VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES CAO THAI HA APPLYING NOTE-TAKING STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP 10TH - GRADE STUDENTS’ LISTENING SKILLS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECT AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HA NOI (Áp dụng các chiến lược ghi chú để phát triển kĩ năng nghe cho học sinh khối 10 - một dự án nghiên cứu giả thực nghiệm tại một trường THPT ở Hà Nội) M. Minor Program Thesis Field : English Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231.01 Hanoi - 2024 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES CAO THAI HA APPLYING NOTE-TAKING STRATEGIES TO DEVELOP 10TH - GRADE STUDENTS’ LISTENING SKILLS: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH PROJECT AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN HA NOI (Áp dụng các chiến lược ghi chú để phát triển kĩ năng nghe cho học sinh khối 10 - một dự án nghiên cứu giả thực nghiệm tại một trường THPT ở Hà Nội) M. Minor Program Thesis Field : English Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai Hanoi - 2024 DECLARATION BY THE AUTHOR I hereby certify that the thesis entitled “Applying note-taking strategies to develop 10th-grade student’s listening skills: a quasi-experimental research project at a high school in Hanoi” is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts in English Linguistics.
The substance of the thesis has not, wholly or in part, been submitted for any other degrees to any other colleges or institutions. Except where reference has been made in the text, this thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person. Author’s signature Cao Thai Ha Approved by SUPERVISOR Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai Date: 20/09/2024 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the completion of this thesis, I am deeply grateful for the support and guidance I received from various individuals whose contributions were invaluable. First and foremost, my profound appreciation goes to my supervisor, Ms.
Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Mai whose expertise, patience, and insightful feedback were instrumental in guiding my research to fruition. Their encouragement and unwavering support throughout this journey have been a source of motivation and inspiration. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to the faculty members of the Falcuty of Post Graduates Studies at the University of Languages and International Studies for their invaluable advice and for providing a stimulating academic environment that allowed me to grow as a researcher. Their willingness to share knowledge and offer constructive criticism has significantly contributed to my professional development.
My heartfelt thanks go out to my peers and colleagues, whose fellowship and support throughout this process were invaluable. The camaraderie we shared has left a lasting imprint on my academic journey. I am especially thankful to the participants of this study, the 10th-grade students and their teachers at High School of Education Sciences, without whom this research would not have been possible. Their enthusiasm and cooperation were crucial in obtaining the findings of this study.
A special note of thanks to my family, whose unwavering support and belief in my abilities have been a constant source of strength. Their encouragement and love have been the cornerstone of my resilience and perseverance. This thesis is a culmination of collective support and encouragement from everyone mentioned, and to all of you, I extend my sincerest appreciation. i ABSTRACT The current study delves into the effectiveness of note-taking strategies in enhancing students’ listening skills, a crucial aspect of academic success.
Through a controlled experiment involving two groups - a control group continuing with standard educational practices and an experimental group introduced to specific note-taking strategies - this research aimed to evaluate how these methods influence listening comprehension. Pre-tests and post-tests were administered to both groups to measure changes in listening skills, complemented by questionnaires to gauge students’ attitudes towards note-taking. The findings reveal a significant improvement in the listening comprehension scores of the experimental group, compared to the control group, underscoring the potential benefits of incorporating note-taking strategies into learning processes. Additionally, questionnaire responses from the experimental group highlighted a positive shift in attitudes towards note- taking, with increased willingness to utilize these strategies in future learning scenarios.
The study concludes with recommendations for educators to integrate note-taking instruction into curricula and suggests avenues for future research to explore the long-term impacts and broader applicability of note-taking strategies in educational settings. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Rationale of the study. Objectives of the study.
Significance of the study. Structure of the study. Definitions of listening. Significance of listening skills in second language acquisition.
Theoretical perspectives on listening skills. Challenges in listening comprehension. Definition of note-taking. Purposes of note-taking.
Importance of note-taking. Note taking process. Types of note taking. Teaching note taking.
Incorporating note-taking strategies into listening activities. Theoretical perspectives on note-taking in language learning. Summary of the chapter. Overview of quasi-experimental research.
Steps to conduct quasi-experimental research. Data collection instruments. Questionnaire for students. Data collection procedures.
Data analysis procedures. Triangulation of findings. Summary of the chapter. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Pre-intervention assessment results. Post-intervention assessment results. Students’ performance improvement. Students’ attitudes towards note-taking.
Effectiveness of note-taking strategies in developing listening skills. Students’ attitudes towards using note-taking strategies. Summary of the chapter. Summary of key findings.
Limitations of the study. Recommendations for future research. VI iv INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale of the study Listening comprehension is a critical aspect of language acquisition, vital for effective communication and academic success.
Despite its importance, many 10th- grade students struggle with developing strong listening skills. They face challenges such as understanding complex spoken language, dealing with unfamiliar accents, and coping with environmental distractions. These difficulties hinder their ability to focus, comprehend, and retain information, ultimately impacting their overall language proficiency and academic performance. Language acquisition involves mastering various skills, with listening comprehension being foundational.
