THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES DUONG THI TUYEN THE EFFECTS OF LEARNING ENGLISH ENVIRONMENT TOWARDS STUDENTS' LEARNING ATTITUDES AT A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN PHU BINH DISTRICT, THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE MASTER THESIS Thai Nguyen, October 20223 TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC SƯ PHẠM THÁI NGUYÊN KHOA NGOẠI NGỮ DƯƠNG THỊ TUYẾN NHỮNG ẢNH HƯỞNG CỦA MÔI TRƯỜNG HỌC TIẾNG ANH ĐỐI VỚI THÁI ĐỘ HỌC TẬP CỦA HỌC SINH TẠI MỘT TRƯỜNG TIỂU HỌC TẠI HUYỆN PHÚ BÌNH, TỈNH THÁI NGUYÊN Ngành: Lý luận và phương pháp giảng dạy Tiếng Anh Mã số: 8 14 01 11 LUẬN VĂN THẠC SĨ Cán bộ hướng dẫn: TS. Phùng Thị Thu Hà Thái Nguyên, tháng 10 năm 2023 STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis contains no material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma. No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgements in the thesis. This thesis has not been submitted for the award of any degree or diploma in any other tertiary institution.
Thai Nguyen, October 2023 Duong Thi Tuyen i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to thank my supervisor, Dr. Phùng Thị Thu Hà, from the bottom of my heart for her wise counsel. She gave me a lot of valuable advice and inspiration as I was preparing my thesis. I could not have finished my thesis without her helpful feedback and valuable correction.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all of the professors and staff at the Faculty of Foreign Languages Education at the Thai Nguyen University of Education for their insightful lectures and helpful resources. I am also thankful to all the grade-4 students at Xuan Phuong Primary School for their participation in providing important data to the study through the structured interview and the questionnaire. Last but not least, I want to express my sincere gratitude to my family and friends for their love and support, which have greatly motivated me to complete my thesis. ii ABSTRACT Attitudes have been a crucial factor affecting learning English achievement.
However, it is observed that many elementary school students do not have clear thoughts about the importance of learning English, and they also have negative emotions and passive behavior during the process of learning English at school. A positive attitude is one of goals of learning English and learning environment could impact learners’ attitudes. This article presents the results of a mixed methods study aimed at understanding English learners' attitudes towards several activities to build and develop an English learning environment and the influence of these activities on the students' learning attitudes. A group of 175 learners completed the activities responded to the questionnaire and 30 of them participated in the structured interview.
The data obtained were analyzed as descriptive statistics. The findings show that learners have positive attitudes towards activities that build an English learning environment. In terms of the three attitude components, learners are assessed to have good knowledge, positive attitudes and active behavior towards learning English after participating in the above activities. Based on these findings, some suggestions are recommended to organize some other activities.
iii TABLE OF CONTENT STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv LIST OF TABLES. vii LIST OF FIGURES.
vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION.1 Rationale of the study. Aims of the study. Scope of the study. Significance of the study.
Structure of the study. 4 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW. Attitudes and language attitudes. Definitions of attitudes.
Components of attitudes. Definitions of language attitudes. Language attitudes: construct and measurements. The characteristics of language attitudes.
Factors affecting EFL students’ attitudes. Attitudes and language learning. Definitions of learning environment. Dimensions of learning environment.
Benefits of a conductive learning environment. Impact of learning environment. 31 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. Data collection instrument.
Semi - structured interview. Data collection procedure. Semi - structured interview. 37 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.
Students’ attitudes toward the activities to build-up and develop English learning environment. Students’ attitudes toward the activity “Topic-based classroom decoration”. Students’ attitudes toward the activity “English Festival”. The affects of certain activities to build-up and develop English learning environment on students' attitudes towards learning English.
46 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION. What are attitudes of grade-4 and students towards some activities to build-up and develop learning environment?. After participating these activities, would students’ attitudes towards learning English be affected?. ACTIVITY 1: ENGLISH RADIO.
ACTIVITY 2: INTER-SCHOOL ENGLISH FESTIVAL. 59 vi LIST OF TABLES Table 4.1: Students’ attitude components. 49 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Attitudes towards the activity “Classroom decoration”.
Attitudes towards the activity “English festival”. 43 vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION Chapter one would explain the reasoning behind the choice of the thesis subject, the importance of the thesis, the main goals, crucial research questions, and the scope of the research.1 Rationale of the study In the Decision No. 2080 /QD-TTg dated December 22, 2017 of the Prime Minister, English is introduced as a compulsory subject in the Vietnamese general education system from Grade 3 to Grade 12. English is considered as a tool subject to help students study well in other subjects and learn for life.
In addition, through English, students have the ability to communicate internationally and could also learn and absorb diverse knowledge. Obviously, the importance of English in the Vietnamese education system is undeniable. It is a key component of the curriculum, providing students with the necessary language skills, global perspectives, and critical thinking abilities. English education in Vietnam not only prepares students for future career opportunities but also contributes to the country's development, international integration, and cultural exchange.
