VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* LE THI PHUONG GIANG APPLYING GAMES IN REVIEWING VOCABULARY AFTER UNITS IN TIENG ANH 8 (EXPERIMENTAL TEXTBOOK) ghi c u việc ng dụ g trò chơi để ô tập từ vựng sau các đơ vị bài học tro g sách Tiế g A h 8 sách thí điểm)) M. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS. Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.01 HANOI – 2018 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES ********************* LE THI PHUONG GIANG APPLYING GAMES IN REVIEWING VOCABULARY AFTER UNITS IN TIENG ANH 8 (EXPERIMENTAL TEXTBOOK) ghi c u việc ng dụ g trò chơi để ô tập từ vựng sau các đơ vị bài học tro g sách Tiế g A h 8 sách thí điểm)) M. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Teaching Methodology Code: 8140231.
Tran Thanh Nhan HANOI – 2018 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com DECLARATION I, the undersigned, declare that this thesis is the result of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts at Viet Nam National University, Hanoi, University of languages and international studies, and that this thesis has not been submitted for any degree at any other university or tertiary institution. Hanoi, 2018 Student Lê Thị Phương Giang i LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my supervisor, Ms. Tran Thanh Nhan, PhD for her wholehearted assistance. Without her advice, comments, and corrections, it would have been impossible for me to fulfill the thesis.
Besides, students at Hoan Son secondary school are people to whom I want to send my grateful thanks. Last but not least, I am willing to show my deepest thanks to my family and friends who encouraged and supported me a lot. ii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com ABSTRACT There is no doubt that vocabulary plays an essential role in helping students reach their competence in English. Therefore, there have been numerous studies of applying different techniques in teaching and learning vocabulary.
In this study, the author considers with applying games in reviewing vocabulary after units in Tieng Anh 8 (experimental book). The study aimed to investigate the effects of games in reviewing vocabulary. It was conducted on the basis of both quantitative and qualitative, namely tests, and reflection. Tests included 6 tests.
Each test of 10 questions related to vocabulary in units. Reflections were carried out with after 6 tests. The result of the study showed that students’ scores after applying games were higher. Also, they were excited with games.
iii LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS. iv LISTS OF TABLES AND FIGURES. vi PART A: INTRODUCTION.
Rationale for the study. The objectives of the study. Scope of the study. Design of the thesis.
4 CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW. Definition of vocabulary. The importance of vocabulary. Definition of games.
Roles of games. Classification of games. How to use games in teaching vocabulary. Restatement of the research questions.
The setting of the study. 17 iv LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail. Implementation of the Action Research Study. 17 CHAPTER 3: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION.
Research question 1: How does the use of games help students review vocabulary?. Results from tests. Results from reflections. Research question 2: What games should be used to review vocabulary for 8th grade students at Hoan Son secondary school?.
Results from tests. Results from reflections. Major findings of the study. Increasing the time for vocabulary.
Frequency of using games. Error! Bookmark not defined. Using language games in a flexible and appropriate way. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Using variety of language games. Error! Bookmark not defined. Using suitable kinds of games. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Limitations of the study. Suggestions for further studies. II APPENDIX 3: GAMES APPLIED IN THE PROCESS. VI v LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com LISTS OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 2.
Sample of test. The action plan .1: Students’ rank through the mark framework .: Average of test results.3: Correlation between test 1 and the other tests .: Effects of applying games in reviewing vocabulary. The cycle of an action research………………………………….1: Students’ rank through the mark framework .2: Effects of applying games in reviewing vocabulary .3: The change in number of vocabulary .4: Kinds of games preferred. 35 vi LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com PART A: INTRODUCTION 1.
Rationale for the study Experimental textbooks in general and Tieng Anh 8 in particular include 12 main units. Each unit has seven sections which are Getting started, A closer look 1, A closer look 2, Communication, Skills 1, Skills 2, and Looking back & Project. Each section lasts 45 minutes. Reviewing vocabulary belongs to Looking back & Project lesson, which is then divided into Vocabulary, Grammar, Communication and Project.
Compared to the traditional textbook, the experimental book contains a large number of new words, which poses a major challenge for the eighth graders. Besides, the level of difficulty of the words appears beyond the students’ ability, especially those in rural schools. Therefore, vocabulary poses a real challenge for them. Traditionally, tests and exams focus on grammar, so teachers mostly teach grammar.
Learning vocabulary is usually ignored. However, when the experimental book is adopted, learners have to take the speaking and listening test. It is obvious that without adequate vocabulary knowledge, students cannot speak and listen effectively. Last but not least, after six sections in each unit, students have a chance to review words they learned in the seventh section.
