THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES NGUYEN BAO NGOC AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USAGE OF ENGLISH TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LESSON STUDY IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THAI NGUYEN CITY (Đánh giá việc sử dụng phương pháp nghiên cứu bài học đối với phát triển nghề nghiệp của giáo viên Tiếng Anh tại các trường THCS thuộc TP Thái Nguyên) M.A 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 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES NGUYEN BAO NGOC AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USAGE OF ENGLISH TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH LESSON STUDY IN LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THAI NGUYEN CITY (Đánh giá việc sử dụng phương pháp nghiên cứu bài học đối với phát triển nghề nghiệp của giáo viên Tiếng Anh tại các trường THCS thuộc TP Thái Nguyên) M.A THESIS (APPLICATION ORIENTATION) Field: English Linguistics Code: 8220201 Supervisor: Nguyen Thi Hong Minh Ph.D THAI NGUYEN – 2019 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com DECLARATION I certify that this minor thesis entitled “An Investigation into the Usage of English Teacher Professional Development through Lesson Study in Lower Secondary Schools in Thai Nguyen City” is the study of my own research and the substance of this research has not been submitted for a degree to any other university or institution. Thai Nguyen, September 2019. Nguyen Bao Ngoc ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to Nguyen Thi Hong Minh. PhD for assisting me in the process of implementing this study.
This paper would not have Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com been completed without her constant support and encouragement. Her patience and helpful criticism helped me confidently express my ideas into this paper. I regard myself extremely fortunate in having her as my dissertation supervisor. I would also like to express my sincere thanks to all my lecturers at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, Thai Nguyen University for their valuable lectures which have helped to enrich my theorical knowledge as well as my practical skills.
Finally, I would also like to express my deep gratitude and love to my devoted parents and sisters who gave me time and encouraged me to complete this study. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com TABLE CONTENT DECLARATION. iii LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS. v LISTS OF FIGURES, TABLES AND CHARTS.
viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION. Aims of the study. Scope of the study. Design of the study.
3 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW. Current trend of innovation of teaching methods. Types of Professional Development. Lesson Study Cycle.
Objectives and methods of lesson study. Distinguish ‘Lesson study’ with current teacher training. Determine the value and results of professional development. Context of the study.
Methods of the study. 28 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Data collection instruments. Procedures of data collection.
Procedures of data analysis. 38 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS. The reality of English teacher’s professional development activities in lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen City. The importance of professional development.
The professional development activities. The reality of using Lesson Study at lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen City. Relationship between Lesson study and professional development. Results of the pre-test about teaching period.
Results of the post-test about teaching period. The influence of Lesson study on teachers’ professional development. Results of the questionnaire about the teacher’s self-assessment in professional development. Difficulties in professional development activities.
Discussion of all findings. 55 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Suggestions for further studies .IX Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com LIST OF ABBRIVIATIONS PD : Professional development LS : Lesson study WALS : World Lesson Research Association UNICEF : United Nations Children's Fund VNEN : The Vietnam Escuela Nueva AFT : American Federation of Teachers CEFR : Common European Framework of Reference for Languages BA : Bachelor's degree Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com LISTS OF FIGURES, TABLES AND CHARTS Figure 1: Lesson Study Cycle (adapted from Baba (2007)). 10 Figure 2: Determine the value and results of professional development (Hayes – 2010).
26 Table 1: Contrast between lesson study and traditional. 20 Table 2: A time frame for data collection procedure. 34 Table 3: Workshop schedule. 37 Table 4: Frequency of professional development activities.
41 Table 5: Meaningfulness of professional development activities. 42 Table 6: The teachers’ use of Lesson study. 44 Table 7: Frequency of using lesson study. 45 Table 8: Feedback of students in the lesson which using lesson study methods.
46 Table 9: Results of the pre-test about teaching periods. 47 Table 10: Results of the post-survey test about teaching periods. 49 Table 11: Pair differences between pre-test and post-test. 50 Table 12: Reliability of the pre-test and post-test results.
51 Table 13: Results of the questionnaire about the teacher’s self-assessment in professional development. 51 Chart 1: The importance of professional development. 39 Chart 2: Professional development activities. 40 Chart 3: The best definition of lesson study.
