MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING HUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES ------ DO THI HONG VAN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF ENGLISH SONGS TO TEACH ENGLISH FOR YOUNG LEARNERS AT SOME PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN HUE MA THESIS IN THEORY AND METHODOLOGY OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING CODE: 60140111 SUPERVISOR: TRUONG BACH LE, D. HUE – 2013 BỘ GIÁO DỤC VÀ ĐÀO TẠO ĐẠI HỌC HUẾ TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGOẠI NGỮ HUẾ ------ ĐỖ THỊ HỒNG VÂN ĐIỀU TRA VIỆC SỬ DỤNG NHỮNG BÀI HÁT TIẾNG ANH ĐỂ DẠY TIẾNG ANH CHO HỌC SINH TẠI MỘT SỐ TRƯỜNG TIỂU HỌC Ở HUẾ LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ LÝ LUẬN VÀ PHƯƠNG PHÁP DẠY HỌC BỘ MÔN TIẾNG ANH MÃ SỐ: 60140111 NGƯỜI HƯỚNG DẪN KHOA HỌC: T.S TRƯƠNG BẠCH LÊ HUẾ - 2013 “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP I hereby acknowledge that this study is mine. The data and findings discussed in the thesis are true, use with permission from associates and have not been published elsewhere. Author DO THI HONG VAN M.
A Thesis 2011 - 2013 i Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” ABSTRACT This thesis aims to investigate the use of English songs to teach English for young learners at some primary schools in Hue city. It attempts to explore teachers‟ perception of employing songs in teaching English for young learners; the reality of using English songs in teaching English at some primary schools, and then researchers offer some suggestions to enhance English teaching skills through songs. The subject of this study is 20 teachers who are teaching general English at some primary schools in Hue city; namely Vy Da, Phu Cat, Vinh Ninh, Thuan Thanh, Phu Thuan, Tran Quoc Toan, Quang Trung. The data are collected mainly through questionnaires and interviews, and then analyzed according to statistical frequency and percentage (presented by means of tables and charts), while transcripts of the interviews are quoted and analyzed qualitatively.
The results from the study show that most English teachers investigated were fully aware of the importance of using English songs to teach English for young learners. However, in reality not all teachers have used songs to teach English and not all songs used were successful. Besides, the findings of the research show difficulties the teachers and the students met from the process of using English songs to teach English for young learners. Significantly, the thesis reports the teachers and students‟ helpful ideas for improvement of using English songs to teach English for young learners.
Basing on a detailed discussion, some suggestions and implications were made in the hope that the teachers will improve their English classes by using English songs. Limitations and suggestions for further researches were also included. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 ii Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” First and foremost, I am greatly indebted my supervisor, D.Ed Truong Bach Le, for his patient guidance, enthusiastic encouragement and useful critiques at every stage of the development of this study. Second, my deepest gratitude goes to all the lecturers of the post- graduate courses at Hue College of Foreign Languages for imparting their knowledge and enthusiasm of their respective areas of specification.
I have learnt a lot from them and their insights have helped in the moulding of this study. Besides, my special thanks are also extended to all librarians at the college of foreign languages for their enthusiasms. Also, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all the teachers and students in Tran Quoc Toan, Quang Trung, Vy Da, Thuan Thanh, Phu Thuan, Phu Cat, and Vinh Ninh for providing me with the M. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 iii Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” most favorable conditions to collect the needed data.
Finally and always, my heartfelt thanks go to my family, and my beloved friends whose support is indispensable for the fulfillment for my thesis. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 iv Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Pages SUB COVER PAGE 1 SUB COVER PAGE 2 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .iv LIST OF FIGURES. vii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION.
Background of the study. Rationale of the study. Aims of the study. Scope of the study.
Structure of the study .4 CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW. Songs enhancing language learning. Definition of songs. Features of songs in enhancing language learning.
Songs and multiple intelligences. Songs and left-right hemisphere of the brain. Songs and language awareness. The benefits of using songs to teach English for young learners.
Variety of new words. New grammar structures. Young learners in acquiring a foreign language through songs. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 v Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” 2.
Definition of young learners. Characteristics of young learners in acquiring a foreign language through songs. Techniques of using songs in teaching English for young learners. Pick the right kind of songs.
