Determining the effects of using VOA news to teach speaking skills for the third year english major students at Hong Duc university

Title:
Determining the effects of using VOA news to teach
speaking skills for the third - year English major students
at Hong Duc university.
PART ONE: INTRODUCTION
In this part there are four sections. After the introduction, the
second section presents a rationale based on theoretical, pedagogical
and contextual grounds, which serve as a foundation for the study.
The focus of the study is lined in the third section, together with the
research aims, objectives, questions and scope. The final section of
this part describes the organization of the study.
1. Rationale
English nowadays is increasingly being used as a tool for
interaction among non-native speakers. It has become the vital device
for communication in all fields. It is regarded as a bridge which joins
people all over the world together.
The atmosphere of English Language Teaching in the Vietnam
has been greatly improved in the past 15 years since the country
opened its door to the rest world and welcomed diplomatic, economic,
social and education relations with many other nations. English has
become the major medium of communication between the Vietnamese
and their foreign partners. Today, when globalization is an irreversible
trend in the international arene, the role of English in Vietnam is ever
more critical.
It cannot be denied that English has become an international
language. It is the means of communication in all the fields of our
everyday life. In Vietnam, English has been taught and learnt widely.
Peole learn English for many reasons: getting a better job, travelling,
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reading books, magazines or newspapers in English, improving
knowledge, being teachers of English.

The communicative approach in language teaching has become
more and more predominant in recent years all over the world. In
Vietnam, this approach has been used popularly for teaching learners’
four language skills, especially speaking skills. To teach speaking
skills to learners, many classroom teaching techniques such as Pair-
work, Group- work, Role-play, Improvisation, Pantomine,
Interviewing, Presentation… as well as various kinds of language
teaching materials such as authentic materials, published material and
supplementary materials have been used. They are all effective
techniques and useful materials.
According to my experience and after observing so much
methods which were applied on students. I found out that using VOA
news to teach speaking skills for the third- year English major
students at Hong Duc university. I has spent time accessing internet
and discovered that using VOA can help language learners widen their
knowledge and develop their speaking skills. Learners may use
information they hear or read from VOA news to enrich their oral
presentation. By the way they can improve their speaking skills,
listening skills and also reading and writing skills.The author decides
to focus on teaching material, as this is an aspect of evaluation that
nearly all teachers do at sometimes, even if it is only an informal
basic.
Following the tendency mentioned above and to answer the
author’s question, the present study is intended to investigate the
effect of using VOA news to teach speaking skills for the third-year
English major students at Hong Duc University, based on theoretical,
pedagogical and contextual grounds.
2. Previous studies:
2.1.In the world:
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In the world, there are a lot of linguists studying English in
general and Englis speaking skills in particular such as Woodward,
Widdowson, Tomlinson and Sanderson.
2.2. In Vietnam
Vietnam has many researchers about speaking skills such as
Nguyen Quoc Hung, Bui Thi Anh Tuyet, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong and
so on. They make a great contribution in studying and VOA -news to
teach speaking skills.
3. Research purpose
The study aims to apply VOA news as a kind of language
teaching materials in teaching speaking skills to the third-year English
major students of Department of foreign languages at Hong Duc
University.
4. Research questions
4.1. What language teaching materials have been used frequently to
teach speaking skills to English majors at Hong Duc University?
4.2. To what extent do teachers of English majors at Hong Duc
University use VOA as a kind of language teaching materials in their
speaking classes?
4.3. To what extent does VOA news work in EFL speaking classes at
Hong Duc University?
5. Objectives of the study
5.1. Review the theoretical literature on VOA news as a kind of
language teaching materials used to provide students with suitable
authentic materials and its role in teaching EFL and speaking skills, so
as to provide teachers with a better understanding about these subject
matter.
5.2. Investigate classroom tasks in speaking lessons through
textbooks and teacher’ materials being used at Hong Duc University.
5.3. Investigate the effectiveness of using VOA news to teach

