VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES BÙI THI NGỌC MAI USING STORYTELLING TO TEACH GRAMMAR AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN HANOI: AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY (Sử dung phương pháp kể chuyện vào giảng dạy ngữ pháp M. MINOR THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 HANOI - 2024 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST GRADUATE STUDIES BÙI THI NGỌC MAI USING STORYTELLING TO TEACH GRAMMAR AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN HANOI: AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY (Sử dung phương pháp kể chuyện vào giảng dạy ngữ pháp M. MINOR THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231. Vu Thi Thanh Nha HANOI - 2024 DECLARATION I, Bui Thi Ngoc Mai, confirm that the thesis titled "Using storytelling to teach grammar at a primary school in Hanoi: An action research study" is being submitted to fulfill the requirements for the Master of Arts degree at the Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
While conducting my research, I extensively consulted numerous books, articles, and online sources to support my study, from which I borrowed certain concepts. I assert that this thesis is an original piece of work, devoid of any plagiarism or collusion. Hanoi, 2024 Bui Thi Ngoc Mai ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Vu Thi Thanh Nha, for her enlightening guidance, invaluable feedback, and insightful recommendations throughout the completion of this minor thesis.
I extend my sincere appreciation to all the professors and staff members of the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies at the University of Language and International Studies for their valuable lectures, which have been instrumental in guiding my research. I would like to convey my warmest thanks and deepest appreciation to the teachers at A primary school for their invaluable assistance. Additionally, I extend my sincere gratitude to all the grade 5 students at A primary school who actively participated in the research. I am profoundly grateful to my family for their tremendous support and encouragement.
Without their unwavering assistance, I would not have been able to accomplish this thesis. ii ABSTRACT In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on English language learning among young students in primary schools in Hanoi. This has resulted in greater opportunities for students to acquire English skills. However, a significant number of these young learner’s struggle with grammar proficiency, leading to limitations in vocabulary and content.
Additionally, students exhibit low motivation and lack confidence when it comes to learning grammar. To address this issue, various teaching techniques have been employed, one of which is storytelling. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of teaching grammar to young learners through storytelling. The primary objective is to assess the impact of storytelling on young learners' grammar skills, as well as to evaluate their attitudes towards this technique.
Data for the study was collected through interviews, observations, and questionnaires. The findings of the data analysis reveal that most of the students made substantial progress in their grammar after incorporating storytelling into their learning. Furthermore, students actively and enthusiastically participated in the lessons, and storytelling proved to be a motivating factor for communication among the students. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION 0177.
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Organization Of the tÏh€S1S.-- - «+ 1x E1 1 1 vn ng tr 9 CHAPTER 2. Grammar teaching to young learners. The role of Grammar in teaching young learners. Method of teaching grammar oo.
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Role of using storytelling to teach ørammar. The benefits of storytelling in language education. Storytelling techn1QU€S. Criteria for selecting stOrybOOKS.
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How is grammar taught at A primary schoOl?. Students’ attitude towards storytelÏing. HH nh Hy 65 hsam ad. Limitations of the Study .- (G1 23 91013 111911191 1 ng ng ng ệc 66 hi 1.
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Long-term effects of storytelling on grammar acquIsIfIon. Different types of stories and their impact on grammar learning. Storytelling in different grade levels and contexts .- - HH HH HT HH HH HH nh 72 APPENDICES. Án HH HH HH ng ng nghệ I vi LIST OF TABLES Table 3.
The course procedures. Students’ opinions about learning øramma[. How students learn English grammar structures. They way students like to study grammar rules.
Students’ evaluation on learning grammar with storytelling. 54 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 3. Programs used for primary pupils at Brendon. Marks students got on grammar SeCtIONS.
Rationale for research The role of English as an international language in this globalization era is undeniable. On its way to integration into the global community, Vietnam gives prominence to English learning to adapt to the current trend. With the growing demand for learning English, there has been innovation in English teaching and learning methods everywhere in Vietnam. Moreover, with the increasing demand for learning English, English teaching and learning have been creative.
Stern (1983, 21) defines "language teaching as the activities intended to bring about language learning." In other words, language teaching entails more than just instructing a group of students. It is a process that includes various tasks, and it is up to the teacher to figure out when and how to involve students in the classroom. Thus, teachers are interested in providing their learners with the knowledge needed to be competent to a certain extent in the target language. Children are called natural language learners; according to the natural approach (Krashen, 1981), they can learn much more quickly and efficiently than adults.