Teach vocabulary in the lyrics of the song by using visual materials like flash cards, pictures or real objects. Teach the song slowly at first, and use meaningful gestures. Play the song, and give it a try. Play games to review the vocabulary in the songs.
The benefits of using songs to teach English for young learners in Vietnamese context. Music makes language learning interesting. Music bridges the gaps between teachers and students. Some difficulties of using songs to teach English for young learners.
In the World .26 CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. Instruments for data collection. Data collection procedure .33 CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. Teachers‟ attitudes in using songs to teach English for young learners.
A Thesis 2011 - 2013 vi Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” 4. The effects of English songs on young learners. Characteristics of young learners suitable for using songs to teach English 38 4. The necessity of English songs.
The reality of using songs to teach English for young learners at some primary schools in Hue. Children‟s reactions to English songs. Criteria for appropriate songs. Resources of songs used to teach English.
Frequency of using songs in teaching English. The time for teaching one song. The challenges of teachers in using songs to teach English at primary schools. The obstacles from young learners in learning English through songs.
Suggestions to enhance English teaching skills for young learners through songs .52 CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS. Summary of the key findings. The perceptions of the primary school teachers on using English songs to teach English for young learners in Hue city. The reality of using songs to teach English for young learners at some primary schools in Hue city.
Participants‟ responses to suggestions in enhancing English teaching and learning skills through songs. Contributions of the study. Implications of the study. For young learners.
For administrators and textbook designers. Limitations of the study. Recommendations for further studies. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 vii Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” LIST OF FIGURES Figure 4.1: Teachers‟ attitude in using songs to teach English for children at primary schools .2: The effects of English songs on young learners .3: Characteristics of young learners suitable for using songs to teach English .4: The necessity of English songs.5: Children‟s reactions to English songs .6: Criteria for appropriate songs .7: Resources of songs used to teach English .8: Frequency of using songs in teaching English .9: The time for teaching one song .10: The challenges of teachers in using songs to teach English at primary schools.11: The obstacles from young learners in learning through songs .12: Suggestions to enhance English teaching skills for young learners through songs.
A Thesis 2011 - 2013 viii Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION 1. Background of the study In the era of information explosion, integration and globalization, the demand for learning English and using it as a language of international communication has been dramatically increasing. 10) observed: “Despite the extraordinary changes of the last few years, one thing appears to remain the same. More people than ever want to learn English.
English learners are increasing in number and decreasing in age… We have been used to the idea of English growing in the popularity across the World. Far from being news, it has become one of the few enduring facts of global modern life”. Vietnam is not an exception. After joining in ASEAN (Association of South- East Asian Nations), and especially WTO (World Trade Organization), English plays an important role for Vietnamese people.
It has been brought into Vietnam schools as a compulsory subject and taught for students since the early age that will be better if it starts as early as possible. Therefore, on August 17, 2010, the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam made Decision 4919/ BGDDT- GDTH about the directions for school year 2010-2011 applying for primary education. According to this latest regulation, all primary schools in Viet Nam will start teaching an optional language from the grade three with at least two periods per week. However, teaching English for children at primary schools has caused many difficulties for teachers.
Students are too young to have enough perception to acquire a second language or a foreign language easily. Therefore, beside alternative methods, teachers always try their best to find out the suitable and effective ones for their young learners. For this reason, using English songs to teach English for young learners can be seen as the most effective pedagogical tool. As Moon suggested, training in teaching methodology for children is necessary.
Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) should include diverse communicative language teaching methods in training for teachers and encouragement of teachers to use variety of hands- on activities, such as games, songs, chants, and art (cited M. A Thesis 2011 - 2013 1 Do Thi Hong Van “An Investigation into The Use of English Songs to Teach English for Young Learners at Some Primary Schools in Hue” Nguyen, 2007, p. By exposing learners‟ communication through form of songs, which not only motivates learners‟ interest in learning, but also creates practical context for them to communicate. Among the main techniques, it can be seen again that the importance of songs in the recent teaching methods is paid much attention to by the researcher.
Furthermore, Murphey (1992) exclaimed that songs can help young learners improve their listening skills and pronunciation. Therefore, it helps them improve their speaking skills. Songs can also be useful tools in learning of vocabulary, sentence structures, and sentence patterns, not to mention their reflectivity of mother tongue culture. Perhaps the greatest benefit of using songs in the classroom is that they can be fun.