THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES HOANG THI HONG HANH AN INVESTIGATION ON VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES OF NON-MAJOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH AT UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION – THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY (Nghiên cứu các chiến lược học từ vựng của sinh viên năm thứ nhất không chuyên tiếng Anh tại Trường Đại học Sư phạm – Đại học Thái Nguyên) M. THESIS Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 THAI NGUYEN – 2019 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn 0 c THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES HOANG THI HONG HANH AN INVESTIGATION ON VOCABULARY LEARNING STRATEGIES OF NON-MAJOR FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH AT UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION – THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY (Nghiên cứu các chiến lược học từ vựng của sinh viên năm thứ nhất không chuyên tiếng Anh tại Trường Đại học Sư phạm – Đại học Thái Nguyên) M. THESIS (APPLICATION ORIENTATION) Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Dr. Ngo Van Giang THAI NGUYEN – 2019 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c DECLARATION I hereby certify that the thesis entitled “An investigation on vocabulary learning strategies of non-major first year students of English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University” is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts.
It has not been submitted to any other university or institution wholly or partially. Researcher’s signature Hoang Thi Hong Hanh Approved September, 2019 Supervisor’s signature Dr. Ngo Van Giang Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the consistent and valuable reference materials that I received from my supervisor, Dr. Ngo Van Giang whose insightful guidance and enthusiastic encouragement in the course definitely gain my deepest gratitude.
Moreover, I would like to send my deep thanks to all the lecturers who taught me in the MA course. I would also avail myself of this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to the teachers and students at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University whose support spared for my thesis is immense. Last but not least, I am much indebted to my family whose their support and encouragement serve as drivers for final completion of the thesis. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate the frequently-used vocabulary learning strategies acquired by non-major first year students of English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University (TNU) and effective strategies employed by these students.
A survey was conducted with the participation of 252 students and five teachers from University of Education - TNU. Questionnaire and face to face interviews were used as research instruments for data collection. The outcomes of the study indicate an overall medium use of vocabulary learning strategies of students at TNU. Although data from the questionnaire indicates that learners use all most every strategy given, the frequency is not really high.
Besides, a number of limitations can be discerned in the study due to the time constraints and the researchers’ limited ability and experience. Although Schmitt’s taxonomy is the most comprehensive available, it cannot embrace all the existing vocabulary learning strategies. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS.
iv LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES .1 Rationale of the study .2 Aims of the study and research questions .3 Scope of the study .4 Significance of the study .5 Structure of the study .6 Summary of Chapter one .2 The important of learning strategies.2 Factors affecting learners in learning English vocabulary .3 Vocabulary learning strategies .1 Classification of vocabulary learning strategies.2 Schmitt’s vocabulary learning strategies.3 An overview of vocabulary learning strategies researches .4 Summary of Chapter two .3 Instrument for data collection .4 Data collection procedures .5 Data analysis procedures .6 Summary of Chapter three. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. 27 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.1 The use of DET strategies in vocabulary learning .2 The use of SOC strategies in vocabulary learning .3 The use of MEM strategies in vocabulary learning .4 The use of COG strategies in vocabulary learning.5 The use of MET strategies in vocabulary learning.3 Summary of Chapter four. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .3 Limitation and suggestions for further research .2 Suggestion for further studies.
I Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c LIST OF CHARTS AND TABLES Table 1. Nation’s (2001) taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies……………. Schmitt’s taxonomy of vocabulary learning strategies…………………. Students’ use of DET strategies in vocabulary learning…………………27 Figure 2.
Students’ use of SOC strategies in vocabulary learning…………………28 Figure 3. Students’ use of MEM strategies in vocabulary learning………………. Students’ use of COG strategies in vocabulary learning………………. Students’ use of MET strategies in vocabulary learning……………….31 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.
INTRODUCTION This small scale study is initiated in order to investigate the frequently-used vocabulary learning strategies acquired by non-major first year students of English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University (TNU) and effective strategies employed by these students. This introductory chapter will first present the rationale and context of the study, and then the aims of the study and research questions, the scope of the study and the significance of the study are highlighted, followed by a brief description of the structural organization of the whole paper.1 Rationale of the study “Without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed” (Wilkins, 1972, p. Vocabulary plays an important role in learning foreign languages. It's the essential think about communication with people (Krashen & Terrel, 1983).