44 Chart 4: Efficiency level of lesson study. 46 Chart 5: The teacher’s difficulties in professional development activities. 54 Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABSTRACT The study intends to exam the usage lesson study in teacher professional development among teachers in six lower secondary schools located in south - center Thai Nguyen City. To the end, 18 teachers of English in the mentioned schools were selected to participate in the study.
Initially, a survey was carried out to collect the data by introducing a questionnaire; next teachers were invited to a two -day workshop on lesson study knowledge and practicing this method. After workshop, another questionnaire was conducted the second time for the changes and improvement in the teachers’ teaching. The result of the two surveys were compared and analyzed, and the outcome of this process was the result of teachers' professional development before and after using lesson study in teaching. The data showed the alteration in positive way of teacher professional development among teachers.
Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION This chapter discusses the reasons for selecting this study, as well as the scope and participants of the study. The structure of this study is also introduced in this chapter. Rationale In education, the term Professional Development might be utilized in reference to a wide assortment of particular preparing, formal instruction, or propelled proficient learning planned to encourage chairmen, instructors, and different teachers enhance their expert information, ability, aptitude, and viability. Education is a ceaseless procedure.
It does not stop subsequent to gaining a degree and beginning a vocation. Through proceeding with instruction, vocation disapproved of people can continually enhance their aptitudes and turned out to be more capable at their employments. It is especially imperative for school overseers to urge educators to seek after expert advancement, not exclusively to guarantee the best learning results for their understudies yet in addition to be more viable and fulfilled in different parts of their work. Therefore Professional Development is very important for all teachers.
Moreover English is the global language. English teachers always have to improve themselves and develop their language skills and teaching skills. English Teacher Professional Development is really necessary in Viet Nam. This is an issue which is being concerned to the education sector.
There are many forms of promoting the professional development of teachers. Acordding to TALIS (2009), professional development includes many activities such as: courses/workshops, education conferences or seminars, qualification programme, observation visits to other schools; articipation in a network of teachers formed specifically for the professional development of teachers; ndividual or collaborative research on a topic of professional interest; mentoring and/or peer observation and coaching. In Viet Nam, student - centered instructional development and Lesson Study instruction are two major professional learning approaches for the professional development of teachers in lower secondary school. Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Catherine Lewis (2000, pp.) stated that teachers will get nine main impacts in using lesson study as the professional development.
When teachers use the lesson study in professional working and teaching, they will have many opportunities to develop their skills. This will have a direct impact on the professional development of the teachers. Nowadays, Viet Nam has applied the lesson study to professional activities in schools to develop the skills of lesson design and Teacher Professional Development. Up to now, the Effectiveness of English Teacher Professional Development through Lesson Study in Lower Secondary Schools in Thai Nguyen City has remained a question that has not yet been studied.
This research will focus on solving this question. Professional development is defined as activities that develop an individual’s skills, knowledge, expertise and other characteristics as a teacher. The development of teachers beyond their initial training can serve a number of objectives (OECD, 1998): to update individuals’ knowledge; update individuals’ skills, attitudes and approaches in light of the development of new teaching techniques; develop and apply new strategies concerning the curriculum and other aspects of teaching practice; help weaker teachers become more effective, etc. During our empirical research, lesson study was used as an inquiry model of teacher professional development, which helped teachers achieve the above objectives.
Aims of the study Surveying the lower secondary teachers, who are directly involved in the program, the research firstly aimed at investigating the reality of English teacher’s professional development activities in Thai Nguyen City. Secondly, their improvement in professional development through using lesson study and find out the effectiveness of this method. Thirdly, the researcher explores teachers’ attitude towards using lesson study in professional development. Based on the findings, recommendations are made to promote teacher’s proficiency and improve the implementation of this method.
Số hóa bởi Trung tâm Học liệu và Công nghệ thông tin – ĐHTN http://lrc.vn LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Research questions The study aims at investigating influence of the use of lesson study on English teachers’ professional development in lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen city. Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions: i) What is the reality of English teacher’s professional development activities in lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen city? ii) What is the reality of using Lesson Study at lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen City? iii) To what extent does lesson study help promote the professional development of the teachers of English in lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen city? 1. Scope of the study There are twenty seven lower secondary schools in Thai Nguyen City.
Within this study, six lower secondary schools in south of Thai Nguyen City are involved in the implementation of lesson study in the professional activities. These schools include: Phu Xa, Cam Gia, Tan Lap, Dong Lien, Tich Luong, Huong Son Lower Secondary School.