3 UBND THÀNH PHỐ HẢI PHÒNG TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC HẢI PHÒNG BÁO CÁO TỔNG KẾT ĐỀ TÀI NGHIÊN CỨU KHOA HỌC CẤP TRƯỜNG NĂM HỌC 2017 - 2018 Checking the effectiveness of using word lists and Quizlet word cards in ESP vocabulary learning for Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University Mã số: ĐT.06 Chủ nhiệm: Th.s Phan Thị Hường Đơn vị: Khoa Ngoại ngữ Hải Phòng, tháng 6 năm 2018 4 TABLE OF CONTENT PART ONE: INTRODUCTION .1 Rationale of the study.2 Aims of the study .3 Scope of the study.4 Methods of the study .6 Contribution of the study.7 Design of the study.6 PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT.8 Chapter I: LITERATURE REVIEW .1 ESP vocabulary learning.1 Definition of English for specific purposes (ESP) .2 Characteristic features of ESP course .3 ESP vocabulary learning .4 Characteristicsof English for Biotechnology .2 Word list strategy in vocabulary learning .1 Definition of word lists.2 Advantages and disadvantages of using word lists in vocabulary learning .3 Quizlet word card strategy in vocabulary learning.1 Mobile assisted language learning.2 Definition of Quizlet word cards .3 Advantages and disadvantages of using Quizlet word cards in vocabulary learning.18 CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY .1 Subjects of the study.27 Chapter III: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS .33 PART THREE: CONCLUSION.42 Summary of the study.42 Limitations of the study.44 Suggestions for further research.44 6 LIST OF TABLES AND CHARTS Chart 3.1: Students’ test score in six weeks (Total sentences: 20) Chart 3.2: Time to complete learners’ translation activity Chart 3.3: Appropriateness of the weekly achievement quiz for checking students’ vocabulary acquisition Chart 3.4: Students’ frequency of using word lists and Quizlet word cards for studying vocabulary at home Chart 3.5: Selection for strategy to study ESP vocabulary Table3.1: The learners’ feeling about the importance of ESP vocabulary learning Table 3.2: The reasons of using word lists help students remember vocabulary better Table 3.3: The reasons of using Quizlet word cards help students remember vocabulary better Table 3.4: Comparison of activities students can do with word lists and Quizlet word cards to study ESP vocabulary.5: Effectiveness of using word lists and Quizlet word cards to study ESP vocabulary 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATION 1. EFL: English as Foreign Language 2. ELT: English Language Teaching 3. ESP: English for Specific Purpose 4.
HPU: HaiPhong University 5. MALL: Mobile assisted language learning 3 PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale of the study Technology is an integral part in our modern education bringing to considerable changes in theteaching and learning (Pavlik, 2015). Hockly (2013) also says that because our word has been increasing mobile thus we are in charge of reflecting the development of mobile technology in our teaching and learning. Nowadays, EFL teaching and learning are popular and seem to be an essential part of our society.
However, to master any language, the first requirement for learners is vocabulary because it is the base of any language as Wilkins (1972) says “without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. Additionally, vocabulary learning plays the central role in language acquisition as well as makes progress in language proficiency because Harmon, Wood, &Keser (2009) and Linse (2005) emphasizes that the progress of language ability depend much on learners’ vocabulary development. A good mastery of vocabulary is considered as the firm foundation for language acquisition of EFL students, especially students who are in advanced level of English such as students in university. Because, besides general English which is used for daily communication, students who are in advanced level, need to use the language for their professional jobs.
As a result, another type of language, English language for specific purpose, comes into being and ESP vocabulary learning gradually becomes an important part for learners in higher education. However, at Hai Phong University (HPU), the problem to most teachers and learners is that the quality of ESP learning is not good, students do not engage in their learning and students’ ESP learning seems to be a quite challenging job. In my case, my students in HPU are the third year students of Biotechnology major who studied two general English subjects and have to study one ESP subject for their course, however, in fact their English ability is still not good. Some are at pre-intermediate level while a few students are still at elementary one.
In this major, students are required to complete English for Biotechnology subject to accumulate enough credits for their course in university, the targets of the subject are to build ESP vocabulary knowledge as well as develop reading and translating skills for students when they work with the professional documents. To meet these requirements, mastering a large 4 number of lexical terms is extremely necessary to learners. However, through my teaching experience in ESP subjects, I realize that my students do not pay attention to vocabulary learning, their ESP learning is not effective. Most of the students express the confused and reluctant attitude when taking part in ESP lessons, their learning motivation is not high because leaners cannot memorize terms exactly and they do not apply these terms flexibly to complete these requirements in ESP lessons.
