VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES DO THUY KIEU THE EFFECT OF USING FLASHCARDS ON GRADE 10 STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY LEARNING AT AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN NAM DINH PROVINCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT một trường trung học phô thông ở tỉnh Nam Định: Một nghiên cứu hành động) M.A MINOR THESIS : English Teaching Methodology : 8140231.01 Hanoi - 2024 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES DO THUY KIEU THE EFFECT OF USING FLASHCARDS ON GRADE 10 STUDENTS’ VOCABULARY LEARNING AT AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN NAM DINH PROVINCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT một trường trung học phô thông ở tỉnh Nam Định: Một nghiên cứu hành động) M.A MINOR THESIS Field : English Teaching Methodology Code : 8140231. Hoang Van Van Hanoi - 2024 DECLARATION I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled “The Effect of Using Flashcards on Grade 10 Students’ Vocabulary Learning at an Upper Secondary School in Nam Dinh Province: An Action Research Project” submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts at the Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Except where reference indicated, no other person's work has been used without acknowledgement in the text of the thesis. Hanoi, 2024 Đỗ Thúy Kiều Approved by SUPERVISOR Prof.
Hoang Van Van (Signature and full name) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the individuals who have supported and encouraged me throughout the process of writing this thesis. First and foremost, I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Prof. Hoang Van Van, for his invaluable guidance, support, and encouragement. His helpful comments in the research field have been crucial to the development and refinement of my research project.
I also wish to show my gratitude to all of my lecturers in Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Postgraduate Department for their precious lessons, which serve as the foundation and guidance for me in this study. In addition, I would like to thank the participants of my study, especially my students in Class 10C, for their willingness to share their time and experiences with me. Their input and feedback were critical to the success of this research. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their support and encouragement throughout my academic journey.
Especially, dear my son, thank you for your appearance in my life when I was trying to finish this minor thesis. You are my biggest motivation to achieve this goal. il ABSTRACT So far, teachers have created various ways to learn vocabulary, i. explanation, using realia, or using synonyms/antonyms, and using flashcard is one of the methods in teaching vocabulary.
This study investigates the effect of using flashcards to enhance students’ vocabulary mastery. The objective of this research is to determine whether the use of flashcards can stimulate students’ interest in studying English and improve their vocabulary skills. The participants in this study are 40 students from Class 10C at an upper secondary school in Nam Dinh Province. The researcher used a classroom action research methodology, incorporating pre-tests and post-tests during the teaching and learning process.
The research findings show that there is a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test results. Besides, the research findings demonstrate that the use of flashcards has positive impacts on students' language mastery and learning motivation. Based on these results, several recommendations will be offered to teachers, curriculum designers, and researchers for upcoming studies regarding the implementation of flashcards in teaching English vocabulary. ill TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION 07.
HH HH HH HH re ii ,Ÿ. iii LIST OF TABLES 11157. vii LIST OF FIGURES 111. Rationale of the SUỦy.
-- c1 1H HH ng HH kh 1 1. Aims and objectives of the Study. Research quU€SfIOTNS.- c1 TT HH nh 3 1. Scope of the SẦUỈy .- Án HH nh TT TH HH Hưng nà nưệt 3 1.
Method of the Study 1n 3. Significance Of the StUY.-- -- c1 11911111111 TH ng rệt 4 1. Structure of the thesis 1. LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL BACKGROUND.
Theoretical background of flashcards. Definitions of flashcards. Types Of flashcards .- -- G1 1993011993012 1019 HH HH re 7 2. Theoretical background of vocabulary learning and teaching.
Vocabulary learning and teach1ng.-- ---- s + xxx kg ey 10 2. The complex nature Of VOCaDll4TV. Principles of teaching VOCaADUIATY. Using flashcards in teaching and learning vocabulary.
Benefits of using flashcards .-- c1 111 11 1 1H ng ng ng 17 2. Using flashcards in teaching and learning vocabulary. Previous studies on using flashcards to improve vocabulary .- cà seeeieerey22 iv 3. Theoretical background of action research.
Definitions of action research. Rationale of using action research .-- -- c5 3s tk ng ng re, 22 3. Steps to conduct an action research .-- SH HH nh nh nh 25 KG. 7G ng HH HH nọ nh 25 3.
Data Collection ÍnStTUIT€TIES. TeaCherS CÏ1ATI€S,. - óc TH ng TH TH 30 3. Data collection procedures 0n.
DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS. The analysis of QU€S{IOTIi41TC.- -- GG c 1111321119911 1191119 11 91v vn kg cư, 34 4. Students' access to the use of flashcards before (Statement ]). Students' opinions on the impacts of using flashcards in learning vocabulary frirooioi 22720 a3.
Students' opinions on the future application of flashcards in learning vocabulary (Statement 8) .- - -- sọ HH ng 37 4. The analysis of vocabulary test results .-- - SH ng rey 38 4. The analysis of the pre-test scores of the experimental øroup. The analysis of the post-test scores of the experimental group.
Comparison between pre-test and post-test scores of the experimental øroup. The analysis of teacher's đÏ1AT1©S. Students’ attitudes and participation during research procedure.-- ng HH HH HH rưy45 bì SG vui 0n .- -- c5 + 1v vn TH ngưng nh rư46 5. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further research.
