VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYEN TUAN HUNG CATALYZING VOCABULARY ACQUISITION: THE IMPACT OF NANO- LEARNING AND PEER-TEACHING STRATEGIES XÚC TAC TIEP THU TU VỰNG: TÁC ĐỘNG CUA CHIEN LƯỢC DAY HOC CO DONG (NANO) VA DAY HOC DONG DANG MA MAJOR THESIS PROGRAM Program: English Teaching Methodology Program Code: 8104231.01 Supervisor: PhD Nguyén Thu Lé Hang VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES NGUYEN TUAN HUNG CATALYZING VOCABULARY ACQUISITION: THE IMPACT OF NANO-LEARNING AND PEER-TEACHING STRATEGIES MA MAJOR THESIS PROGRAM Program: English Teaching Methodology Program Code: 8104231.01 Supervisor: PhD Nguyén Thu Lé Hang HA NỘI — 2024 ACCEPTANCE AND DECLARATION I, Nguyen Tuan Hung from QH2021.D2, as a candidate pursuing a Master of Arts degree, affirm my acceptance of the college's guidelines concerning the retention and utilization of my Master's Graduation paper archived in the library. I acknowledge and agree that the original copy of my paper deposited in the library shall remain accessible for scholarly and research purposes, adhering to the standard protocols set forth by the librarian for its handling, borrowing, or reproduction. I hereby assert that this thesis is the product of my independent effort and original work, without any prior submission, whether in its entirety or partially, for any other academic degree. Any content referenced or acknowledged to the contrary, unless explicitly stated, is exclusively my own creation.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the pursuit of intellectual excellence and academic achievement, I find myself indebted to a constellation of individuals whose contributions have shaped this scholarly endeavor. Foremost, my profound gratitude extends to Supervisor Hang Nguyén, whose unwavering guidance, patience, and encouragement have illuminated my path throughout these three enriching years. Her mentorship transcends the mere confines of academia; it has been a transformative journey of growth and camaraderie, infusing the academic rigors with moments of levity and joy. To her, I owe not just scholarly wisdom but a lighter, more enjoyable dissertation experience that transcends grandiloquent expressions of gratitude.
Next, my heartfelt appreciation embraces each of the 75 participants whose invaluable assistance rendered this study a possibility. Their unwavering commitment and participation formed the bedrock upon which this research stands, offering insights and depth that would have remained elusive otherwise. Gratitude, profound and unceasing, cascades toward my family and friends—an unwavering bastion of unwavering support. They have been the steadfast pillars amidst the tempests of academia, nurturing the researcher within me while graciously enduring my moments of stress-induced selfishness.
Their ceaseless emotional support remains an irreplaceable cornerstone of my academic odyssey. Last but certainly not least, I reserve a heartfelt acknowledgment to myself—for navigating the labyrinthine corridors of emotional upheaval over the past four years. It is through resilience, accumulated knowledge, honed skills, and a steadfast attitude that this academic pursuit found fruition. To this ii unwavering spirit within me, I extend warmest thanks and unending pride for the monumental milestones achieved in this scholarly journey.
ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of micro-learning on vocabulary acquisition among Vietnamese lower-intermediate English learners. Three groups participated in six sessions focused on thematic pseudowords. The Control Group received traditional PPP instruction, while Experimental Groups | and 2 had 5-10 minute micro-teaching sessions. In EG1, instructors led the sessions; in EG2, peers facilitated them.
Data included Vocabulary Comprehension Tests (six individual and one overall) and Learner Engagement Metrics. Peer-teaching (EG2) significantly improved engagement across cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and affective dimensions, outperforming both the Control and EG1 in all areas, including cognitive involvement, attendance, participation, emotional investment, collaboration, and vocabulary retention. One-way ANOVA confirmed significant differences among the groups, highlighting the effectiveness of peer-led micro-teaching. The strong positive correlation between engagement and vocabulary scores underscores the link between engagement and achievement.
