VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES HOÀNG THỊ NGA TEACHERS’ AND STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARDS USING LANGUAGE GAMES TO TEACH VOCABULARY: A STUDY AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN HANOI (Quan điểm của giáo viên và học sinh đối với việc sử dụng trò chơi trong việc dạy từ vựng: một nghiên cứu tại một trường tiểu học tại Hà Nội) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS MAJOR: ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY CODE: 8140231. HOÀNG VĂN VÂN HANOI - 2020 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com DECLARATION I, Hoang Thi Nga, state that the minor thesis, entitled “Teachers’ and students’ attitudes towards using language games to teach vocabulary: a study at a primary school in Hanoi” is my own research result and that it has not been submitted for any other universities and institutes. Hanoi, 2020 Student‟s signature Hoàng Thị Nga i LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Hoàng Văn Vân, my supervisor for his invaluable advice.
During this thesis writing period, he provided much helpful guidance and encouragement. Without constructive criticism, precious correction, my thesis could not have been completed. My thanks also go to all of the lecturers and staff of the Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi for their valuable lectures and useful materials. I am also thankful to all the English teachers and students at Van Con Primary School for answering the questionnaires, which are indispensable for the analysis and discussion in my study.
Last but not least, my hearted thanks are reserved for my family and friends for their love and support that have encouraged me a lot in conducting this thesis. ii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABSTRACT The current study aims at helping fifth-grade students at a primary school in Hanoi to improve their vocabulary learning through language games. The school chosen for the study is Van Con Primary School in Hanoi. The quantitative and qualitative methods are employed for the study.
Therefore, it is an attempt to investigate the teachers and students‟ attitudes towards using language games to teach vocabulary. The subjects of the study are 05 English teachers and 106 fifth-grade students (03 classes) from Van Con Primary School in Hanoi. The data have been gathered via survey questionnaires for both the teachers and students and informal interviews only for the teachers. The first finding indicates the majority of the teachers and students have positive attitudes when applying language games to teach vocabulary.
The second finding is that most of the teachers have applied different types of sources of word games in teaching vocabulary. However, there are some certain limitations. They mainly use language games to present new words but not really call interest from their students or motivate them in learning new words. This means that they have not yet made advantage of its potentials.
The final finding shows some possible difficulties faced by the teachers and the students when using language games to teach and learn vocabulary. Based on the findings, some recommendations, it is hopeful that the study can be support to the teachers and students at Van Con Primary School for reference to teach and learn vocabulary more effectively. iii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages DECLARATION………………………………………………………. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS……………………………………………….
iv LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES…………………………………. vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION………………………………. Rational of the study……………………………………………. Aim and objectives of the study………………………………….
Scope of the study………………………………………………… 2 5. Methods of the study……………………………………………. Significance of the study…………………………………………. Structure of the study…………………………………………… 5 CHAPTER 2.
Attitudes in teaching and learning foreign language……… 6 2. Definition of attitude……………………………………… 6 2. The role of attitude in language learning…………………… 7 2. Games in teaching and learning language…………………… 8 2.
Definition of language games……………………………… 8 2. Types of language games…………………………………… 10 2. Benefits in using language games to teach vocabulary……. Vocabulary in teaching and learning language…………….
Definition of vocabulary…………………………………… 15 2. The role of vocabulary in language learning………………. Techniques to teach vocabulary through games……………. 17 iv LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.
Context of the study……………………………………. Data collection instruments and procedures……………. Summary 24 CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION…………. Teachers’ attitudes towards the use of language games in 26 teaching vocabulary………………………………………………… 4.
Students’ attitudes towards the use of language games in 34 learning vocabulary………………………………………………… 4. Results from interview for teachers ………………………. Limitations and suggestions of the study…………………. VI v LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com LISTS OF TABLES AND FIGURES Pages Table 1: Teachers’ ways of using language games to teach vocabulary and its 30 frequency of use………………………………………………………………………….
Table 2: Sources to get games by teachers……………………………………………. 31 Table 3: Challenges faced by teachers in using language games to teach 32 vocabulary…………………………………………………………………………………. Table 4: The reasons for the students’ interest in learning vocabulary through 42 language games…………………………………………………………………………… Table 5: The reasons for the students’ de-motivation in learning vocabulary 44 through language games………………………………………………………………… Table 6: Any problems in learning vocabulary through language games………. 45 Figure 1: Teachers’ use of language games to teach vocabulary………………….
27 Figure 2: Teachers’ interest in using language games to teach vocabulary……. 27 Figure 3: Teachers’ evaluation of language games in general……………………. 28 Figure 4: Teachers’ frequency of language games in teaching vocabulary……. 29 Figure 5: Language games’ availability……………………………………………….
