Strategies to enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of communicative language ability among second language learners

Strategies to enhance the understanding of
English intonation for the development of
communicative language ability among second
language learners
Những chiến lược tăng cường sự hiểu biết về
ngữ điệu tiếng Anh nhằm phát triển năng lực
ngôn ngữ giao tiếp của người học ngôn ngữ hai

Mai Thị Huyền

University of Languages and International Studies
M.A. Thesis. English Linguistics; Mã số: 60 22 15
Supervisor: Dr. Huỳnh Anh Tuấn
Năm bảo vệ: 2012

Abstract. The purpose of the study is to devise learning strategies to help second language
learners enhance the understanding of English intonation for the development of their
communicative language ability. The study was administered at Quangninh University of
Industry. 100 first-year students from two groups were invited to join in the research. A quasi-
experiment was carried out to investigate the helpfulness of the strategies for teaching and
learning English intonation. The results indicate that due to the strategies applied, the students
found it easier to get broader knowledge of English intonation which plays important roles in
the improvement of their listening comprehension. My conclusion is that the strategies
introduced to the students in the study can be adopted by learners who want to broaden their
understanding of English intonation in order to strengthen their communicative language
ability, especially listening skill.
Keywords. Ngữ điệu; Giao tiếp; Tiếng Anh
Content.
TABLE OF CONTENT

Page

Declaration of authorship
i
Acknowledgements
ii
Abstract
iii
Table of content
iv
List of tables
vii
PART A - INTRODUCTION
1
1.1. Rationale for the study
1
1.2. Aims of the study
2
1.3. Scope of the study
2
1.4. Methods of the study
3
1.4.1. Research questions
3
1.4.2. Research approach
3
1.4.3. The participants
3
1.4.4. Data collection methods
3
1.4.5. Data collection procedure
3

1.4.6. Data analysis
4
1.5. Organization of the study
4
PART B - DEVELOPMENT
5
CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
5
1.1. Literature Review
5
1.2. Theories of English intonation
5
1.2.1. Definitions of intonation
5
1.2.2. Systems of English intonation
7
1.2.3. Structure of English intonation
9
1.2.4. Basic tune shapes of English intonation
10
1.2.4.1. The falling tune
10
1.2.4.2. The first rising tune
11
1.2.4.3. The second rising tune
12
1.2.4.4. The falling-rising tune
13
1.2.5. Functions of English intonation
14

1.2.5.1. The organization of information
14
1.2.5.2. The realization of communicative functions
14
1.2.5.3. The expression of attitude
15
1.2.5.4. Syntactic structure
15
1.2.5.5. Textual structure
16
1.2.5.6. The identification of speech styles
16
1.3. Theories of language learning strategies
17
1.3.1. Definitions
17
1.3.2. Classification of Language Learning Strategies
17
1.3.2.1. Direct Language Learning Strategies
18
1.3.2.2. Indirect Language Learning Strategies
18
1.3.3. Characteristics of Language Learning Strategies
18
1.4. The relations between the competence of intonation and communicative language
ability.
19
1.5. Strategies used to enhance the understanding English intonation for the development
of listening skill among second language learners in the study
23

CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY
26
2.1. Research questions
26
2.2. Research approach
26
2.3. Selecting subjects
27
2.4. Data collection
27
2.4.1. Data collection methods
27
2.4.1.1. Tests
27
2.4.1.1.1. Meta-linguistic tests
27
2.4.1.1.2. Listening comprehension tests
27
2.4.1.2. Questionnaire
27
2.4.2. Data collection procedures
28
2.5. Data analysis
29
CHAPTER 3: DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS
30
3.1. Data analysis
30
3.1.1. Learners’ meta-knowledge of English intonation and the development of their
listening skill

30
3.1.1.1. Learners’ meta-knowledge of English intonation
30
3.1.1.2. Learners’ development of listening skill
33
3.1.2. Strategies used by learners
35
3.1.2.1. Memory strategies
36
3.1.2.2. Cognitive strategies
36
3.1.2.3. Metacognitive strategies
37
3.1.2.4. Compensation strategies
37
3.1.2.5. Social strategies
37
3.1.2.6. Affective strategies
37
3.2. Discussions
37
PART C - CONCLUSION
39
1. Conclusion
39
2. Limitations of the research
39
REFERENCES
40
APPENDICES

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