RESEARCH PAPER: self Study form 913

RESEARCH PAPER
Topic: SELF STUDY
PART I: INTRODUCTION
1.1. Reason for choosing the topic:
In the era when science and technology developed rapidly, the school is not good enough to meet
all the learning needs of students as well as the increasing demands of social life. Therefore,
fostering students' self-study capacity is an extremely important job in the university. Only selflearning, self-enrichment of knowledge in many ways, different ways each student can
compensate for the lack of scientific knowledge about social life. Since then, there is confidence
in life, work because of his comprehensive capacity. The issue of self-study of learners has been
deeply studied by the Party and State for many years. Resolutions of the Central Vth Session 8
clearly stated: “To focus on improving the quality of teaching and learning, creating self-learning
ability, self-creation of students, ensuring all conditions and time for self-study for students ,
develop self-learning, self-training regularly and widely throughout the people.”
We can see that self-education and self-education are key issues that are extremely important in
the education and training strategy of the country. Within the framework of this report, we would
like to focus on issues related to the concept of self-study, the content of self-learning activities,
the forms of self-learning, especially the training Self-study for students. In order to promote the
process of self-study for students, to contribute to the innovation of teaching methods, to
continuously improve the quality of training of the school.
Self-learning plays a very important role, not only in school education but also in life. In school
the nature of learning is self-learning, the core of teaching is teaching learning, the student's


results are proportional to the self-learning capacity of the learner. In addition to improving the
learning outcomes, self-learning also facilitates the formation and training of the ability to work
independently and creatively by each person, thereby creating conditions and opportunities for
lifelong learning.
Self-learning is a necessity, a necessity of everyone in today's age, so the most important goal of
the school is not equipping learners with knowledge but self-learning.
1.2 Some specific evidence
In the lecture on self-learning for students in vocational schools and colleges, Prof. Dr. Thai Duy

Tuyen writes: “Self-learning is an independent activity to gain knowledge, skills and skills. is to
brainstorm, to think, to use the intellectual powers (observation, comparison, analysis,
synthesis ...) and the motivational and emotional qualities to gain knowledge of a field of
understanding know something or experience the history and society of mankind, turning it into
the possession of the learner himself ”. The author Nguyen Ky in the Journal of Educational
Research No. 7/1998 also discusses the concept of self-learning: “Self-learning is active learner
actively, self-discovery of knowledge by experience of his actions, self apprear. Self-learning is a
self-learning, research position, problem solving, problem solving, testing of solutions ... Selflearning is the process of personalizing learning”. In his speech at the workshop on teaching
quality improvement held in November 2005 at Hue University, Prof. Tran Phuong said:
"Learning ever and always is mainly self-learning, ie knowledge science accumulated from
generations of humanity into their knowledge, self-improvement of their thinking and training
their skills to practice that knowledge.


From the above concept can be found that the concept of self-study is always accompanied,
closely linked with the concept of self. The knowledge, experience and skills of each individual
are formed only sustainably and effectively through the activities themselves. In order to obtain,
to achieve perfection, each student must receive knowledge from many sources; Self-training
skills; Self-nourishing your soul everywhere at all times.
1.3 Explain the topic
Although studied long and many in the world, 'learner autonomy' is a controversial term, and
sometimes educators and linguists can not fully agree. What is the definition of self learning?
Some famous researchers define self-learning as follows:
Self-learning is the ability to take care of your own learning. (Henri Holec).
Self-study is a problem of the psychological relationship of learners with learning process and
content (David Little).
Self-study is a situation in which the learner is fully responsible for all decisions related to
learning and implementing those decisions. (Leslie Dickinson)
Self-learning is a recognition of the rights of learners in the education system. (Phil Benson) ".
Although there are many ways to define, the main problem is that we view self-learning as the

means or ultimate goal. These two views are intertwined and both can be part of our perspective
on learning a language or learning in general.
1.4 Concepts of self-learning
Ho Chi Minh is a bright example of self-study. The concept of self-study, he said: "Self-learning
is the way to learn automatically" and "must learn automatically learning." According to him:


"automatic learning" means self-learning completely self-control, no one waiting for reminders,
not waiting for anyone to assign tasks themselves to plan their own learning plan, then self I
implemented it, implemented it self-conscious, self-master of time to learn and self-assessment
of their own learning."
In learning and teaching, Professor Nguyen Canh Toan said: "Self-learning is self-brainstorming,
thinking, using intellectual abilities and sometimes even muscles and other qualities of learners,
both emotional motives, human life world view to occupy a certain knowledge of mankind,
turning that knowledge into own possession.
According to Nguyen Ky, "Self-learning is to put oneself in learning situations, in the position of
self-study, handle situations, solve problems: identify information processing problems, present
knowledge, develop solutions to solve problems, handle situations ... ".A ```GS - TSKH Thai
Duy Tuyen affirmed: "Self-learning is an independent activity of knowledge, skills, techniques,
is to brainstorm, think, use the intellectual capacity (observation, comparison comparing,
analyzing, synthesizing ...) and the motor and emotional qualities to gain knowledge of a certain
field of knowledge or social history experiences of mankind, "Study subjects for self-study for
students in professional secondary schools and colleges and universities.
In summary, the synthesis of self-study concepts of authors can offer the concept of self-study as
follows: "Self-learning is self-brainstorming thinking, using mental abilities (observation,
comparison Comparisons, analysis, synthesis, ...) and sometimes muscles (using practical tools),
and personal qualities such as motivation, emotion, humanity, worldview do not be afraid to have
difficulty, have the mind, patience, patience, passion for science, ...) to occupy a certain field of
knowledge of mankind, turning that field into own possession ".

