NGÂN HÀNG NHÀ NƯỚC VIỆT NAM TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGÂN HÀNG TP.HCM ĐỀ TÀI NGHIÊN CỨU KHOA HỌC CẤP CƠ SỞ Incorporating Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Brain-Based Teaching into ESP Training at BUH CHỦ NHIỆM ĐỀ TÀI: NGUYỄN NGỌC PHƯƠNG DUNG NĂM 2020 NGÂN HÀNG NHÀ NƯỚC VIỆT NAM TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGÂN HÀNG TP.HCM ĐỀ TÀI NGHIÊN CỨU KHOA HỌC CẤP CƠ SỞ Incorporating Computer-Assisted Language Learning and Brain-Based Teaching into ESP Training at BUH CHỦ NHIỆM ĐỀ TÀI: NGUYỄN NGỌC PHƯƠNG DUNG THƯ KÝ: NGUYỄN QUANG NHẬT NĂM 2020 NGÂN HÀNG NHÀ NƯỚC VIỆT NAM TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC NGÂN HÀNG TP.HCM BÁO CÁO NGHIÊN CỨU KHOA HỌC CẤP CƠ SỞ Incorporating Computer-assisted Language Learning (CALL) Partially Flipped Classroom and Brain-based Teaching into ESP Training at Banking University HCMC CHỦ NHIỆM ĐỀ TÀI: NGUYỄN NGỌC PHƯƠNG DUNG THƯ KÝ: NGUYỄN QUANG NHẬT NĂM 2020 ABSTRACT Taking cognizance of challenges of 21st-century learning and the ubiquitous technologies available, this paper reported on an ESP course applying computer- assisted language learning partially flipped learning as out-of-class activities and brain- based teaching for in-class activities in a Vietnamese ESP (Banking and Finance) module. The study aimed at (1) exploring the beneficial impacts of this instructional combination towards learners‟ perceived academic performance and (2) investigating learners‟ perceptions towards this suggested model. Forty junior students at Banking University, Vietnam participated in the experimental study from February to May of 2018-2019 academic year. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires and pre/post - tests comparison.
Data analysis revealed that this model could not only improve learners‟ academic achievements but also bring about enhanced confidence and engagement towards the ESP training process. Keywords: ESP, computer-assisted language learning (CALL), partially flipped, brain- based teaching, performance, attitudes, Vietnam. i DECLARATION I hereby declare that this research study represents our own work and it has not been previously submitted to Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City or any other institutions in application for admission to a degree, diploma or other qualifications. Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Dung August, 2020 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.
Definition of key terms. Problem statements and rationale of the study. Scope of the study. 7 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.
Definition of ESP training. ESP training in the Vietnamese context. ESP training at BUH. Brain-based teaching.
Definition of brain-based teaching. Principles of brain-based teaching. Beneficial impacts and the rationale for using brain-based teaching in ESP education. Definition of flipped classroom.
Variances of the flipped classroom. Elements of flipped classrooms. Theoretical frameworks for flipped classrooms. Learning effectiveness of flipped classrooms.
Research sampling and participants. Procedure of the study. The online platform. Procedure of the experimental class.
Reliability and Validity of the Methodology. Ethical Issues and Considerations. 44 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND FINDINGS. Students‟ academic performance.
Students‟ perceptions towards the suggested model. The model enhanced learners‟ performance with improved grades. The model facilitated learners‟ positive attitudes and confidence. Theoretical contributions of the study.
Limitations of the study. Recommendations for further study. 71 v LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1: Conceptual framework. 6 Figure 2-1: Stages and elements of the flipped classroom model.
24 Figure 3-1: Online platform of the ESP class. 39 Figure 4-1: Mean plot of post-test results between four classes (n=162). 51 Figure 4-2: Benefits of the Engagement (n=40). 53 Figure 4-3: Benefits of the Acquisition (n=40).
54 Figure 4-4: Benefits of Elaboration stage (n=40). 54 v LIST OF TABLES Table 3-1: Distribution of participants. 36 Table 4-1: Analysis of pre-test results (N=162). 46 Table 4-2: Descriptive analysis of post-test results (n=162).
48 Table 4-3: The Homogeneity tests results (n=162). 49 Table 4-4: One-way ANOVA analysis of post-test results (n=162). 49 Table 4-5: Multiple Comparison (n=162). 50 Table 4-6: Student‟s overall perceptions (n=40).
51 Table 4-7: Benefits of Portfolio and Preparatory tasks, and Group Discussion (n=40). 52 Table 4-8: Roles of the Framing step (n=40). 53 Table 4-9: Students‟ satisfaction with their progress (n=40). 55 vi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.
Introduction This chapter provides the basis for undertaking this research study. The first section introduces key term definitions upon which the foundation of this study was made. Then, it describes the problem statements and rationale for the study. The next sections highlight research questions and research objectives.
Afterwards, a conceptual background is presented with an aim to place their relevance to ESP training. Finally, the chapter discusses the scope of the study. Definition of key terms ESP (English for Specific Purposes) is a branch of English teaching to non- native English learners who study English for a vocational purpose. ESP training is a profession-oriented discipline to prepare trainees for the labour market.
Computer-assisted language learning (CALL) is an approach to language learning in which technological tools are implemented as an aid to the presentation, reinforcement and assessment of materials for interactive elements and better learning outcomes. Flipped learning is a pedagogical approach in which class time explores topics in greater depth for meaningful practice, while educational technologies are adopted to deliver contents outside of the classroom. Computer-assisted language learning partially flipped classroom refers to a guiding framework with various group work and individual activities for both in- class and out-of-class settings. Therefore, the model aims to yield beneficial impacts on learners‟ academic performance and to bring positive attitudes into the classroom.
