VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES LY ANH THU TEACHER PERCEPTIONS OF USING GAMES IN TEACHING VOCABULARY AT A LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN HANOI một trường THCS tại Hà Nội) M. MINOR THESIS : English Language Teaching Methodology : 8140231.01 Hanoi — 2024 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES LY ANH THU TEACHER PERCEPTIONS OF USING GAMES IN TEACHING VOCABULARY AT A LOWER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN HANOI một trường THCS tại Hà Nội) M. MINOR THESIS Field : English Language Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231.01 Supervisor : Ta Thi Thanh Hoa, PhD Hanoi — 2024 DECLARATION I here by declare that the project work entitled “Teacher perceptions of using games in teaching vocabulary at a lower secondary school in Hanoi” is recorded of independent research work and it has been carried out by me during the period of my study. This work has not formed the basis for any other degrees or diplomas.
I understand that I myself could be responsible and accountable for plagiarism, if detected any. Signature Ly Anh Thư Approved by SUPERVISOR (Signature and full name) Ta Thi Thanh Hoa Date: 15/01/2024 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am immensely grateful to the numerous individuals who contributed significantly to the completion of this study. Firstly, I extend my deepest appreciation to my supervisor, Ta Thi Thanh Hoa, for her invaluable guidance, unwavering support, constructive feedback, and, most importantly, her boundless encouragement throughout the study's journey. I would also like to acknowledge with gratitude all the lecturers of the Post- graduate Department at Hanoi University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, for their enthusiastic guidance and the valuable insights shared during the course.
My heartfelt thanks go out to my colleagues at the secondary school where I carried out this project, for their invaluable participation in the questionnaires and interviews. Their contributions were instrumental in the fulfillment of this thesis. Lastly, I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends and family, for their love, care, assistance, and unwavering encouragement. Their unwavering support served as a wellspring of inspiration and provided the spiritual strength needed to bring this study to fruition.
1 ABSTRACT This study aims to explore teachers’ perceptions of using language games to when teaching vocabulary at a secondary school in Hanoi. To obtain this aim, a mixed methods design was used and data was collected through questionnaire, and interviews with five English teachers at a secondary school in Hanoi. The findings show that teachers perceive language games as an effective tool to enhance students’ vocabulary acquisition, create a positive learning environment, promote students’ positive attitude toward vocabulary learning, manage students’ attention span, as well as boost students’ creativity. However, some teachers also expressed concerns about the disadvantages of incorporating language games related to teaching different students with different learning styles and preferences, the classroom management, and the consideration for time constraint and lesson objectives.
1H TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION 0177.- HH HH ng HH HH HH gi il LIST OF ABBREVIA TIONS. ng ngư, vii LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES.- 0 SH He vill CHAPTER 1. ng HH ng ru 1 1. Rationale of the S{Uy.- - c1 321121111011 1 1119 111 1 1 1H TH TH nh ng 1 1.
Atm and OJ€CfIV€S,.-- -- G4 1n TH HT TH HH HH nh 3 1. Research Questions diid. Significance of the SfUỈY.1 11t HT HH ng ng 3 1. Brief description of research mnethO.-- - -- 5 + + ++ 13+ E*vEEseeeeserereerersee 4 IS voi 0 -.
Organization of the tÏH€SIS.- -- Ăn ST HH HH nhu 5 CHAPTER 2. Vocabulary teaching and ÏeaTn1nØ. Definition of Vocabulary. The importance of learning Vocabulary.
Vocabulary learning and ref€TIfIOI.---- 5 5 + xxx ng ngư7 2. Definition Of Ø4IT€S. --- «kh TT TH HH HT nh nh nành 9 2. Games in language teaCh1ng.
Types Of ae. ValU€ Of SAME.- -- G119 2101 991119 1119111 9111111 1T HH HH kg 13 2. Previous research on applying vocabulary games into teaching English VOCADULALY «0.- SH HH HH Hệ, 19 3. Research QU€SLIOTS.
Design Of the SfUy. Ăn 1H HH HH HH HH 19 1V 3. Participants of the r€S€ATCH.-- SG SH ng HH Hệ 21 3. Data collection methOS.
Data analysis techniques .- -- 5 c1 1 19319911121 TH ngư, 23 CHAPTER 4. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION. Teachers’ perceptions about the advantages of using vocabulary games when teaching English vocabulary in Class. Games enhance learners’ vocabulary acquisition and language use.
Games create positive learning enVITOnTN€TI. Games promote positive attitude toward vocabulary learning. Games manage students’ attention Span. Games can boost students’ CT€AfIVIEY.
-- - HH HH ng ng 36 4. Teachers’ perceptions about the challenges of using vocabulary games when teaching English vocabulary in CÏaSS. Students’ learning styles and preferences. Time constraint and educational Objectives .- se, 39 bia on.
Insights into Teachers' PerC€pfIOTNS. Recognizing the Versatility Of Games. Challenges Faced by Educators .- -- cv HH ng ng 42 4. -- -- c1 TH TH TH HH nh 42 4.
Synthesis and Future EXpÏOTafIOII. HH HH ng HH Hệ 45 5. Recapitulation of Findings .-- -- «c6 + xxx TH HH HH Hư 45 5. Challenges and Considerations.
