VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ĐẶNG MINH ANH ENHANCING MOTIVATION IN VOCABULARY LEARNING VIA ONLINE GAMES: AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT AT A UNIVERSITY IN HANOI Tăng cường động lực học từ vựng qua trò chơi trực tuyến: Một nghiên cứu hành động ở một trường đại học tại Hà Nội M. MINOR PROGRAM THESIS Major: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 HANOI - 2019 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ĐẶNG MINH ANH ENHANCING MOTIVATION IN VOCABULARY LEARNING VIA ONLINE GAMES: AN ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT AT A UNIVERSITY IN HANOI Tăng cường động lực học từ vựng qua trò chơi trực tuyến: Một nghiên cứu hành động ở một trường đại học tại Hà Nội M. MINOR PROGRAM THESIS Major: English Language Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 Supervisor: Hoàng Thị Xuân Hoa, PhD. HANOI - 2019 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com DECLARATION I certify that the work presented in this research report has been performed and interpreted solely by myself.
I confirm that this paper is submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the M. Degree and has not been submitted elsewhere in any other form for the fulfillment of any other degree or qualification. Hanoi, 2019 Đặng Minh Anh i TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This M.A thesis could not have been accomplished without the invaluable help, encouragement and support form a number of people who I would like to show my sincerest gratitude and appreciation. To begin with, I would like to express my greatest and deepest thankfulness to my supervisor, Hoàng Thị Xuân Hoa, PhD., for her enthusiastic and precious guideline and advice throughout the duration of my thesis.
Without her instruction and supervision, this thesis could not have reached the fulfillment. Moreover, my honest thanks also come to all students for taking part in this study. Last but not least, I give my thanks to family and relatives who have always supported me and supplied the best conditions for me to complete this thesis. ii TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com ABSTRACT The present thesis was conducted to examine the extent to which the application of Online games could help to enhance the students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary.
Participants of this study were 28 low-level students in a non-English major university in Hanoi. Online games was used as the strategy to enhance students‟ motivation in vocabulary learning. This thesis was designed as an action research. The whole process of the research was divided into four steps of planning, implementing, observing and reflecting on progress with aims to reduce the problems and to improve students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary.
The research questions to be addressed in the thesis are: (1) To what extent do online games have influences on students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary? (2) What are students‟ opinions towards the application of these games in vocabulary learning. Survey questionnaire, semi-structured interview and classroom observation were used as instruments to collect data for reflection throughout the research. The results had confirmed the positive effects of online games on enhancing their motivation in vocabulary learning as the level of motivation after the intervention was increase significantly in comparison with that before the intervention. In addition, the results indicated that the students had positive opinions towards application of online games in vocabulary learning in all aspects of ARSC model.
Keywords: action research, vocabulary, motivation, online games, ARSC model iii TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION. iii LIST OF TABLES. vii LIST OF FIGURES. vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
viii PART A: INTRODUCTION. Scope of the study. Method of the study. Significance of the study.
Design of the thesis .6 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW. Vocabulary in language learning and teaching. The importance of vocabulary learning. Process of vocabulary teaching.
Motivation in learning vocabulary. Nature of Motivation. Kinds of Motivation. Methods to enhance motivation in learning.
ARSC Motivational Design model. The application of online vocabulary games in EFL classroom. Definition and classification of games in language learning. The application of games in teaching vocabulary .15 iv TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.
The benefits of online vocabulary games. The study procedure. Identify the problems. Evaluating the plan.
Data collection procedure. Data analysis method and procedure. Semi-structured interview. Questionnaire on Motivation in learning vocabulary.
Questionnaire on the Use of online games. Semi-structured interview. Summary of findings .42 v TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.51 APPENDIX A: Pre-intervention questionnaire .51 APPENDIX B: Post-intervention questionnaire .52 APPENDIX C: Survey questionnaire .53 APPENDIX D: Open-ended interview questions .56 APPENDIX E: Teacher observation record .57 vi TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com LIST OF TABLES Table 2. IMMS scoring guide.
Descriptive statistics of students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary. Comparison of motivation between pre- and post-intervention. Scale reliability based on Cronbach‟s alpha. Range of motivation level.
Overall mean scores of students‟ evaluation. Numbers of respondents in each level .34 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2. Action research model. Descriptive statistics of Pre-test and Post-test on motivation in learning vocabulary.