Nevertheless, the tasks designed do not interest students; therefore, they normally do not complete these tasks. As a result, their vocabulary pool cannot increase and they gradually become bored with learning new words in particular and English in general. It is believed that applying games in reviewing vocabulary can be a feasible solution to arouse the learners’ interest and trigger their long-term memory. 1 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com The reasons mentioned above lead me to my choice of the research title: Applying games in reviewing vocabulary after units in Tieng Anh 8 (experimental book).
The objectives of the study. This study is carried out in order to: investigate the effects of games on helping 8 th grade students at Hoan Son secondary school to review vocabulary after units. make recommendations and implications on how games might be exploited to make them more enjoyable and productive to the students. Research questions The research is conducted to address the following questions: 1.
How does the use of games help students at Hoan Son secondary school review vocabulary? 2. What games should be used to review vocabulary for 8th grade students at Hoan Son secondary school? 4. Scope of the study The study focuses on using games to review vocabulary after each unit, which means that the students have learned the words in previous sections in the unit. Therefore, the types of games to be used in this study may not be applied for introducing new vocabulary or learning vocabulary in general.
Besides, the study concentrates on the 8 th grade students at Hoan Son secondary school, so the games to be designed need to be tailored to the contents of the lessons and the levels of the students. The results of the study, therefore, might not be applicable to all the students in other grades. Design of the thesis The study is divided into three parts: Part A – The Introduction presents the rationales for the study, the aims and objectives, the research questions, the scope of the study and the design 2 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com of the study. Part B – The Development consists of three chapters.
Chapter 1 is the literature review which provides an overview of the theoretical background and the previous researches related to the study. Chapter 2, the methodology restates the research questions and describes the setting, the participants, and the research methods of the study. Chapter 3, data analysis and the findings are shown. Part C – The Conclusion briefly summarizes the study, gives implications, limitations and makes some suggestions for further studies.
3 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com PART B: DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 1: LITERATURE REVIEW 1. Definition of vocabulary Vocabulary is a term which is familiar to English teachers and students; however, not all of them know exactly what vocabulary is. There are a large number of definitions about vocabulary. Sometimes, linguists themselves are not certain when mentioning the concept.
According to Hiebert and Kamil (2005:96), “The word vocabulary itself can be confusing. Sometimes educators talk about a “sight vocabulary” or a set of the most common words in English.” Nevertheless, they then stated that because of discussing word meanings, they would use the words “vocabulary” and “word meanings” synonymously. When considering what it is meant by vocabulary, Schmitt (2000:1) assumed that “The first idea that probably springs to mind is words, a formulation that is admirably adequate for the layperson.” Clearly, in his opinion, vocabulary is not something sublime that is only perceived by experts or professors; in contrast, just an ordinary person with no special knowledge is able to understand words. Ur (1996:60) also gave a definition about vocabulary which was quite short and understandable to people.
He said that we can describe approximately vocabulary as words taught in the foreign language. According to Mehta (2009:1), “vocabulary can be defined as the words of a language, including single items and phrases or chunks of several words which convey a particular meaning, the way individual words do.” In other words, vocabulary consists of not only single words but also lexical phrases or chunks. 4 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com In summary, vocabulary can be expressed as all the words in a particular language. These words can be known and used by a certain common person without unique understandings.
Moreover, vocabulary includes both single words and phrases. The importance of vocabulary Vocabulary is one of the most important components of language development. Having a wide range of vocabulary helps students with reading comprehension, writing activities as well as speaking and listening ones. Without sufficient vocabulary, students may feel confused and challenged when they want to express their thoughts and ideas.
Shastri (2010:97) stated that “Lack of vocabulary is a major handicap for the learners of English as a second language. They fumble for words when they have to express an idea either in writing or in speech.” Obviously, when students do not have enough vocabulary, they have difficulty in writing or speaking things in their mind in a foreign language although they can convey the things fluently and confidently in their native language. Vocabulary can be considered a key point or a nuclear element in language learning. That is, it is surrounded by the other language elements.
As a result, it will play an essential role in controlling them as Lewis (1993:89) confirmed that “lexis is the core or heart of language”. Shastri (2010:97) went further to argue that the focal part of language learning is created by vocabulary. When vocabulary is the core of language, the main task of second language acquisition, all language skills as listening, speaking, reading, and writing cannot go without vocabulary. All language components like grammar and vocabulary are important.
But, it is far more difficult to communicate with no vocabulary than with no grammar. Wilkins (1972:111) claimed that few things can be expressed 5 LUAN VAN CHAT LUONG download : add luanvanchat@agmail.com without grammar; however, nothing can be expressed without vocabulary.