VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ~~-øœEg»cq-~- Á MAI THI NGAN M. MINOR THESIS High school students’ errors in using English Articles as shown in their written exercises Nhitng léi trong viée sir dung mao tie Tiéng Anh trong các bài viết của học sinh Trung hoc phé théng. Field: Methodology Code: 60.10 Hanoi — 2011 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES y -—-#œsElw»cœs—- MAI THI NGAN M. MINOR THESIS High school students’ errors in using English Articles as shown in their written exercises (Những lỗi trong việc sử dụng mạo từ Tiếng Anh trong các bài tập viễt của học sinh Trung học pho théng) Field: Methodology Code: 60.
Ha Cim Tâm Hanoi — 2011 ABSTRACT In the pro s of learning English as a foreign langusy , Vietnamese high sehool students do have to face a lot of problems. English article is considered as one of the most troublesome problems for every leamer because of its complex uses. This MA minor thesis is am allemmpt to point oul some problems in using English articles of students in writing. TL is hoped that the study would be useful for teachers and students in teaching and learning English at high schools In order to achieve the goal, two data collection instruments were used including, exercises and interviews.
While the exercises were designed to collect information reflecting real problems in using English articles, the interviews following that were devekaped to find ont the problems in using articles and some possible causes as well. Results of the study show that Articles in English are complicated words which cause a lot of difficulties for Vietnamese students. Scven problems: substitution cxrors, indefinite article forms, deletion of the articles, problems in using indefinite article with marked and umiaked plurals, problems in using indefinite article with uncountable nouns, problems in covering the uses of definite articles and ovarusing articles were committed in the process of leaming and using Articles. Besides, this research also found out that it is the inlerference of mother tongue, avoidance, overgeneralizalion and the conditions of learning 4 training that have great influence on students’ foreign-language learn.
It is hoped that fom this study, teachers and students would he more aware of the problems lo be solved and from the identified problems, they would develop Icaching and learning methods accordingly. TABLE OF CONTENTS Table 1: The Uses of English Antictes. Table 2: Results by the issues’ exercises. Table 3: Results by the yypes of exercises.
CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT | hereby certify that the thesis entitled: ii ABSTRACT i TABLE OF CONTENTS. LIST OF TABLES. ACKNOWLEDGEME! w PART [: Introduction 1. Aims of the §ẦUẨY.
vì tàn vn Hung game c2 1. The scope of the study. Methods of the sludy 2 1. Orgamation of the study.
3 PART TT: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 2: Literature reviow 1.1, Articles in English. Classification of English articles. Articles in noun phrase 8 1. Review of pIcvious studiG8.
ào CHAPTER 2: THE STUDY 2. Data collection instruments. Uses of articles ¬—. Types of exercise 20 2.
"¬ sec ¬ 23 PART OI: Conclusions 3. Implications fbr teaching and learning English Articles 28 3. Limitations of the study 29 3.4, Suagestions fbr ñuflet SiMÄlSS. cr oehieiserse son 3Ô REFERENCES.
Vv STUDENT INTERVIEW. cssecccsecuscssstessseintesstniessenesriesteseeaninl¥ LIST OF TABLES Page 2. Uses of articles ¬—. Types of exercise 20 2.
"¬ sec ¬ 23 PART OI: Conclusions 3. Implications fbr teaching and learning English Articles 28 3. Limitations of the study 29 3.4, Suagestions fbr ñuflet SiMÄlSS. cr oehieiserse son 3Ô REFERENCES.
Vv STUDENT INTERVIEW. cssecccsecuscssstessseintesstniessenesriesteseeaninl¥ LIST OF TABLES Page High schaot students’ errars in using English Articles as shown in their written exercises is the resull of my research for the Degree of Master of Art al College of Language and Intemational Studies, Ha Noi National University, and the thesis has not been submitted for any degree at any other university or tertiary institution. Signature Mai Thi Xgan ACKNOWLEDGEM PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale English as native language or second language is the most widely used throughout the world, Since English has become an offective means of intemaltional communication and i can be instrumental to personal and professional success, it has been the first choice of most Vietnamese learners of foreign languages, But in the process of learning, Vietnamese learners do have to face a lot of problems.
English article is considered as one of the most troublesome problems for every learner because of its complex uses. ‘The Lnglish articles “a(n), zero, the” are quite difficult to acquire not only for USL / HL'L learners bul also for eluildien learning English as a firs! language. Articles are believed to be a source of difficulty for leamers (and teachers) of English as a second / foreign language, especially for those whose native languages do not have articles. English articles are hardly crucial communication devices, which are supported by the fact that they are dropped in telegraphic exchanges.
They are generally overlooked by learners when processing language primarily for meaning. According to Pienemann (1998), the difficulty of the meming expressed by an utlicle is delormined by the novelty and abstrackness of the concept, not to mention learners’ changmg hypotheses about article usage at different stages in interlanguage development and the potential influence of the native language which may further complicate the task Articles do not impede understanding, for in oral communication, they are generally unstressed and almost inaudible, Nevertheless, given the faet thal they are among Ihe most frequently used words in English (Master, 2002), it is significant that students have some control of their usages, When you learn English articles, you are learning one of the easier components of this language. But if you want to master articles, one of the first things you must perfect is your understanding of their nuances. However, if the very conecpt of articles does not exist in your native language — as is te of many Asian countries inckuding Viemam, then it can be quite a daunting task to learn English articles and use thcm appropriately.