Moreover, the limitation of learning time with only two lessons per week leads to concentrating on studying vocabulary is a demanding job for both teachers and students. In addition, the common trend in teaching and learning language requires teachers to have innovations in teaching methods which integrate technology information, promote students to develop their self-cultivation and put them in the Centre of lesson. All these reasons motivate the researcher to find out a suitable method for ESP vocabulary learning in EFL classroom at HPU which can improve vocabulary learning as well as boost their motivation in learning ESP. Due to the purposes, the researcher decides to carry out checking of using Quizlet word cards, which integrate information technology and academic in learning process, and word lists - a traditional method for learning vocabulary in HPU - to consider the effectiveness of strategies in supporting students’ ESP vocabulary retention and identify which one is more effective and preferable for students to learn ESP vocabulary.2 Aims of the study This study aims at checking the effectiveness of using word lists and Quizlet words cards to learn ESP vocabulary of Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University.
In order to achieve these aims, the following objectives are established: - Firstly, to check the effectiveness of ESP vocabulary learning when using word lists and Quizlet word cards of Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University. - Secondly, to consider which method is favorable in boosting students’ motivation in ESP vocabulary learning.3 Scope of the study To check the effectiveness of using word lists and Quizlet word cards in ESP vocabulary learning for Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University, there are a lot of factors for researchers to compare. However, within the framework of this research, it is too ambitious to compare all factors impacting on the efficiency of ESP 5 vocabulary learning. Therefore, this study only focuses on identifying the effectiveness of two methods in supporting students’ vocabulary retention and provoking students’ motivation to study English for specific purposes.
Moreover, due to the limit of time and the researcher’s ability, only students in Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University are chosen for the research. Sixteen students in K16 Biotechnology class of this major are chosen to take part in the research, they study some units of English for Biotechnology subject extracted from the course book of “The language of Biotechnology” written by Professor Nguyen Thi Hien, Associate professor Quan Le Ha and Master Le Thi Lan Chi of Ha Noi University of science and technology.4 Methods of the study In order to complete this research, the researcher chooses to use qualitative and quantitative method. More specifically, the researcher did some vocabulary tests through weeks to collect data for students’ progress in vocabulary learning with two methods. In addition, the researchers also did questionnaires to gather in-depth information about students’ evaluation to ESP vocabulary learning through wordlist and Quizlet word cards and made some observations to collect data for students’ attitude to learning ESP vocabulary through word lists and Quizlet word cards as well as time they need to complete one translation activity when mastering these ESP vocabulary knowledge.
These data helps identify which method is more effective for students to enhance ESP vocabulary learning, which one is favorable to students to study as well as they are believed to bring to a complete look into ESP vocabulary learning for both teachers and learners.5 Research questions The study aims at checking comparing the use of world lists and Quizlet word cards to find out which is more efficient to students in ESP vocabulary learning at Hai Phong University. To achieve this aim, answers to the following questions are sought: - Which method is more effective in improving students’ ESP vocabulary acquisition: word lists or Quizlet word cards? - What are EFL learners’ attitudes toward using word lists versus Quizlet word cards in ESP vocabulary learning? 1.6 Contribution of the study 6 This study focuses on researching the effectiveness of using world lists and Quizlet word cards to identify which one is more effective for students’ retention, improves students’ ESP performance and promotes students’ motivation in ESP vocabulary learning. The study helps the researcher to identify the real effect of both word lists and Quizlet word cards in students’ retention. Which one has better effects on students and which one are preferable for students to study with? The results of the study bring to overall view for the author to ESP vocabulary teaching and learning, discover the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy in teaching process as well as support teachers to have the suitable selection in teaching vocabulary for their students.
At the same time, teachers from this study can have deeper thought and more researches relating to this field to create more innovations for teaching language in general. Moreover, students who take part in this study have interesting experiences in learning process which boost their motivation for their learning, they also will have their own orientation and selection for their learning to gain the best results for ESP learning. In addition, because the researches relating to using Quizlet in vocabulary in Vietnam is limited, therefore, this study will contribute to establishing the scientific foundation of ESP vocabulary learning and teaching through mobile devices as well as providing the useful information about ESP learning.7 Design of the study This research consists of three main parts: Part One, INTRODUCTION, presents the rationale, the aims, scope, methods, contribution and design of the study. Part Two, DEVELOPMENT, is composed of four chapters as follows: - Chapter One, Literature review, is concerned with a brief review of knowledge about overview of ESP vocabulary learning, Quizlet word card strategy in vocabulary learning, Word list strategy in language learning.
- Chapter Two, Methodology, is about the research method, research design, subject of the study which provides general information for the research. - Chapter Three, Data Presentation and Analysis, is the part relating to vocabulary test, classroom observation and questionnaire survey which are basic research methods and 7 a comparison between two methods to identify its effectiveness in ESP vocabulary learning for Biotechnology majors at Hai Phong University Part Three, CONCLUSION, consists of four sub-parts: Summary of the study, Limitations of the study, and Suggestions for further studies. 8 PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT Chapter I: LITERATURE REVIEW The main aim of this chapter is to present some theories relating to ESP vocabulary learning, word lists and Quizlet word cards. The first section overviews the theory of ESP vocabulary learning, some characteristic features of ESP course, ESP vocabulary learning as well as characteristics of English for Biotechnology.
After that, this second part refers to knowledge of word lists, its advantages and disadvantages. Next comes to some definitions of Quizlet word cards, advantages and disadvantages of Quizlet word cards.1 ESP vocabulary learning 1.