Each reading and listening comprehension are also powerfully associated with vocabulary information. Laufer (1991) found vital correlations between vocabulary tests and reading success of second language learners. Although several variables have an effect on reading, the performance associated with the variable of vocabulary is considered the most important prediction of reading comprehension (Anderson & Freebody, 1981). Hu (1999) conjointly found that students with textual vocabulary or background information perform higher on listening comprehension than those without such knowledge.
In the second language or foreign acquisition, it is widely acknowledged that vocabulary is vital and important a part of the four language skills. For second language (ESL) or foreign language (EFL) learners, vocabulary is one in every of the vital language components that supports the abilities of speaking, listening, reading and writing. According to McCarthy (1990), although the learners can produce sounds perfectly, if there is no word to precise a wider vary of meanings, communication simply cannot happen in any significant way. Several researchers realize the variations between smart language learners and bad language learners and look for the reason why good learners have better achievement than bad learners.
Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c Thornburry (2002) believed that good learners savvy to be told, reach a live of autonomy and develop their own techniques or methods. However, in Asian countries, vocabulary appears to be very little stress within the university program (Fan, 2003). Being attentive to vocabulary learning has been indicated as important. Doczi (2001) believed that vocabulary learning strategies will help the students in finding out the meaning of new words and consolidating them once it has been understood.
Therefore, it is very crucial to understand the strategies that consciously or unconsciously applied by good language learners. Many common strategies such as mnemonic devices, vocabulary notebooks, guessing meaning from context, and verbal and written repetition are applied in learning vocabulary. The awareness of vocabulary learning methods can facilitate second language learners to enhance vocabulary learning and enhance lexical competency. Moreover, knowing the factors that square measure influencing the employment of vocabulary learning methods will facilitate learners and researchers to style applicable materials and activities (Thornburry, 2002).
In the Vietnamese context, English is a foreign language, and is used for various purposes, ranging from academic advancement, career advancement, traveling abroad to international integration (Viet, 2016). To cope with the growing local and international demand, a number of efforts have been made to boost Vietnamese learners’ English competence. One of the noticeable efforts is evidenced by the National Foreign Project 2020 project which aims at improving the English language competences of average Vietnamese nationwide. Although many studies have revealed that Vietnamese students’ levels of English proficiency in writing, reading, listening and speaking are still low and need improving, fewer researches really focus on vocabulary teaching and learning, especially the vocabulary learning of students.
In University of Education – Thai Nguyen University (TNU), the National Foreign Project 2020 which requires students to achieve the level A2 of English competence as (Common European Framework of Reference - CEFR) upon graduation. In an A2 test as the format of KET (Key English Test), students’ level of English proficiencies Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c are evaluated according to all the four skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking. To achieve this test, students have to master an amount of vocabulary that require them to have strategies to learn (Bac, 2015). However, many students have difficulties and do not know useful learning strategies.
For those reasons, the author conducted an investigation on vocabulary learning strategies of first year students of non-major English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University.2 Aims of the study and research questions This research aims to investigate vocabulary learning strategies of non-major first year students of English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University. Specifically, this research aimed to obtain two objectives. The first objective is to identify frequently-used vocabulary learning strategies in English acquired by first year students at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University. The second one is to identify what are effective strategies employed by these students.
This study aimed to address the following research questions: 1. What are the frequently-used vocabulary learning strategies acquired by first year students at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University (TNU)? 2. What are effective vocabulary learning strategies employed by these students? 1.3 Scope of the study This research examines vocabulary learning strategies by non-major students of English. The research only explores first year students at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University.
The research participants in this study are students and teachers who are the key stakeholders and role players in English learning and teaching classrooms. First year non-English major students were selected because they were observed by the researcher and her colleagues to experience most difficulties for not having been introduced any learning strategy before. English major students were not chosen to participate in this study because they are familiar with the types of vocabulary Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn c learning strategies and there have been many researches targeting at English major students. University of Education students were chosen to participate in this study because a majority of University of Education students are non-English major students whose English proficiency levels are not as good as those studying at universities in Hanoi or other big cities (Bac, 2015).
It is important to note that University of Education students mostly come from mountainous or countryside areas so their autonomy of English learning is limited.4 Significance of the study This study aimed to survey vocabulary learning strategies of non-major first year students of English at University of Education – Thai Nguyen University. It is believed that an awareness of individual differences in learning can make all those people involved in English as a foreign language teaching profession and learning more sensitive to their roles, respectively.