Most Vietnamese Icamers defined that the definite (the) and indefinite (a, an) are presented and the different cases where they are applicable. But many of them can’t explain why is it correct to say "@ ern” and not "an kere": but "an j#awr" and not "a The largest debt of all is to my supervisor, Dr. Ha Cam Tam, who has given me much invaluable advice and careful instructions since the very beginning and has always been my frequent secure for many invaluable insights. I am also grateful to her for reading and helping me make the necessary changes.
I am indebted to all the lecturers of the Post-Graduate Department, College of Foreign Languages, Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their valuable teaching and assistance during my study at the College I must in particular thank Assoc. Le Hung Tien, the Head of the Post- Graduate Department, and the lecturer of Scientific Research fer his useful and precious instructions during the course. My sincere thanks are due to the students and teachers at Thach Thanh High School No.3, Thanh Hoa, who have provided me with the valuable data. Finally, I am grateful my family and my friends for their great support and encouragement in the accomplishment of this study.
ii ABSTRACT i TABLE OF CONTENTS. LIST OF TABLES. ACKNOWLEDGEME! w PART [: Introduction 1. Aims of the §ẦUẨY.
vì tàn vn Hung game c2 1. The scope of the study. Methods of the sludy 2 1. Orgamation of the study.
3 PART TT: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 2: Literature reviow 1.1, Articles in English. Classification of English articles. Articles in noun phrase 8 1. Review of pIcvious studiG8.
ào CHAPTER 2: THE STUDY 2. Data collection instruments. Interviews „14 Table 1: The Uses of English Antictes. Table 2: Results by the issues’ exercises.
Table 3: Results by the yypes of exercises. CANDIDATE'S STATEMENT | hereby certify that the thesis entitled: 2. Uses of articles ¬—. Types of exercise 20 2.
"¬ sec ¬ 23 PART OI: Conclusions 3. Implications fbr teaching and learning English Articles 28 3. Limitations of the study 29 3.4, Suagestions fbr ñuflet SiMÄlSS. cr oehieiserse son 3Ô REFERENCES.
Vv STUDENT INTERVIEW. cssecccsecuscssstessseintesstniessenesriesteseeaninl¥ LIST OF TABLES Page PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale English as native language or second language is the most widely used throughout the world, Since English has become an offective means of intemaltional communication and i can be instrumental to personal and professional success, it has been the first choice of most Vietnamese learners of foreign languages, But in the process of learning, Vietnamese learners do have to face a lot of problems. English article is considered as one of the most troublesome problems for every learner because of its complex uses.
‘The Lnglish articles “a(n), zero, the” are quite difficult to acquire not only for USL / HL'L learners bul also for eluildien learning English as a firs! language. Articles are believed to be a source of difficulty for leamers (and teachers) of English as a second / foreign language, especially for those whose native languages do not have articles. English articles are hardly crucial communication devices, which are supported by the fact that they are dropped in telegraphic exchanges. They are generally overlooked by learners when processing language primarily for meaning.
According to Pienemann (1998), the difficulty of the meming expressed by an utlicle is delormined by the novelty and abstrackness of the concept, not to mention learners’ changmg hypotheses about article usage at different stages in interlanguage development and the potential influence of the native language which may further complicate the task Articles do not impede understanding, for in oral communication, they are generally unstressed and almost inaudible, Nevertheless, given the faet thal they are among Ihe most frequently used words in English (Master, 2002), it is significant that students have some control of their usages, When you learn English articles, you are learning one of the easier components of this language. But if you want to master articles, one of the first things you must perfect is your understanding of their nuances. However, if the very conecpt of articles does not exist in your native language — as is te of many Asian countries inckuding Viemam, then it can be quite a daunting task to learn English articles and use thcm appropriately. Most Vietnamese Icamers defined that the definite (the) and indefinite (a, an) are presented and the different cases where they are applicable.
But many of them can’t explain why is it correct to say "@ ern” and not "an kere": but "an j#awr" and not "a hour"; "a unit’ and not "an anit", but “an utterance” and not “a utterance”. ‘They even have difficullies im explaining a / the before “dentist? in two following sertene Tdon't like going to the dentist amd A dentist is a person who checks your teeth. Or there are instances where no article must precede a noun, and fixing an article before it can change the meaning. which confuses students ax well.
For example, "Clothes are expensive" implies that all clothes in general are expensive, but " Zhe clothes are expensive" implies that only the clothes that one is talking about are expensive Thess questions remain quite problematic for Victnamese students, Therefore, it is necessaryto carry out this research about problems in using English Articles of students at Tigh Schools. Hopefully, this study may be of some help to those who are interestedin the topic. Aims of the study This study aims at identifying problems in using English articles in writing by students of Thach Thanh High School No. 3 and suggesting some possible solutions to overcome the problems.
Research question ‘The study was set up to answer the following question: ‘What problems in using English Articles do students of Thach Thanh Tigh School No.