Percentages of respondents in each level. Descriptive statistics of Game evaluation in each scale .36 vii TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ARSC Attention, relevance, satisfaction, confident CIS Course Interest Survey CLT Communicative language teaching EFL English as a Foreign Language ESL English as a Second Language IMMS Instructional Materials Motivation Survey viii TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com PART A: INTRODUCTION This part gave overviews on rationale of the study, research aims, research questions, scope methods and design of the study. Rationale Vocabulary is the core of any language and one cannot learn language without vocabulary. Emphasizing on the important of vocabulary in language learning, Wilkins (1972) believed that without grammar very little can be conveyed, however, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed.
The importance of vocabulary in foreign language learning cannot be emphasized enough that without it there is little success for effective communication (Vermeer, 1992) as it is upon words that the structure of language is built and it is words that constitute the raw material for the creation of sentences (Ross & Jan, 2007). However, in spite of its significant role, vocabulary learning seemed to be one of the most common problems in language learning for ELF students. In this current thesis, the researcher found that despite realizing the importance of vocabulary in language learning, students appeared to have low level of motivation in learning vocabulary. According to results of observations and interviews in with students, some problems were identified.
Most of students found vocabulary learning tiring and boring process or they feel it is too difficult for them to learn and understand. Moreover, the practices and exercises which they are asked to complete were not related to students‟ interests. Those can be caused by inappropriate teacher styles and methods using by teacher. It worth to note the fact that in most traditional class, vocabulary was taught with the teaching method of grammar-translation.
Since students should not see the vocabulary learning process as a boring process, but as a useful and interesting one, it is essential for teachers to find out and apply a new strategy in order to motivate students in learning vocabulary. Among a variety of methods and techniques, games was proposed as an useful 1 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com strategy which increases students‟ motivation especially in learning vocabulary. Many researchers support the use of vocabulary games due to their educational values. According to these researches, a game-based learning context helps to shape a higher level of motivation of an individual (Ebrahimzadeh & Alavi, 2017).
Application of games in classroom context provides the students with an exciting learning experience (Icard, 2014). Therefore, students become attentive because games make their learning more enjoyable. By using games students can be more active, autonomous, and energetic, learn about environment, the world they are living in, and be engaged in the teaching-learning process. We can teach all skills and components through playing games, which is based on a learner-centered approach, meanwhile when we are teaching; we have to pay attention to the meaningfulness, appropriateness and the level of the learners (Widodo, 2006).
In addition, with the development and evolution of Internet technology, there was an increasing trend towards online learning environment in which, online games were applied instead of traditional vocabulary games. Online vocabulary games are supposed to inherit the benefits of traditional ones but to be employed with more interesting design. The researcher believed that using online games in the classrooms is considered a good source of entertainment in the classroom that helps students learn and interact with given material in order to learn and acquire a new language. Online games could change the way students are accustomed to learning while they sit passively in a classroom and expect the teacher to give them the needed information in order to learn the English language.
By accessing to Internet, students can easily participate actively in online interactive games via devices such as their mobile phones or laptops. Realizing the low level of students' motivation in learning vocabulary, the researcher believed that an immediate change was necessitated. With the aim of creating an relaxed, motivating, and enjoyable environment where students are interested and encouraged to learn vocabulary, this thesis was conducted as an action research with the application of Online games in English lesson as a strategy 2 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com to tackle the problems. The current study aimed to investigate the extent to which online games help enhancing students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary as well as examine their opinions towards the implementation of games.
It is hoped that the results will provide insights into the application of online games as motivator in vocabulary learning in particular and in language learning in general. Research aims Vocabulary is the basis of any language to be learned and how to motivate the learners to learn vocabulary is of a great significance in the field of English language teaching. To solve the problems in teaching and learning process, this current thesis was carried out with the aims of an action research of: (1) identify the level of students‟ motivation in vocabulary learning through the use of data collection techniques, (2) design, implement and evaluate an action plan in order to solve the problem. Specifically, after identified the problems of students‟ low motivation in learning vocabulary, the researcher tries to solve it through the application of a new strategy which can affect the students‟ motivation as well as engage them in learning vocabulary.
In this current research, online games were designed and implemented in English lesson for the duration of fifteen weeks. After that, the application of these games would be evaluated. The extent to which online games have influences on students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary were examined. In addition, the students‟ opinions toward the implementation of these games in English lesson were analyzed.
Research questions The above overall aims are expected to be fulfilled by addressing the following research questions: (1) To what extent do online games have influences on students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary? (2) What are students‟ opinions on the application of online games in English lesson? 3 TIEU LUAN MOI download : skknchat@gmail.com The researcher hold a strong believe that the application of online games would significantly improve students‟ motivation in learning vocabulary. Moreover, students would had positive opinions towards the use of those games. To examine my hypothesis, I have compared the results of questionnaires on motivation level of the students before and after the application using SPSS software.