of TPR Chart 4.4 Factors from learners affecting implementation of p.5 Other factors affecting implementation of TPR p. 52 1 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION This chapter introduces the rationale, the objectives, the scope, and the research questions of the study. Besides, the significance and the outline of the study are also mentioned. Rationale Currently, English has been widely used in Vietnam.
This is a compulsory subject in almost all school levels. Teaching English at primary schools is one of the important goals concerned by the Government. Moreover, children aged from 6 to 13 is the right time to learn another language along with their mother tongue because children have a good memory to achieve new things during that period. In addition, there is no language without vocabulary and English is not an exception.
According to Cameron (2001), vocabulary is a base to the learning of a language at the initial level. Pupils often encounter difficulties in learning English vocabulary, so they find it hard to understand reading texts, understand what others speak as well as giving responses. Therefore, learning vocabulary is so important that the pupils study it as the basic competence to learn those four skills in English. Learning new words relates to how we understand them and how long we remember them.
There are many factors affecting word retention, for example, how diversification and frequently words are used. According to Thornburg (2002), “the learner needs not only to learn a lot of words, but also to remember them”. Therefore, sensory memory has important values in learning vocabulary. In the past, teachers often used traditional methods to teach vocabulary such as providing word explanations and requiring practices, however, that was not a really effective method.
According to Singer, A. (2003), “teaching is 2 helping learners to acquire new knowledge or skills. Teaching consisted, mainly, of telling, showing, guiding the learner in performance tasks and then measuring the results”. In some cases, some teachers do not have suitable methods to inspire their students for learning English effectively, which makes students not excited to learn vocabulary.
It is easy to show that it is hard and challenging, and time-consuming. The close relationship between vocabulary and understandability must be expressed in the form of words. Finite vocabulary will make learners find hard in communication, which loses their confidence and gradually interests in studying English. Some reasons for those limitations may be affected by teaching method, learning environment and motivation.
Within the scope of this study, teaching method will be focused on. In primary education, vocabulary is considered one of the foundational concerns in English teaching and learning. Thus, teachers should find effective teaching methods to enhance students’ vocabulary so as to raise their interests and language competency in learning English. So far, many researchers have provided various methods to help students to easily study and memorize vocabulary.
One of them, TPR is regarded one of the most useful methods in teaching and learning vocabulary. According to Richards and Rodgers (2001), TPR is a method which is built around the coordination of speech and action in other words it is to teach language through activity. There are no texts in the teaching environment but there is a teaching via songs, games, stories accompany actions which attracts the attention of young active learners. TPR is an essential technique in teaching English for primary learners because this method appeals to children’s attention and encourages them to have favorable attitudes to learning English.
Although much work has been done to explore issues relating to the use of TPR method to young learners, for examples, Muñoz (2011), Sariyati 3 (2013), Bahtiar (2017), little attention has been paid to teachers’ perceptions as well as practice of using TPR. For all the reasons mentioned above, the researcher will conduct this thesis with the title: “Teachers’ perceptions and practices of using Total Physical Response in teaching English vocabulary to young learners at primary schools in Quy Nhon city” 1. Aim and Objectives of the Study 1. Aim of the Study This study aims to identify teachers’ perceptions toward the use of the TPR method to teach young learners at primary schoolss 1.
Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are formulated as follows: - To identify teachers’ perceptions of using TPR in teaching English vocabulary to primary school pupils. - To describe how the teachers implement TPR method in English classes. Research Questions This research is intended to answer these questions below: 1. What are teachers’ perceptions of using TPR method to teach English vocabulary to young learners at primary schools? 2.
How do primary teachers implement TPR method to English classes? 1. Scope of the Study The scope of the study will be limited within 18 primary schools in Quy Nhon city where an investigation into teachers’ perceptions about the use of 4 TPR in teaching English vocabulary to young learners was implemented. The main participants were the teachers of English at some primary schools. Due to the fixed curriculum and limited time, it has been carried out in the second semester of school year 2022-2023.
Significance of the Study Despite its limitations, this study has significance for both theoretical and practical contributions. Firstly, this research may contribute in modifying theories that focus on the teachers’ perceptions and practice of TPR method and how English vocabulary is taught at primary schools with the purposes of finding out some factors affecting on the use of TPR. Secondly, this study may help English teachers in designing the process of teaching English especially in using TPR method in teaching English vocabulary at primary schools. Additionally, the result of this research is expected to be used as an additional reference in carrying out further research.
Organization of the Study This thesis is organized into five chapters. The first chapter gives a brief introduction about the rationale of the research, research questions, the objectives, scope as well as structure of the study. In the next chapter, a fundamental overview of theoretical concepts relating to the research is provided. The third chapter presents methods used to collect data and information of participants.
Questionnaires, interviews and classroom observations are described in more detail. In the fourth chapter, collected data are calculated and analyzed to draw conclusions about perceptions and practice failure to help teachers use TPR method effectively in their own English classes.