Brain-based teaching is a strategy in which learning materials and activities are aligned with the brain‟s natural processes and functions to help students encode, recall and connect ideas more efficiently for optimize learning. 1 Traditional classrooms (conventional classrooms or contemporary classrooms), in this context, refer to familiar formats where students come to the classroom with homework correction and hear lectures with examples and exercises relating the new knowledge. Lectures could be delivered by the teacher or from their peer presentations, and students have opportunities to ask questions or answer the questions related to the examples and the instructor might also attempt to make the lectures as interactive as possible with learner-centered educational methods. Then, the teacher hands out exercises/ tasks, followed by in- class practice and teacher‟s correction or suggested answers.
Finally, the students practice what they are taught with higher-order learning skills at home. This is not limited to whether instructors implement innovative pedagogical approaches inside and outside their classes as long as these methods are different from the instructional design of the experimental class. Learning effectiveness is the degree to which the model is successful in producing desired pedagogical results. In this context, the effectiveness is measured by academic performance reflecting student‟s depth of knowledge and skills gained through a semester by using the final exam scores.
Perceptions are the emotional feelings of the students towards the implementation of a specific pedagogical method, and are measured by the students‟ attitudes towards the effectiveness of different elements of the suggested teaching model. Problem statements and rationale of the study ESP (English for Specific Purposes) education is a complex environment in which graduates are supposed to have sufficient specialist knowledge and language skills to participate in a wide range of domestic and international activities. Since Vietnam aimed to integrate into the world economy and international cultural exchange, the practice of these ESP courses has attracted certain attentions of both educational researchers and educators in recent years. Although English training in 2 Vietnam has undergone a shift from Grammar-Translation Method to Communicative Approaches and even Blended-Language Learning with the support of modern technology, activities which could enhance learners‟ autonomy outside the classroom and students‟ interactive collaborations during in-class sessions to reach academic achievements are still limited in many Vietnamese ESP classes (Nguyen, 2015).
Therefore, with a view to making the learning environment more interactive and ESP training more effective, this study incorporated the classroom model combining technology-assisted language learning for out-of-class activities and brain-based teaching for face-to-face sessions in an ESP (English for Banking and Finance) module. As a result, students might be better positioned to apply knowledge into their test papers as well as enhanced their positive perceptions. Four reasons were attributed to the conduct of this study. First, a review of recent literature shows negative results could be found in some reports in terms of the learning effeciveness of the CALL flipped classroom.
For example, the study conducted by Harrington et al. (2015), who compared learning outcomes of 82 students in a medical surgical course taught with flipped and traditional methods, noted that there were no statistical differences as measured quantitatively through exams (p-value = 0. One year later, Guy and Marquis‟s (2016) adopted quasi- experimental study to compare 433 business-major students‟ average final grades in two modes and stated that students in the flipped classroom only performed slightly better than those in a traditional lecture-based instructional method (83% and 82% respectively). Especially, Gundlach et al.
(2015) asserted that students in conventional classes could perform better than those in flipped formats. Therefore, more studies should be conducted to examine the current state of knowledge on the effectiveness of this method. Second, some research studies claim that sciences and engineering disciplines may be more suitable for flipping learning than social- sciences subjects (Johnson, Bender, & Oldham, 2015). Therefore, it raises a 3 question if flipped classrooms are appropriate for ESP education since this is also a social sciences subject and profession-oriented practice.
Third, many studies discuss what benefits can be obtained from flipping classrooms, but fell short of defining an instructional framework that could guide the design of in-class activities for deep conceptual understanding and/or procedural fluency. In other words, the questions of what instructional framework should be used in planning the flipped classroom approach, how to mobilize learners to engage in the learning process, and what techniques can foster interactive and collaborative environment inside and outside of classroom are still left unanswered. Hence, further research is needed to shed light on how in-class instructional designs were actually implemented and favoured by participants. Finally, an implementation of the flipped model into ESP teaching is still in its infancy, especially in Vietnamese setting where educators are under the pressure of building test-taking skills as well as performance-oriented activities classes (Nguyen, 2015).
Therefore, a better application of technology-based elements of flipped classroom into the ESP classroom should be measured in a coherent manner. As a result, in this study, a detailed model of in-class activities revealed how classroom time was used for engaging in integrated activities, discussing subject-specific concepts, clarifying complicated information, language building, and test-taking practice. Meanwhile, technology as a mediational tool was adopted to show how out-of-class tasks were structured to enhance learners‟ autonomy and academic performance. Research questions This study aimed to answer two following questions: 1.
To what extent does this model influence on students‟ English competence as compared to traditional classes? 2. What are learners‟ perceptions towards the effectiveness of this model? To help answer research question 1, the following hypotheses were adopted: 4 The null hypostudy (H0): There is no significant difference between experimental and control class‟ achievement as measured through the final exam scores. Alternative hypostudy (H1): There is a significant difference between the performance of the experimental class and that of the control class in an ESP course as measured through the final exam scores. Research objectives This study aims to: 1.
Investigate the effectiveness of the CALL partially flipped classroom and brain- based teaching towards learners‟ academic performance and attitudes in an ESP class at BUH 2. Provide an in-depth insight into how to apply the flipped classroom model in ESP education with a detailed framework of brain-based teaching to make the training process interesting and meaningful. Contribute to theoretical research in flipped learning and brain-based teaching on how these methods can be employed with a detailed instructional design.