30 Figure 6: Any problem encountered by teachers when using language games in 32 the processing of teaching vocabulary………………………………………………… Figure 7: The role of vocabulary in language teaching……………………………. 35 Figure 8: Students’ interest when learning English vocabulary through using 36 language games by teachers in lessons………………………………………………. Figure 9: Students’ evaluation on the usefulness of games in learning 37 vocabulary………………………………………………………………………………… Figure 10: Level to learn vocabulary thanks to language games…………………. 38 Figure 11: Students’ attitudes towards the effectiveness of language games…….
Figure 12: Students’ evaluation on their teachers’ frequency of using language 40 games to teach vocabulary……………………………………………………………… Figure 13: Students’ attitudes towards using language games to learn new 41 words in the options below……………………………………………………………… Figure 14: Teachers’ frequency in the use of language games to teach 45 vocabulary to students…………………………………………………………………… Figure 15: Teachers’ enjoyment in teaching vocabulary and their reasons……… 47 vi LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale for the study Nowadays in Vietnam, teaching and learning English has become a topical issue emerging for concerns of both learners and researchers. It has become an international language which is used widely all over the world, especially after Vietnam‟s integration into the WTO, learning English gets more important in the all the fields of social life such as economy, technology, diplomacy, foreign trade, education and tourism. Therefore, teaching and learning English has become ever urgent issue for everyone anywhere.
In the recent years, English has been taught in the light of the communicative and learner-centered approach which gives students more chances to communicate. However, teaching and learning English has been out of learners‟ satisfaction. Both teachers and especially students are facing difficulty in teaching and learning English vocabulary. They are really difficult to read and remember.
In fact, many students cannot remember words for a long time and even cannot apply them in practice, especially in speaking, listening and writing skills. Van Con Primary School in Hanoi is not an exception, English learning situation here is that the students find it hard to learn and remember new words although there are many techniques used during lessons such chants, songs, telling stories… all are not really effective. Hence, using games in teaching vocabulary is bringing surprising results; this shows in the learning attitudes of the students. Use of language games not only helps students remember new words faster and better but also motivates them in learning and using English as well.
1 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Theoretically, many linguists in the world have studied the use of language games in teaching vocabulary, and in Vietnam, there have been many such research works, but no one has studied about the teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards using language games to teach vocabulary at a primary school. In practical terms, in the course of its teaching, the researcher finds that the application of the game brings many practical benefits. From the above-said reasons, the researcher wants to conduct this research based on a practical basis for the purpose of enhancing the use of language games to improve vocabulary for primary students. Aims and objectives of the study Aims of the study The aim of the study is to find out the teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards using language games to improve students‟ vocabulary in the context of a primary school in Hanoi.
Objectives of the study To be more specific for the aim of the study, this study has been carried out to explore: - To investigate teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes to teach and learn vocabulary through using games. - To investigate the extent of game sources applied to teach vocabulary. - To investigate difficulties faced by the teachers and students. Research questions: - What are the teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards using language games to teach vocabulary? - To what extent have language games been used in teaching and learning vocabulary? 2 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com - What are the problems faced by the teachers and students when teaching and learning vocabulary through language games? 4.
Scope of the study The research has been conducted in a primary school in Hanoi. The research aims at investigating attitudes of teachers and students towards using language games. The researcher would like to discover how vocabulary games are applied to teach and learn new words in the English learning classes and difficulties faced by the teachers and students. The study has been conducted with the participation of 106 fifth-grade students of Van Con Primary School in Hanoi.
Methods of the study This study uses both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data collections for analysis originate from the teachers and the students at the primary school by instruments: - Survey questionnaires - Informal interviews 6. Signification of the study It is hoped that the findings of the study will be useful to the teachers of English as well as provides the teachers with the benefits of using language games in teaching language, especially teaching vocabulary. It will help the teachers to realize their students‟ attitudes towards using language games to improve vocabulary.
The study also suggests the ways of using games in lessons. Organization of the thesis The study is divided into five chapters: Chapter 1 – “Introduction” provides the rationale for the study, aim and objectives of the study, scope, methodology and structure of the study. 3 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com Chapter 2 “Literature review” provides overview of theoretical background of attitude, vocabulary, brief views of language games and benefits of using language games in teaching and learning vocabulary. Chapter 3 “Methodology” describes an overview on setting, textbook, instruments used in the survey.
In addition, the details of teachers and students at the primary school are supplied. Chapter 4 “Data Analysis and Discussion” is related to collecting the data from Van Con Primary School in Hanoi and analyzing the data to find out the teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards using language games in teaching vocabulary to primary learners. In addition, the data is collected in order to find out game sources preferred by the teachers, and some difficulties faced by the teachers and students as well as suggestions for choice of suitable games to teach vocabulary. Chapter 5 – Conclusion – sums up what has been studied, provides some recommendations for the teachers and students and points out the limitations of the thesis, and suggestion for further studies.
4 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW This chapter is to aim at providing a theoretical background to the study.