( Lê Triệu Vỹ)
Independent thinking skill
Independent thinking skill is one of the most important for student who wants to self-study.
Independent thinker step up learn for each subject because they understand that the results they
achieve. Americans are seriously to educating student about their ability to independent thinking,
they believe that all student of university who need to be able to think independently are good at
learning in school. For example, a number of the subject is not enough to transmit knowledge, so
that they must be learnt by themselves to enough knowledge. With an independent thinking, they
can be learnt at home. They can finish the subject with higher quickness. When students develop
thinking skill, it gives them many benefits. For example: increase their confident, give them
ability to solve problem, help another people to overcome difficulties and develop a higher
enthusiasm
“Why does Vietnam need research?” (Darriulat,2007). The question is not common question, it
shows almost of student in Viet Nam doesn’t active study. They lack about thinking, and
creating. They’ve just “a bill” or “idea, even mission” to decide by a person who have more
economy or politicked. No one accept the education of student go to school to receive passive
knowledge, etc. And create more and more citizen does not have independent thinking, maybe
they will become slave. How can student do to avoid thinking that?. Frist, student should be
practice thinking, means that they must know the true or wrong in knowledge. Independent
thinking might be practice and course, and they can apply to subject in school. Second, student
can teach each other and help them improve their oral communication skills. Then, the other
student in class might learn more when they are being taught by friend. Student usually


advantages of hearing these ideas being explained and in way that might be closer to student of
thinking. Third, student might ask open ended questions, The open question help them think and
solve about it, for example: what is freedom?, what should be your sight as a citizen?. Thanks to
it, student can be showed their independent thinking skill has improved.
(Nguyễn Hoàng Minh Mẫn)

Analysis problems
Referring to self study, it is matter of self-analysis and problem solving . This is a skill that
students need to know how to separate existing information and analyze them in the right
direction in the most detailed way to get more complete information . Instead of teacher
cramming too much knowledge for students , just give the basic concept . From that concept
students look for their own problems and find the answer questions .
A father asked his son’s teacher: “why do not you let the students remember important
knowledge?” . The teacher smiled: “For human creativity, two things are more important than
memorization. The first is to know where to go to find the knowledge the need rather than the
knowledge to remember. Secondly, it is necessary to know the synthesis of that knowledge in
order to carry out its own creative activity. Roughly memorizing the ropes not only enhances the
knowledge, but also can not make people smarter . This is my point of view” (30 methods to aid
your children learn well , Kim Dung , p.98 ).
Training methods:
1.

Recognize of the problem


When faced with a problem in learning or life, the first thing a student need to do is to look at the
problem: what does this matter say? What new knowledge? When students see the problem, they
can feel their knowledge is not enough to solve but it is really a challenge. The students will have
to collect information, learn new concepts, rules and skills to solve problems.
2.

Determine the goal

When defining a goal, it is important to determine how you can solve the problem, what you do
not know, can not be resolved. Be sure to identify what you really know and take strengths,
consider or note the strengths.

3.

List the possible solution

Students should present as many methods as possible so that they have many better options than
the first solution to achieve a goals that were previously determined. List them and sort out the
strongest to the weakest. Choose the best option or the highest probability of success.
4.

Simplify things

One problem has many facets so students need to learn how to simplify it. Seek out simple
solutions from which students can be amazed at the results achieved.
5.

Reassess the results of the problem

A reassessment of the result of the problem is that the student summarizes his resolution process
from the source determination until the problem is resolved. This gives the students an overview
of the whole problem , the solution, the resolution options, the implementation process. From
then on , the students will be able to draw on the experience for himself and solve problems later.


In general, problem analysis is essential for student’s self-study , as they help student learn better
and remember longer term lessons. In addition, the students self-analysis and understanding also
help student actively solve
Reading book
Some student haven’t known how to read book yet . The method to read book is very important
to self study . Reading is not enough, we need to read follow the right way so that we can
understand all the information of the books. If we read the book in the wrong way, there will be

no results , waste the time and effort , sometimes it makes us decrease memory and slow thinking
. There are many methods to start the reading book effectively.
Firstly, determining the purpose of reading books. Students haven’t much time to read book , so
they must specify the target what book they should read . If only help to their studies but also
improve their life . In addition, reading purpose also helps children to read properly , match the
task and the time available for reading. Determining the purpose of reading to answer the
question : reading book what to do ? From that point we can answer the question: which book do
you need? How to read ? The purpose of reading also determines the direction of exploitation of
the problem in the book. For instance , “ when we read the Truyen Kieu , we chose another
purpose to read that writings like someone investigates the life of Thuy Kieu and the plot ,
someone approves to read it that learns about culture life, custom , habits , ritual feudal . Some
people seek criticism of the prejudices and laws that oppress the woman “ [ 30 phương pháp giúp
con học tập tốt , Kim Dung ] , [ 30 methods to aid your children learn well , Kim Dung ] .
Secondly, we have determined the purpose but we shouldn’t read it rushingly . Before reading we
need to read thoroughly around the book . Rea--ding the book’s catalog is also important.


