MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------------- NGUYEN THI NGOC MINH EXPLORING THE USE OF TASK-BASED APPROACH IN TEACHING AND LEARNING THE ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILL AT COLLEGE OF ARTS, HUE UNIVERSITY MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 60140111 SUPERVISOR: TRAN QUANG HAI, D. HUE, 2013 i BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ ------------- NGUYỄN THỊ NGỌC MINH KHẢO SÁT VIỆC ỨNG DỤNG ĐƢỜNG HƢỚNG LẤY NHIỆM VỤ LÀM TRỌNG TÂM ĐỂ DẠY VÀ HỌC KỸ NĂNG NÓI TIẾNG ANH TẠI TRƢỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGHỆ THUẬT – ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ LÝ LUẬN VÀ PHƢƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 60140111 NGƢỜI HƢỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: TS. TRẦN QUANG HẢI HUẾ, 2013 ii 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.
Author Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh iii ABSTRACT This thesis aims to explore the use of Task-based Approach in teaching and learning speaking skill at College of Arts, Hue University through the perceptions of teachers and students. To obtain this, the questionnaires designed according to related items of the application of Task-based Approach in teaching and learning speaking skill at the College of Arts were utilized. Ten English teachers from Hue University – College of Foreign Languages; College of Arts, Hue University and 150 first, second and third year students participated in the study. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews which were designed separately for teachers and students.
The data collected from the questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively according to statistical frequency and percentage presented in various tables and figures. Moreover, the data of classroom observations and interviews were distributed to add more insightful information for qualitative analysis. Results of the study indicate that the Task-based Approach should be applied in teaching and learning speaking skill at College of Arts, especially ESP classes. The findings also reveal that some suggestions for designing task-based lesson plan to make the teaching and learning speaking skill at College of Arts more effective.
iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to a number of people, without whose support and involvement, this thesis would not have been completed. Above all, I am deeply indebted to Doctor Tran Quang Hai, my supervisor, for his whole- hearted guidance at every stage of the development of this study, continuous support, encouragement and critical feedback. Next, I am heartily grateful to English teachers at College of Arts and College of Foreign Languages, students of College of Arts for their precious ideas and enthusiastic participation in my study. Finally, I own my deepest gratitude to my family, my colleagues and close friends whose love, support and encouragement helped me overcome all difficulties during the time I conducted this study.
v Hue, October 2013 Nguyen Thi Ngoc Minh v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Pages SUB COVER PAGE. i,ii STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP. v TABLE OF CONTENTS. vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
x LIST OF TABLES. xi LIST OF FIGURES. xii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION. Aims of the Research.
Scope of the Research. Significance of the Study. Organization of the Thesis:. 5 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.
Definitions of Key Terms. Task-based Language Learning (TBLL). Principles of Task-based Language Learning. Characteristics of Task-based Language Learning.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Task-based Language Learning. Advantages of Task-based Language Learning. Disadvantages of Task-based Language Learning. Communicative Language Teaching.
Definition of Tasks. Varieties of Tasks. Characteristics of Tasks. Task-based Lesson Plans.
Generality of Task-based Lesson Plan. Characteristics of Task-based Lesson Plans. Principles of Task-based Lesson Plans. Instruments of Data Collection.
Questionnaires for Teachers. Questionnaires for Students. Procedure of Data Collection. Interviews with Teachers.
Interviews with Students. 29 viii CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. Teachers‟ and Students‟ Attitudes toward the Use of Task-based Approach in Teaching and Learning Speaking Skill. Teachers‟ Attitudes towards the Use of Task-based Approach in Teaching the English Speaking Skill.
Students‟ Attitudes towards the Use of Task-based Approach in Learning Speaking Skill. The Necessary of Applying Task-based Approach in Teaching and Learning Speaking Skill form the Teachers and Students‟ Views. The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Application of Task-based Approach in Teaching and Learning the English Speaking Skill at Hue College of Arts. Teachers‟ Views on Advantage and Disadvantage of the Application of Task-based Approach in Teaching Speaking Skill.
Students‟ Perceptions on Advantages and Obstacles in Learning Speaking English with Tasks. Factors need to be considered to design an appropriate Task-based Lesson plan to motivate students in learning English Speaking Skill at College of Arts, Hue University. Teachers‟ Perceptions of Factors which need to be considered to design an appropriate Task-based Lesson plan to motivate students in learning English Speaking Skill. Students‟ Opinions of Factors which can make them learn Speaking Skill more effectively.
Some Suggestions for designing Task-based Lesson plan to motivate students in learning Speaking Skill at HCOA. 55 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS. Summary of the Key findings. Teachers‟ and Students‟ Attitudes towards the Use of Task-based Approach in Teaching and Learning English Speaking Skill.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Application of Task-based Approach in teaching English Speaking Skill at College of Arts, Hue University. Factors should be considered to design an appropriate Task-based Lesson plan to motivate students in learning English Speaking Skill at College of Arts, Hue University. Implications for Teachers. Implications for Students.