speaking skills at Hong Duc University.
5.4. Help teachers understand more about VOA news as one kind of
language teaching materials and apply them in their speaking classes.
6. Hypothesis
Students who are using VOA news will have better on speaking
skills than students who are not using VOA news.
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7. Methods of the study
In order to successfully fulfill the task and reach the objectives
of the study, quantitative and qualitative methods are mainly used.
The survey data, which are collected for the study through a
combination of questionnaires and interviews, come from two
sources: seventy seven third-year English majors and five teachers of
English who are teaching English majors at Hong Duc University.
Besides, an observation is also carried out to collect data to be used in
supporting for the information from the survey.
Survey questionnaires were used to collect information and
evidence for the study with the hope that the research would be
reliable and processing of data would be manageable within limited
time budget.
8.Scope of the study
This study is concerned with the development of English
speaking skills for the third year English major students of
Department of foreign languages at Hong Duc University.The focus is
on effect of applying VOA news as language teaching materials to
teach speaking skills, as it is believed this provides students with not
only very fresh materials but also the improvement of litening skills,
reading skills and writing skills.The materials presented are to serve
only as guidelines, which can be modified and adapted to answer the
requirements of different situation.The sample of instructional

materials in the teaching of speaking will consist of three lessons only
due to the time con strains, and can act as a guide for language teacher
in providing instructional materials are adapt from relevant VOA
news programs used by teachers at Hong Duc University with some
modifications.
9.Significance of the study:
VOA news provides students with authentic materials through
listening or reading so students may base on the information from
those materials to expand the content of their speeches.VOA news can
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develop previous experience for students. It creates situation in which
there is a need for precise communication.VOA news can help
challenge students to discover new truths or insights by confronting
them with previous unknown predicament.VOA news increasea
motivationand provides the incentive to work hard. It fosters a sense
of responsibility and co-operation among students if they are made to
work in pairs or in groups.VOA news can motivate teachers to meet
the needs of students.It promotes students’learning prosess.When the
teacher uses these materials to draw back to a lesson and gives
students something with which they can associate a word, phrase or
concept, the students will have a greater impact in their mind about
the lesson.
10. Outline of the research
Chapter I: Literature review
1. Communicative Approach
1.1. The communicative approach
1.2. Communicative activitiess
2. Definition of speaking skills
2.1. Introduction
2.2. Nature of language skills and the oral communication.

2.3. Elements involved in speaking a foreign language.
3. VOA news.
3.1. What is VOA news?
3.2. Some fast facts of VOA news.
3.3. VOA broadcasts
3.4. VOA and Technology
4. VOA news – a kind of authentic materials
4.2. The Advantages of authentic materials
4.3. The Disadvantages of authentic materials.
4.4. Sources of Authentic Materials
5. VOA news as a kind of language teaching materials
5.1. Benefits of VOA news in teaching speaking
5.2. Purposes of using VOA news in teaching
speaking skills
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6. Common types of using VOA news as a languageteaching materials
in the EFL classroom
6.1. Phases in teaching speaking skills
6.2. In which phase can VOA news be used?
6.3. How to use VOA news?
Chapter II: Development of the study
1. The overview of teaching situation in Foreign Language
Department of Hong Duc University
1.1. An overview of the Foreign Language Department of Hong Duc
University.
1.2. Student’ back ground and needs
1.3. Teaching staff
1.4. Course books and teaching materials for teaching skills.
2. Methodology for the study
2.1. Description of subjects and participants in the study.

2.2. The instruments for carrying out the study
Chapter III. Data collection and discussion
Question 1: What language teaching materials have been used
frequently to teach speaking skills to English majors at Hong Duc
University?
Question 2: To what extent do teachers of English majors at Hong
Duc University use VOA news as a kind of language teaching
materials in their speaking classes?
Question 3: To what extent does VOA news work in EFL speaking
classes at Hong Duc University?
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PART THREE: CONCLUSION
Introduction
1. Implications and suggestions for teaching speaking using VOA
news
1.1. For the teachers
1.2. Some considerations when using VOA news
2. Limitation and Recommendation for further study
Conclusion.
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12. References
1. Edward, C.(2005). Teachers Exploring Tasks in English
Language Teaching. Palgrave.
2. Nunan. David.(1995). Language Teaching Methodology. A
Textbook for Teachers.
3. Alejandro, G.Martinez.(2002). Authentic Materials: An
Overview. Mexico City.
4. Teeler, D; Gray P. (2002). How to Use the Internet in EFL.
Longman.
Websites:

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