The education sector in Thai Nguyen is actively constructing an English language learning environment, gradually enhancing the English language proficiency of students, with the aim of meeting the demands for foreign language proficiency in the current context. In response to the request of the Department of Education and Training of Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province, some activities to build an English learning environment have been carried out and the English Festival was the first one. There, students can experience different activities and games, and their excitement can be easily observed. It is clear that the learning environment has an impact on students’ psychology and attitudes.
1 At the primary level, learners are supposed to have positive attitudes towards learning English. These attitudes include enthusiasm, curiosity, active engagement, open-mindedness, and a recognition of the lifelong nature of language learning. By fostering these attitudes, educators can create a positive learning environment that supports the development of English language skills in elementary learners. However, during 5 years of teaching English at Xuan Phuong primary school, the researcher has observed many negative attitudes of students.
For example, students forgot books, did not complete homework or did not participate actively in learning activities, etc. Although the student's results meet the standards, it seems that the students are not really interested in the English lessons. According to Kings in Fakeye's research (as cite in Ngozi, 2016), it can be asserted that maintaining a positive attitude is frequently associated with achieving successful learning outcomes. In addition, according to Adewuyi (2002) and Ijeoma (2007) (as cite in Ngozi, 2016), it has been observed that a favorable learning environment can significantly impact the attitude and academic performance of students.
A conducive learning environment refers to the physical, social, and emotional conditions that promote effective learning and academic success. When students are provided with a positive and supportive atmosphere, their attitude towards learning improves, leading to enhanced academic performance. After participating in the English Festival, students have positive changes in the English classes. Realizing that, the researcher conducted the study "The effects of learning English environment towards students' learning attitudes at a primary school in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province" in order to find out how the learning English environment affect students’ attitudes toward learning English.
Aims of the study This research has been conducted to investigate the effects of learning English environment towards students' learning attitudes at a primary school in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province. There are two objectives of the study: to investigate attitudes of grade-4 and students towards some activities to build-up and develop learning environment; to explore whether these activities could affect students’ attitudes or not. Scope of the study The study was conducted with 165 grade-4 students at Xuan Phuong Primary school. Most of students live in Xuan Phuong and they have learnt English at Xuan Phuong Primary for 2 years.
This research was carried out in the second semester in 2022-2023 school year at Xuan Phuong Primary school. Physical dimension and pedagogical dimension of learning English environment would be examined. Research questions The following questions addressed in the study are: 1. What are attitudes of grade-4 and students towards some activities to build-up and develop learning environment? 2.
After participating these activities, would students’ attitudes towards learning English be affected? 1. Significance of the study The research findings are anticipated to assist educators and teachers in understanding students' perspectives on the English learning environment, enabling them to foster a favorable outlook towards foreign languages among students. This understanding will allow educators to tailor their teaching methods and approaches to better meet the needs and preferences of their students. By gaining insights into students' perspectives, educators can identify the factors that 3 contribute to a positive or negative learning experience.
They can then make necessary adjustments to create a more engaging and supportive English learning environment. For example, if students express a preference for interactive activities, educators can incorporate more group work, discussions, and hands- on tasks into their lessons. This will not only enhance students' motivation and interest in learning English but also provide them with opportunities to practice and apply their language skills in a meaningful context. Furthermore, this research provides valuable insights and findings that can be utilized by other researchers in the field of education and language acquisition.
By examining the attitudes and English learning environments of elementary school students, this study lays the groundwork for future investigations in this area. this study provides a foundation for future research on the relationship between attitudes and English learning environments. By examining how these two factors interact and influence each other, researchers can gain a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics at play in elementary school classrooms. This knowledge can inform the development of evidence-based practices and policies that promote optimal English language learning outcomes for elementary school students.
Structure of the study The study comprises five chapters as follows: Chapter 1 elucidates the rationale behind the selection of the thesis topic, the significance of the thesis, the primary objectives, key research inquiries, and the extent of the research. Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive examination of the theoretical foundation pertaining to students' attitudes and the learning environment. Chapter 3 elucidates the research methodology, encompassing a comprehensive depiction of the research method employed for the purpose of data collection and analysis. 4 Chapter 4 presents the statistical outcomes derived from the data collection instruments.
The findings have been thoroughly examined and elucidated in order to effectively achieve the objectives and address the inquiries outlined in Chapter 1. Chapter 5 presents the principal findings of the study and proposes activities to establish a congenial learning atmosphere that fosters positive attitudes towards students among teachers. Additionally, this chapter delineates the implications of the research. 5 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW Chapter two provides a thorough analysis of the theoretical basis concerning students' attitudes and the educational setting.
Attitudes and language attitudes 2. Definitions of attitudes The term "attitude" has been defined in a variety of ways in different works.