Contributions of the Study. Suggestions for Further Research. 64 APPENDICES Appendix1: Questionnaire for Teachers Appendix2: Questionnaire for Students Appendix3: In-depth interview question sheet for Teachers Appendix4: In-depth interview question sheet for Students Appendix5: Classroom observation checklist Appendix6: Sample Task-based Lesson Plan x LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ESP English for Specific purposes GE General English HCA College of Arts, Hue University HUCFL College of Foreign Languages, Hue University S Student T Teacher TBLL Task-based Language Learning xi LIST OF TABLES Table 3. Students‟ opinions about advantages in learning speaking English with tasks.
Obstacles in learning speaking English from students‟ thoughts. Factors should be changed in speaking classes. 49 xii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4. The reality of teaching speaking skill from teachers‟ answers.
The application of Task-based approach in speaking classes. Teachers‟ self assessment on speaking classes with the Task-based approach. Students‟ answers on learning speaking skill with tasks. Students‟ thoughts of tasks in speaking classes.
Students‟ view on the importance of doing tasks in speaking classes. Teachers‟ views on the necessary of applying Task-based approach to teaching speaking skill. Teachers‟ thoughts about advantages of Task-based learning in speaking classes. Teachers‟ thoughts about disadvantages of Task-based learning in speaking classes.
Teachers‟ opinions on factors to have an effective Task-based lesson plan. Types of tasks were often used to enhance the effectiveness in speaking classes. The teachers opinions on speaking tasks in the current material. Students‟ options in favorite topics on Fine Arts textbook.
Students‟ opinions on themes which should be added in speaking classes. Students‟ preferences for ways of assessment in speaking classes. Students‟ options of learning ways in speaking classes. Students‟ favorite sub-skills in learning English speaking skill.
53 xiii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale In recent years, along with the trend of globalization and world economic integration, the need for learning English in Vietnam has become more and more necessary. There is no doubt that English is widely used in all aspects of life from politics, economy, culture, society and especially in education. In fact, English plays an important position in the development of the country. It is an useful tool to access the world knowledge or to join the advanced and developed world.
Moreover, English is one of the first and most important criteria for a good job and position after graduation from University. Thus, the role of English at schools in general and at universities in particular is more and more important. It can be said that English is a passport to successful future. In schools or in universities, the foreign language curricula in general and the English language teaching curriculum in particular have been continuously improved and updated in order to meet the pressing needs of the country in the process of regional and international integration.
English teachers always use new methods and techniques of teaching English to create motivation for students to learn English, from that, students will have more opportunities to learn independently, to participate more actively in the teaching-learning process, and to interact more effectively in communication. Regarding English learning at College of Arts, Hue University (HCA), due to the lack of English language ability, students often encounter a lot of frustrations, they can not use English well with four basic skills. Whereas, at present, the need for learning English of students is increasing because English is really an efficient tool for them to make contact with the modern world with many new technologies and remarkable changes both in society in general and in arts particularly. In fact, with the essential needs, students have made many efforts to learn English better and the English teachers have also tried their best to find out the most effective teaching methods to encourage student to learn English well.
Simultaneously, English syllabus needs to be designed logically and efficiently to satisfy the needs of learners. The English lecturers who compile English syllabus need to investigate 1 and analyze the essential needs of the learners. Therefore, applying teaching methods effectively for students is very necessary. It will not only increase students‟ language ability, but also help them get motivated in learning English at university.
There are many effective teaching methods, one of the effective approaches has taken many researchers‟ concerns such as Krashen (1987), Nunan (1989), Skehan (1998), Brown (2001) and Frost (2005) is Task-based Language Learning. This teaching method makes learners acquire language easily when they just focus on doing tasks instead of language use. It can simultaneously help learners use the foreign language to express their thoughts in different situations and learn more about how to express their thoughts through language. Doing tasks in class always brings much inspiration and motivation in learning, especially for students of arts major.
They want to do things independently and actively. Especially, they will be eager to do tasks which are close to everyday life by using another language instead of their own language. As for Krashen‟s viewpoints (1987),the tasks can generate learners‟ own language and create an opportunity for language acquisition. He shows that if we can take the focus away from form and structures we can develop our students‟ ability to do things in English.
Teachers have a responsibility to enrich their students‟ language when they see it is necessary but students should be given the opportunity to use English in the classroom as they use their own languages in everyday life. Therefore, doing tasks in classroom can make the language acquisition become easier. In fact, students at HCA have not been active in English speaking classes; there are many controversial reasons that can explain why students do not have motivation in English classes. Through many professional workshops and seminars held by international organizations at HCA , it was found that students often took the active role in expressing freely their ideas about given problems.
The desire for how to make students take the active role in both academy workshop and English classes has inspired researcher to find out the most effective approach to teach English for students at HCA. Additionally, the researcher found that the first most necessary English skill for students at HCA is English speaking skill.