Future research should explore the mechanisms behind these effects and consider the specific challenges faced by Vietnamese lower- intermediate learners to enhance language instruction strategies. Key words: micro-learning methodologies, vocabulary instruction, pseudowords, learner engagement, peer-teaching iii CONTENTS ACCEPTANCE AND DECLARATION .cscssscsssssscecsssscscsssscesssscessssscssssessoscssssssssssoeees ii ABSTTRRACCTT”.0 iii LIST OF TABLES .1 Background of the SfUỈ. -- -ó G6 E3 1E E919 11 91 91 1 ng ng rey 1 1.2 Statement of Research Problem and Research Quesfions.3 Scope of the SfUdy.5 Significance of the Study .- cty 6 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REV HN.1 Nano-learning & Micro-learming .1 Definition of Nano-learning .2 Application of nano-Ï€aTT1nE.- óc 111 TT TH nh TH nh HH HH 12 2.3 Peer-teaching / Social Ï€arnITE.2 Methodological review of previous StUdICS .5 The Current S{UCỈY.- G2 1921183111311 11 10 91 1n ng ng 22 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLUOO Y. 56 s1 19019111910 911v TH HH ng 25 3.2 Participants and S€ffITE.- G- Ăn TT TH TH TH HH nghệ 28 3.1 Lesson đ€ÏTV€TV.
TH TH HH ng 28 3.4 Data collection InSfTUIT€TIS. << 11g ng ng ng 34 3.2 Student Class Engagement Questionnaires. HH HH 36 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS & DISCUSSION .c-cĂcSĂS S555 e5 39 AL FInding 2000. -- - -- G11 SH HH HH ke 44 4.G G11 TT TT tre 51 4.1 Learning enỹað€Im€IIL.v ng ng ry 51 4.
-- -ó <6 1E 1v 9 ng ng rey 54 4.3 Correlation between Learning Engagement and Vocabulary IÑ€{€TẨIOT,. -G 111190 vn nh re 60 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION.1 Summary Of FInITỠS.3 Limitations and Future ResearcH. G c Họ cọ HH HH 0000060004 000604 00 71 APPENDICES .- SG TH HH HH tt I APPENDIX B APPENDIX C APPENDIX D LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Participants' Performance in Criterion-based Selection Test. 27 Table 2 ANOVA of Participants' Performance in Criterion-based Selection ¡` —.
27 Table 3 Class Procedures for Different Group.-- «s55 «+ +xx+se£sseess 3l Table 4 Target Words and Definitions .- - 5 5 + ***£+seEsseeeeeeseerse 34 Table 5 Reliability Statistics for Second Part of The Questionnaire. 36 Table 6 Descriptive Analysis of Learning Engagement Score for All PATẨICIDAATIES. G1 H n HH n vre 39 Table 7 Descriptive analysis of aggregate learning engagement score for all 21000217. 42 Table 8 Students’ Performance in Immediate and Culmulative Vocabulary W::tiáầẳáắđáiẳđádiaiadddd.
44 Table 9 One-way ANOVA on Vocabulary Test Performances. 47 Table 10 Pearson Correlation Coefficients between Aggregate Learning Engagement Score and Vocabulary Test .:cecceessesssceseceeceneceneeeseeeseeeeneeeaees 48 Table 11 Pearson Correlation Coefficients between Learning Engagement and Vocabulary 11000011087. 50 LIST OF TABLE PPP = Presentation Practice Production ANOVA= Analysis of Variance ELT = English Language Teaching ZPD = Zone of Proximal Development SDT = Self-Determination Theory CLT = Cognitive Load Theory CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background of the study The contemporary landscape of public services in Vietnam has been profoundly reshaped by the pervasive influence of social media, heralding an era marked by heightened engagement and transparency among citizens and institutions. Research by Karakiza (2015) and Mourtada & Salem (2014) underscores the pivotal role of social media in enhancing citizen participation, bolstering transparency, and establishing responsive governance in both governmental and non-governmental realms.
This transformative trend extends beyond administrative domains into educational spheres, catalyzing innovative pedagogical paradigms that emphasize connected learning, as highlighted by Liu and Chu (2010) and Mao (2014). In Vietnam, where access to digital technologies is rapidly expanding, these shifts have significant implications for educational strategies. The advent of nano-learning and micro-learning emerges as a critical response to this paradigm shift, marking a significant evolution in teaching methods, supported by studies from Aburizaizah & Albaiz (2021) and Khlaif & Salha (2021). Nano-learning, akin to nanotechnology, encapsulates self-contained, compact learning components (Gramming et al.
Conversely, micro-learning, as defined by Yin et al. (2021), breaks down learning pursuits into short, goal-oriented units. Micro-learning, characterized by its interactive, outcome-oriented nature, is disseminated through various media (Jahnke & Liebscher, 2020; Stooke et al. Its design specifics, detailed by Corbeil et al.
