1 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES TEACHINJ VOCABULRY THROUGH LANGUAGE GAMES TO THE 1 ST YEAR NON – ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT NGHE AN JUNIOR TEACHERS TRAINING COLLEGE HA NOI - LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Declaration…………………………………………………………………… ………i Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………… …….iii Table of contents……………………………………………………………………. vi List of tables and figures…………………………………………………………… vii Part A: Introduction………………………………………………………. The aims of the study…………………………………………………………. Scope of the study…………………………………………………….
Methods of the study………………………………………………………….3 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Design of the study…………………………………………………………….3 Part B: Development…………………………………………………………4 Chapter 1: theoretical background………………………………. Overview of teaching and learning vocabulary………………………………. The roles of vocabulary in language learning………………………………….
Principles of the teaching vocabulary…………………………………………. Criteria for selection of vocabulary………………………………………………………. What to teach and learn……………………………………………………. How to teach and learn?.
Techniques of vocabulary teaching currently used …………………………. Overview of language games ………………………………………………. Definition of language games…………………………………………………. Types of language game…………………………………………………………12 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.
Roles of language games in language teaching…………………………………12 I. Overview of language games in vocabulary teaching…………………….Types of vocabulary games………………………………………………………13. Types of vocabulary games for presenting new words…………………………………. Types of vocabulary games for revising vocabulary…………………………………….
Roles of vocabulary games in teaching vocabulary…………………………….4 Fitness of the study……………………………………………………………16 Chapter 2: Methodology…………………………………………………. Background to the study………………………………………………………17 II. Subjects of the study and the textbook……………………………………….18 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. The data collection instrument…………………………………………………18 II.
Methods and Procedures of data collection……………………………………19 Chapter 3: data analysis and discussion………………………….3 2 Chapter 4: Suggestions on using vocabulary games to teach vocabulary effectively IV.1 When to use a vocabulary game……………………………………………….2 How to organize a vocabulary games ……………………………………….3 How to conduct a vocabulary game in class………………………………….36 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Limitations and recommendations for further study…………………………….36 References………………………………………………………………… …37 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 10 Appendixes Appendix 1: Survey questionnaire for teachers Appendix 2: Survey questionnaire for students Appendix 3: Inteview for teachers Appendix 4: Inteview for teachers Appendix 5: Sample games List of tables and figures Table 1: Data collected from survey questionnaire for teachers Table 2: Data collected from survey questionnaire for students LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 11 Figure 1: Situation of using vocabulary games in teaching and learning vocabulary Figure 2: Attitudes towards vocabulary games in teaching and learning vocabulary Figure 3: Purposes of using vocabulary games Figure 4: Kinds of vocabulary games used in teaching and learning vocabulary Figure 5: Benefits and Difficulties when using vocabulary games in class Figure 6: Students‟ participation in vocabulary games Figure 7 Students‟ feeling after playing vocabulary games Figure 8: Students‟ evaluation of effectiveness of vocabulary games towards their vocabulary learning Figure 9: Students‟ expectations towards a useful vocabulary game Figure 10: Actual use of vocabulary games in class. Rationale Nowadays, English has become popular all over the world, and in Viet nam, English also plays a very important role in every field of life. This makes English become the common language of communication.
Thus, the demands for using English as a means of communication make the English teaching and learning more and more necessary. Different people study English for different purposes. People learn it for communicating with foreigners, for using English as a means which enables them to understand more about English people and country, or for promoting their positions during their lives, etc. However, the fact which I have recognized at my college is that non- English major students are not eager in studying English because of some reasons.
First of all, non- LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 12 English major teachers still apply traditional method into teaching English. They always teach students the vocabulary, grammar structures of English before practicing it. In English lessons, teachers often explain the rules of language by Vietnamese and then ask students to reproduce them. Teachers often focus on the aspects of language such as grammar, phonetic and vocabulary so students can only learn what their teacher has, they become passively involved in lessons and bored with English lessons.
Moreover, many teachers do not want to make changes in their teaching process since they will feel nervous and embarrassed when coping with difficulties to which they can not find answers immediately. Besides, for non- English major students, English is not their compulsory subject at college so they learn it just for passing exams which they sit for at the end of each semester rather than trying to use English for communication. Many of students are lack of effort and desire in learning English; they find English more difficult and less interesting than other subjects. Classes of non- major students are often crowded with various levels of knowledge so it is rather hard for teacher to apply new methods of teaching for improving students‟ knowledge of English and get these learners involved in learning English.
Among many activities in classroom such as pair work, group work, role- play, singing songs, games, etc…games have been shown to be a means which has lots of advantages in motivating students in learning the target language by many researchers and educationists. Richard (1988) states that “Games can lower anxiety, thus making the acquisition of input more likely” (p. “They are highly motivating and entertaining, and they can give shy students more opportunities to express their opinions and feelings” (Hansen, 1994, p. In addition, vocabulary also plays an important role during teaching and learning a foreign language.