BANG KHAO SAT (Vietnamese yersion). THE PRE-TIESTT. --- + ST HH giết IH APPENDIX 4. THE POSTT-TTESÏT.
- G5 s1 HH HH Hư vil APPENDIX 5. RESULTS OF THE PRE-TEST AND THE POST-TEST OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP (CLASS 10C). ---2Ă se XI VI LIST OF TABLES Table 2. Types of VocaDUlaTV.-- -- c9 HH ng 14 Table 2.
Nine Vocabulary Aspects to Teach.- - ---csccc kg ng ngư, 16 Table 3. The procedure of applying flashcards in teaching and learning. The format of pre- test and DOSf- teSt 0. Students' opinions on the impacts of using flashcards in learning Me).
Students' opinions on the future application of flashcards in learning Me. The correlation between students’ interest by using flashcards and studenfs' view of the future application of flashcards 000. eee eeeeesseeseceseseeesseeeseeesesseeeaees 38 Table 4. Descriptive statistics for the pre-test and the post-test scores of the experimental ðTOUD.-- ¿<< 2 E3 E11 1 E1 91 30T TH HH 40 Table 4.
Paired Samples Test 1. Al vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.- - 2c 1121011191111 1 910 11910119 nh ng 9 Figure 2. Typical Pattern of Forgetting. Pattern of Forgetting with Expanded Rehearsal.
Kemmis and McTaggart's (1988) cyclical action research model. Students’ previous access to the use of flashcards. The results of the pre-test scores of the experimental group. The results of the post-test scores of the experimental group.
The results of the pre-test and the post-test of the experimental group. Rationale of the study English has become an indispensable language in today's globalized world. Its importance stems from its widespread usage in various domains, such as business, academia, and international communication. English proficiency opens doors to numerous opportunities, including higher education, job promotion, and cultural exchange.
With its status as a lingua franca, English serves as a bridge between people of different linguistic backgrounds, enabling effective communication and fostering understanding. In an increasingly interconnected world, a strong command of English is not only advantageous but almost necessary for individuals seeking to thrive and succeed in the global context. Having a good vocabulary is super important when learning a language. It's like having the right tools for communication.
Knowing a lot of words helps you express yourself clearly and understand others better. Think of words as the building blocks of language. The more words you know, the better you can put together sentences and ideas. A strong vocabulary also helps you adapt to different situations, whether it's talking with friends, at work, or in different cultures.
Therefore, building a good vocabulary is a key part of becoming fluent in a language and feeling confident in learners' communication skills. Cameron (2001) describes vocabulary as a crucial part of language learning and plays a significant role in helping learners acquire a language. Widaningsih (2009) also stated that “Vocabulary is of primary importance to language teaching and learning because it plays a pivotal role in molding the four language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.” Whether for academic or professional purposes, having a strong vocabulary allows individuals to express themselves more precisely and convey their ideas more effectively. In language education, it is therefore essential to prioritize vocabulary learning and provide learners with effective tools and strategies to acquire new words.
This includes using an approach of using flashcards, a valuable tool for vocabulary acquisition due to their visual and interactive nature. By improving vocabulary learning, language education programs can equip learners with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in their academic and professional endeavors. Furthermore, some researchers discover that using flashcards in teaching vocabulary has been proven to be highly effective in the improvement of students’ vocabulary (Komachali & Khodareza, 2012). Flashcards provide learners with a more engaging and interactive approach to learn new words, as opposed to traditional methods such as memorization and repetition.
By using flashcards, learners can see the words in context, associate them with images, and practice using them in sentences. This not only helps learners remember the words more effectively, but also allows them to understand the nuances of language and how words are used in different contexts. In addition, using flashcards allows for personalized and adaptive learning, which is especially important in language education. Learners can focus on the words they struggle with the most, and can track their progress over time.
Flashcards can also be easily integrated into digital platforms, allowing for remote learning and accessibility for all learners. Overall, the use of flashcards in teaching vocabulary has many benefits for language learners. By providing an engaging and interactive approach to learning new words, learners can acquire a stronger vocabulary and improve their communication skills. As language education continues to evolve, the use of flashcards will undoubtedly remain an essential tool for effective vocabulary acquisition.
In the context of Vietnamese education, vocabulary accounts for the majority of the total score of the test. Through interviewing students, the researcher realized that they admitted that they did not learn English well mainly because they did not understand the meaning of words. They want to have enough vocabulary to be able to use it in learning Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing English at school. According to the researcher's observation, very few teachers in Nam Dinh province instruct students to use paper flashcards.
Hopefully, this study can help students in improving their vocabulary, and then some solutions will be proposed to increase students’ foreign language proficiency. At the same time, the study is expected to serve as a guideline for language teachers wishing to adopt this teaching method in the future. Aims and objectives of the study The aim of this study is to use flashcards to improve vocabulary for grade 10 students at an upper secondary school in Nam Dinh Province, using action research as the main method. This overall aim can be achieved through the following objectives: (1) finding out the students’ attitudes towards the use of flashcards in teaching vocabulary.