(2021) and Khan (2019), harmonize media learning with instructional design principles and specific learning environments. This includes the creation of succinct, captivating videos within the instructional design framework (Xie et al., 2021; Zhang et al. Nano-learning's strength lies in its ability to deconstruct learning content into bite-sized fragments, enhancing retention and comprehension (Jahnke et al. By further subdividing micro-learning units, nano-learning facilitates deeper comprehension through self-discovery.
While micro-learning thrives in both formal and informal settings, nano-learning is primarily suited for informal learning environments, as supported by empirical studies. Research by Janhnke et al. (2020) demonstrates nano-learning's adaptability across diverse contexts—online, in-person, or hybrid—allowing synchronous or asynchronous learning. This flexibility frees educators from the laborious task of traditional lecture preparation, enabling them to focus on guiding learning processes, providing personalized feedback, and monitoring students’ progress effectively.
In Vietnamese educational contexts, the ability to tailor courses to diverse interests and skills is particularly valuable. For instance, in an English class, replacing traditional readings with short stories, magazine articles, or TikTok videos can create a captivating and diversified learning environment. This approach not only heightens student engagement but also forges connections between various media, prior experiences, and frames of reference, enhancing retention and comprehension. By freeing class time through such methodologies, educators can promote collaboration, facilitate guided practice, and encourage individual reflection—integral facets in nurturing comprehensive learning experiences, as corroborated by contemporary educational research.
Melding nano-learning with peer-teaching presents a compelling avenue for comprehensive vocabulary instruction, aligning with the modern educational landscape's emphasis on dynamic, interconnected learning methods, especially relevant in the context of Vietnam's evolving educational system.2 Statement of Research Problem and Research Questions This study aims to delve into the effects of micro-learning approaches on the efficacy of vocabulary instruction among Vietnamese lower-intermediate English learners, all aged 16, within a diverse, mixed-gender classroom setting. The investigation centers on addressing the following research problems: The first concern pertains to assessing the impact of micro-learning strategies on vocabulary acquisition and retention. Specifically, the study seeks to unravel whether micro-learning, manifested through concise, focused instructional modules, significantly influences vocabulary comprehension compared to conventional, teacher-led instructional methodologies commonly known as PPP (Presentation, Practice, Production) in language learning settings. The second pivotal research problem revolves around conducting a comparative analysis of distinct modalities within micro-learning.
This involves evaluating and discerning the differential effects of instructor-led micro-teaching and peer-led micro-teaching on the acquisition and retention of thematic pseudoword-based vocabularies. The investigation aims to uncover nuanced differences in the learning outcomes stemming from these two micro-teaching approaches within the thematic vocabulary curriculum. The third research problem is centered on understanding the dynamics of learner engagement across various instructional modalities. It seeks to explore and analyze the levels of engagement observed during traditional PPP instruction, instructor-led micro-teaching, and peer-led micro-teaching sessions.
This examination spans individual engagement metrics after each session and culminates in a reflective assessment of overall engagement throughout the entire treatment duration. To elucidate these research problems, the study will address the following specific research questions: 1. How do learner engagement metrics vary across traditional instruction, instructor-led micro-teaching, and peer-led micro-teaching sessions among lower-intermediate learners of English? 2. Does micro-teaching, either through instructor-led or peer-led sessions, result in significantly higher vocabulary comprehension abilities compared to traditional instructional methods among lower- intermediate learners of English? 3.
What are the comparative effects of instructor-led micro-teaching and peer-led micro-teaching on the comprehension ability of thematically sorted pseudoword vocabularies among learners across the treatment duration? 1.3 Scope of the Study This research endeavors to comprehensively investigate the impact of micro- learning approaches on the learning outcomes of vocabulary instruction among Vietnamese lower-intermediate learners of English, all aged 16 and encompassing a mixed-gender classroom. The study restricts its focus to the investigation of three distinct groups: the Control Group, Experimental Group 1, and Experimental Group 2, each comprising 25 students. The study's scope encompasses six sessions of vocabulary instruction, wherein each group will receive vocabulary of different modalities tailored to the specific instructional methodologies assigned to them. The instructional approaches utilized in this study include traditional instruction in the Control Group, represented by PPP classroom procedures conducted by the teacher.