Implications for Practice. -- -- c1 2119931993019 1119 11H kg kg rry 46 5. Recommendations for Future Research. Suggestions for Further Research .- --- 5 5 + 2 9v HH ng ng gưkp 49 5.- HH HH HH HT HT HH HH HH TT ng I APPENDIX 1: QUESTIONNAIRE ON TEACHERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF USING GAMES IN TEACHING VOCABULARY .- Án HH re I APPENDIX 2 USING GAMES AS A TOOL IN TEACHING VOCABULARY .V vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ELT: English Language Teaching L2: Second language Vil LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1.
The techniques teachers usually use when teaching English vocabulary. How often do teachers include vocabulary games in their lesson. 26 Table 1: Teachers’ perceptions about the advantages and challenges of using vocabulary games when teaching English vocabulary in class. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 presents the Introduction of the research.
It includes the rationale of the study, the significance of the study, the research questions, the scope and structure of the study. Rationale of the study English is commonly referred to as a global language due to its widespread use as a medium of communication worldwide, irrespective of whether it serves as one's official, first, secondary or additional language. To attain proficiency in this language, learners are typically expected to excel in four essential skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Nevertheless, according to Allen (1983), achieving mastery in a language necessitates the acquisition of a substantial number of new words.
This underscores the importance of learners possessing a substantial vocabulary to bolster their English language learning. However, students may also find vocabulary learning somewhat disengaging as it frequently entails monotonous repetition and extensive reading for memorization. Several issues that impede students' vocabulary acquisition, as per my observations, include: In the first instance, they often find the teacher's explanations of word meanings, pronunciations, spellings, and grammatical functions to be uninspiring. Consequently, students lack the motivation to actively engage in the learning process and tend to merely listen to the instructor during class.
Secondly, students tend to limit their concept of vocabulary learning to acquiring the basic definitions of new words. This narrow focus results from their tendency to memorize and replicate vocabulary without engaging in practical applications, whether in social or academic contexts. Consequently, they overlook the various facets of vocabulary. Thirdly, students predominantly acquire new vocabulary from the words presented in their textbooks or as directed by their instructors during lectures.
For instance, learners encounter unfamiliar words in their reading materials and subsequently approach the teacher for clarification regarding word meanings and usage. Fourthly, many Vietnamese students exhibit reluctance to take risks by applying their acquired knowledge. While they may grasp the written or spoken form of a word and believe they have a solid understanding, they often struggle to employ it effectively in diverse contexts or pronounce it accurately. In order to enhance students’ interest and vocabulary acquisition, educators are encouraged to employ a diverse range of innovative teaching methods.
Students can acquire new vocabulary through various means, extending beyond the traditional methods of memorization and reading. Enjoyable activities such as laughter, conversations, walks, movie-watching, game-playing, and music-listening can also contribute to vocabulary enrichment. Vocabulary instruction encompasses a diverse range of approaches, including techniques like learner training, mnemonics, and the use of word cards, as outlined by Thornbury (2002, p. Effective teaching approaches create a dynamic environment that fosters collaboration between teachers and students, leading to positive outcomes.
The utilization of games is widely recognized as one of the most effective strategies in language education, as noted by Ersöz (2000), Kim (1995), and Thornbury (2002). The pivotal factor in shaping a successful classroom is undeniably the teacher. The teacher's perspective on their students and the subjects they instruct, as well as their personal approach to the process of education, heavily influences the instructional methods employed. Simultaneously, the teacher assumes the role of maintaining the overall classroom ambiance.
Silins and Murray-Hervey (2000) observed that when teachers hold positive perceptions, it exerts a constructive impact on the students’ attitudes. This, in turn, serves as a catalyst for students to become more engaged and active in their learning activities. Ultimately, this dynamic interaction leads to diverse manifestations of the same educational content. Although they play a crucial role, teacher perceptions have often been somewhat neglected in research, particularly during the transition from traditional teaching methods to more student-centered approaches.
The research landscape on the subject of teachers’ perceptions regarding the use of games in teaching vocabulary in Vietnam, particularly at the secondary level, is notably limited. Consequently, this study has been undertaken to delve deeper into teachers’ perspectives on the use of game-based learning for teaching vocabulary. Aim and Objectives This study aims at obtaining a better insight into teacher perceptions regarding the integration of games in the teaching of vocabulary at a lower secondary school situated in Hanoi. The objectives are to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of incorporating games in the vocabulary teaching as perceived by the teachers at the lower secondary level.
What are the advantages of incorporating games in teaching vocabulary as perceived by the teacher? 2. What disadvantages do teachers face when incorporating games as a tool for teaching vocabulary from the teachers’ perspectives? 1. Significance of the study The significance of this study lies in its theoretical and practical contributions to the field of language education, specifically focusing on teachers' perceptions of using games in teaching vocabulary at a lower secondary school in Hanoi. From a theoretical standpoint, this research adds valuable insights to the existing body of knowledge concerning language pedagogy.
By delving into teachers' perspectives, the study provides a nuanced understanding of how educators perceive the role of games in the vocabulary instruction process. This theoretical contribution extends the discourse on effective language teaching methodologies and enriches the scholarly conversation on the integration of games in educational practices. Moreover, the study addresses a gap in the current literature by specifically examining teacher perceptions in the context of lower secondary education in Hanoi. While existing research highlights the benefits of using games in language instruction, there is a scarcity of studies focusing on the perceptions of teachers in the Vietnamese educational setting.
This research, therefore, contributes to filling this void and offers a context-specific lens to the broader discussion on game-based language teaching. Moreover, this particular case holds the potential to serve as a useful reference for subsequent studies that share a similar focus or operate within analogous educational contexts. On a practical level, the findings of this study can inform language educators, curriculum developers, and educational policymakers in Hanoi and beyond.