It is difficult for students to enhance other skills such as listening, speaking, reading and writing, if they are lack of vocabulary knowledge. Nation and Warring (2004) points out that “Vocabulary knowledge is always a prerequisite to the performance of language skills”.1) The above reasons lead the researcher to the study “Teaching vocabulary through games to 1st year- non English majors students at Nghe An Junior Teachers Training College”.2 Aims of the study For the reasons mentioned above, the study aimed: LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 13 Investigating non- English major teachers and students‟ feeling and attitude towards using language games in teaching and learning English Vocabulary. - Finding out effectiveness and challenges of using games in teaching and learning English Vocabulary to 1st year- non English major students at Nghe An Junior Teachers Training College”. - Providing non- English major teachers with in- depth understanding about games and the ways of conducting games in classroom to make decisions when and how they should organize games to keep their learners interested in learning English vocabulary.
Research questions To achieve the above- mentioned aims, the following research questions were proposed: 1. What are teachers and students‟ perspectives towards using language games in teaching and learning English Vocabulary? 2. What are teachers‟ current ways of using vocabulary games in the lessons? 1. Scope of the study The study focuses specifically on using language games in teaching vocabulary to 1st year- non English majors students at Nghe An Junior Teachers Training College.
Therefore, the study limits itself to teaching and learning vocabulary only. The subjects of the study are 80 non- English majors from three classes: K31 Chemistry - Biology, K7A Information- Technology and K16B of The Children Teachers Training Department who are studying “New- Headway – Elementary” and 8 non- English major teachers at Nghe An Junior Teachers Training College. Methods of the study In the process of carrying out this study, the survey questionnaire is used to collect data for the study. Two written questionnaires are administered to the subjects.
One is for teachers and the other is for students. The questions focus on these following points: Teachers and students‟ perspectives towards using language games in teaching and learning vocabulary; teachers‟ the current ways of using games in teaching vocabulary. Besides, the observations and interviews are also applied in order to clarify and test the validity of information about using games in teaching vocabulary. Design of the study The study id divided into three main parts: LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 14 Part A is an introduction of the study including the rationale, the aims, the research questions, the scope, the methods and the design of the study.
Part B is the development which consists of four chapters. Chapter I presents the theoretical background of the study basing on the points: Overview of teaching and learning vocabulary; overview of language games; overview of language games in vocabulary teaching. Chapter II deals with the methodology including hypothesis, Subjects of the study, the data collection instrument, methods and procedures of data collection. Chapter III is the analysis of the data and the discussion about the effectiveness and challenges of using language games in vocabulary teaching.
Chapter IV is the suggestions on using vocabulary games to teach students vocabulary more effectively. Part C is the conclusion which includes the summary of the study, limitations of the research and suggestions for further study. LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 15 Part B: development Chapter 1: theoretical background In this chapter, the important roles of vocabulary as well as vocabulary teaching principles and techniques in foreign language teaching and learning are discussed. In addition, an overview of language games including definition, roles and types of games, etc.
in vocabulary teaching are also presented and commented upon.1 Overview of teaching and learning vocabulary I. The roles of vocabulary in language learning and teaching In order to communicate effectively in foreign language, learners not only own a number of grammar structures but also master an adequate knowledge of vocabulary so that they can understand the around world and express by themselves more clearly and appropriately in a wide range of situations. Many studies have proved the importance of vocabulary in language teaching and learning. Wilkins (1972) stated that “Without grammar, very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing conveyed” (p.
Piles and Alges, (1970) emphasizes that “when most of us think about language, we think first about words”. It means that vocabulary is the central of language as words with their own characteristics enables people not only communicate with one another but also create lots of different kinds of discourse. Nation and Warring (2004) also states that “Vocabulary knowledge enables language use, language use enables the increase of vocabulary knowledge, knowledge of the world enables the increase of vocabulary knowledge and language use and so on” (p. Dublin and Olshtain (1986) refer to the fact that “possessing a good vocabulary stock is what enables many learners to use their knowledge effectively and in ways which fit their specific needs” (pp.
Researchers have also shown that most learners‟ difficulties are due to lack of vocabulary. According to Nation (1990) “learners felt that many of their difficulties in both receptive and productive language use result from an inadequate vocabulary”. Besides, Nagy (1989) asserts “lack of adequate vocabulary knowledge is already an obvious and serous obstacle for many students” (p. LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com 16 From the above findings, it can be concluded that vocabulary plays a prominent role in foreign language learning and teaching I.2 Principles of teaching and learning vocabulary As shown above that vocabulary is an essential element in learning a foreign language.
It demands teachers to follow strictly the vocabulary learning and teaching principles in order that they can help learners acquire the second language lexicon more easily.1 Criteria for selection of vocabulary It is obvious that vocabulary has an essential role in teaching and learning a foreign language. Gairn and Redman (1986) state that three main criteria for selecting of vocabulary are: “frequency, students‟ need and level, cultural factor and expediency” (p. The most frequently used word should be chosen first. Then, it is important for teachers to select what vocabulary items which are appropriate to the learners‟ level and meet to the students‟ needs, for example, vocabulary used for English as a subject in the curriculum is different from English for specific purposes … The third thing is cultural factor.