Nevertheless, they must be introduced to natural learning environments and unique teaching techniques that make learning meaningful and enjoyable. Thus, teachers use stories to supplement their core materials or create self-contained work units that constitute mini syllabuses (Brown, 1994). In this way, a story provides the starting point and rich context to develop a wide variety of related language and learning activities involving children creatively and actively in a comprehensive whole curriculum approach (Ellis & Brewster, 2002). In Vietnam, like many other countries, the acquisition of grammar plays a crucial role in language learning.
However, traditional grammar teaching 1 methods often focus on rote memorization and rule-based approaches, which may not effectively engage primary school students or facilitate long-term retention of grammatical structures. As a result, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative instructional approaches that promote active learning and foster students’ intrinsic motivation. Storytelling, a timeless and culturally significant practice, has been recognized as a powerful tool for teaching and learning across various disciplines. According to Claudine (2012), storytelling potential to engage students' imagination, facilitate comprehension, and promote language development makes it an attractive candidate for integrating into the language curriculum.
By weaving grammar instruction into captivating narratives, storytelling provides a meaningful context for students to encounter and practice grammatical structures in a natural and memorable way. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness of using storytelling as a pedagogical strategy to teach grammar to grade 5 students in a primary school in Hanoi. The identified gap in the effectiveness of using storytelling as a pedagogical strategy to teach grammar to grade 5 students in a primary school in Hanoi lies in the integration of storytelling specifically for grammar instruction. This suggests there is a need for more research and exploration of how storytelling can be effectively used as a teaching strategy for teaching grammar to grade 5 students in that context.
Theoretical research on the topic may be lacking In providing comprehensive evidence and guidelines for implementing storytelling as a pedagogical tool for grammar instruction in primary schools. While there may be some theoretical frameworks and studies discussing the benefits of storytelling in language learning in general, there might be a gap when it comes to specifically addressing grammar instruction using storytelling techniques at the grade 5 level. Additionally, the identified gap also suggests that practical research and evidence from actual classroom settings may be limited. While there might be some anecdotal evidence or small-scale studies, there may be a lack of empirical research specifically focused on the effectiveness of storytelling as a pedagogical strategy for teaching grammar to grade 5 students in a primary school in Hanoi.
In summary, the gap identified is a need for more theoretical and practical research that specifically examines and provides evidence for the effectiveness of using storytelling as a pedagogical strategy for teaching grammar to grade 5 students in a primary school in Hanoi. On the other hand, by employing an action research approach, the study seeks to bridge the gap between theory and practice, offering practical insights and recommendations for educators in designing grammar instruction that is engaging, contextualized, and meaningful. Firstly, the context refers to the specific situation or environment in which the teaching and learning of grammar to grade 5 students in a primary school in Hanoi takes place. In this context, there may be discrepancy between the theoretical knowledge and research available on effective teaching strategies and the actual practice employed educators.
The gap exists when the theoretical understanding of how to teach grammar effectively is not effectively translated into practical classroom instruction. Secondly, storytelling is important because it provides a meaningful and engaging context for language learning. It taps into students’ imagination, emotions, and cognitive processes, making the learning experience more enjoyable and memorable. By integrating storytelling into grammar instruction, educators can create a connection between language structures and real-life situations, enhancing students’ understanding and application of grammar in a practical and meaningful way.
To apply storytelling for primary students, the theoretical problems storytelling solves: a. Engagement and Imagination: Traditional grammar instruction often focuses on rule-based explanations and isolated exercises, which can be dry and uninteresting for students. Storytelling addresses this problem by creating an engaging and imaginative learning environment. It captivates students’ attention, stimulates their curiosity, and encourages active participation in the learning process.
Comprehension and Contextualization: Grammar rules and structures can sometimes appear abstract or disconnected from real-life usage. Storytelling provides a context where grammar is embedded within narratives, allowing students to see how grammar functions in authentic language use. This contextualization enhances students’ comprehension of grammar rules and their ability to apply them appropriately. Language Development and Fluency: Storytelling promotes language development by exposing students to rich and varied language input.
Through storytelling, students encounter different vocabulary, sentence structures, and linguistic patterns in a natural and authentic manner.