Effective listening enables learners to understand spoken language, extract meaning, and respond appropriately. Recent research indicates that listening is one of the most frequently used language skills in everyday communication (Brown & Davis, 2019). Furthermore, listening skills are closely linked to other language skills such as speaking, reading, and writing. Strong listening abilities aid in the development of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, leading to comprehensive language proficiency (Goh & Taib, 2006).
This underscores the need for interventions that can help students overcome the barriers to effective listening. The complexity of spoken language poses a primary challenge for 10th-grade students. They often struggle with unfamiliar vocabulary and complex sentence structures, which can hinder their comprehension, especially at an intermediate level. Additionally, students find it difficult to follow spoken discourse due to different accents and speech patterns (Garcia & Lee, 2021).
Environmental factors such as noisy classrooms and various distractions further exacerbate these challenges, affecting students’ ability to concentrate during listening activities. As a result, many students experience frustration and lack confidence in their listening skills, which negatively impacts their overall language proficiency and academic performance. 1 The rationale for this study lies in addressing the significant challenges faced by 10th-grade students in improving their listening skills. Listening proficiency is undeniably a cornerstone of language learning, essential for effective communication and comprehension.
However, developing these skills presents substantial hurdles for students, including linguistic barriers such as vocabulary limitations and difficulties with understanding unfamiliar accents, as well as cognitive impediments like processing speed and attention span constraints (Smith & Doe, 2021). Environmental factors, including classroom distractions and ambient noise, further complicate the listening process. At the high school where this study is conducted, teachers have observed significant challenges in improving students’ listening comprehension skills. The school, established six years ago, serves a diverse student population selected through a competitive entrance exam.
Despite the students’ foundational knowledge in English, their listening skills remain underdeveloped. Teachers, aged between thirty and forty years old, are experienced and enthusiastic but often find it difficult to effectively address listening comprehension within the constraints of their teaching environment. Students struggle with various aspects of listening comprehension. They often find it hard to understand different accents and complex sentence structures.
Additionally, the noisy classroom environment exacerbates these difficulties, making it hard for students to concentrate during listening activities. These challenges lead to frustration and a lack of confidence in their listening abilities, negatively affecting their overall language proficiency and academic performance. Given these challenges, note-taking strategies emerge as a promising solution for enhancing listening comprehension among language learners. Note- taking enables students to capture key points, organize information cohesively, and reinforce memory retention during auditory stimuli.
By actively engaging in note- taking, students can focus their attention, sift through relevant information, and make connections between spoken and written language forms. Moreover, note- 2 taking fosters an active listening stance, nurturing critical thinking and analytical skills crucial for comprehension (Jones & Hines, 2020). Despite the potential benefits, the effectiveness of note-taking strategies in addressing the challenges faced by 10th-grade students remains unclear. While some recent research suggests that note-taking can enhance listening comprehension by promoting active engagement and information retention, other studies highlight potential drawbacks such as the diversion of attention from the listening task and difficulties in synthesizing information (Smith & Doe, 2021).
This study aims to investigate the impact of note-taking strategies on the listening skills of 10th-grade students. It seeks to provide empirical evidence on whether teaching students how to take notes can significantly improve their listening comprehension. Additionally, the study will explore students’ attitudes towards note-taking, providing insights into their perceptions of this strategy and its usefulness in their learning process. Objectives of the study In this research, there are two main goals to be achieved.
Firstly, the study aims to assist students in improving their English listening comprehension skills by implementing note-taking strategies. Listening comprehension is a fundamental aspect of language learning, and proficiency in this skill is essential for effective communication and academic success. By employing note-taking techniques tailored to the needs of 10th-grade students, the study endeavors to enhance their ability to understand and interpret spoken English. This objective underscores the practical application of research findings to address real-world educational challenges.
Secondly, the study seeks to gather insights into students’ perspectives on the utilization of note-taking strategies in learning and during listening comprehension tests. Understanding students’ attitudes and opinions towards note-taking can provide valuable feedback for educators and curriculum developers. By exploring students’ experiences and perceptions, the study aims to ascertain the effectiveness 3 and feasibility of incorporating note-taking strategies into language learning pedagogy. This objective emphasizes the importance of student-centered approaches in educational research and practice.
In short, the objectives of this study are twofold: to enhance students’ English listening comprehension skills through the implementation of note-taking strategies and to investigate students’ attitudes and opinions regarding the use of these strategies in language learning. By addressing these objectives, the study aims to contribute to the advancement of teaching methodologies and the improvement of language learning outcomes for 10th-grade students. Research questions Based on the above mentioned objectives, the research questions for this study are formed as follows: To what extent do note-taking strategies help students develop listening comprehension skills? What are students’ attitudes towards using note-taking strategies in English listening lessons? 4. Significance of the study The significance of this study is multi-faceted, encompassing theoretical, practical, and broader educational implications.
By addressing the challenges faced by 10th-grade students in developing listening skills, this research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how note-taking strategies can be effectively integrated into language learning curricula. From a theoretical perspective, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on language acquisition, specifically focusing on the development of listening skills. It examines the cognitive processes involved in note-taking and how these processes can enhance listening comprehension.