Reading the index gives us an overview of the book . Ausubel has done an experiment as
follows: In a university, he divided metallurgical into two groups . The first group will study
metallurgy from the first day. The second group will give a general explanation of what “
metallurgy is “ beginning to learn . As a result , the second group finally outperformed the first
group ( 30 methods to aid your children learn well , Kim Dung , p.199 ) . From this experiment ,
we can see that when the teacher introduces the whole concept of the lesson , the student will
learn the lesson better. Although the lesson may still not fully understand the meaning of the
lesson, it will still help to advance the learning process.
After we have thoroughly examined the content of the book , the methods of reading will help us
absorb and exploit the value of the book . Here are some effective reading methods.
1)

Selective reading

2)

Deep reading

3)

Skimming

4)

Finding keyword

If we read the book properly , we will have a lot of benefits from reading books . Especially the
self study of students. First , brain promotion. Scientific studies have shown that regular reading
can slow down the aging process lowering the likelihood of Alzheimer’s. Like any body, the
brain needs to be active to stay healthy . Second, provide knowledge. Whether read actively or
passively, that knowledge we are less or less. Books provide useful knowledge for reader a factor
that contributes to the improvement of many aspects of life such as career, finance, health…


Third, expand your vocabulary. Read as much as you can from capital . Fluency in
communication is one of the key determinants of success in life . The more you speak, the more
confident you are . Research has shown that people with good vocabulary are promoted faster
than those who have poor communication. the problem encountered, more over, help the mind
flexible and quick thinking.
(Nguyễn Như Hùng)
Self-knowledge
Self-knowledge is the most wasted time when student self-study. The knowledges and skills are
formed slowly or quickly, grape the problem of swallow or deep, wide or narrow…. It includes:

how to approach of information, process information, the intellection of knowledge, use the
knowledge and generalize for information. Student usually choice and receive information from
various sources by reading book, using the internet, collecting workshop,… Reading is the most
inexpensive and effective self study method. When working with books, we must use the full
power and presence of brain activity, an optimal activity in the process of self-learning. In spite
of receiving knowledge, student can open, ask question or make suggestion after reading the
book or at least to write and expert of knowledge. It's a creative of reading. Information
processing in the process of self-learning never happens in the unconscious, which requires the
procession, the new processing can be used. This process can be carried out by analyzing,
evaluating, summarizing, compiling, comparing ... In the application of scientific knowledge
information to solve related problems such as practice exercises, discussion, handling situations,
writing harvest, study, general ... students often encounter many difficulties. At times, a large
amount of document is found but the classification of content to interpret a problem is not


possible. In this case, the problem should be limited to a limit not too broad. It is important to
focus on a particular issue in order to discover what is new, practical, and satisfying. In this
stage, the choice and change of the form of thinking to find the optimal way for every subject is
also very necessary. The exchange of experiences, the sharing of knowledge and oral knowledge
in the form of workshops, scientific reports, discussions, lectures, debates ... the final work of the
knowledge acquisition process. This activity helps the learner to shape and develop the
presentation skills (verbal or written) for learners. Help learners to be proactive, confident in
communicating behaviors, developing cooperative skills and good teamwork.
In addition to the above mentioned skills, students set up the plan their studies to be able to reach
the plan, in accordance with their conditions. Of course, they can adjust when conditions change.
In that, there is a distinction between main tasks, extra task. Listening and writing are the skills
that everyone must use in the learning process. The level of listening and writing of learners is
not the same in different subjects. It directly affects the learning process. However, this is a
problem that no one has ever studied before. Each person has to practice their abit of reading to
obtain the necessary information about the subject. Student usually carry passive learning, is

acquainted with listening and writing each other, even many students are waiting for teacher read
the content of the lesson. In fact, learners should be concentrated high thought to be able to
understand the problem in the most scientific way. Student can train to be the mobilize capital,
use to speed write in the short form, underline, the main ideas or important points
Study at home
Need to find a quiet place, avoid noise. You should choose a fixed period of study and create a
habit of learning that time. In addition, there should be a reasonable schedule, combining study


and entertainment, such as a light music, or a workout. If you learn the hard part to understand,
leave, learn other parts easier to understand, or relaxing, relaxed then learn.
Review the lesson
Review the lesson means lesson learned, review it. It helps students reconsolidate their
knowledge and not waste time. According to the experts, the most forgotten knowledge usually
occurs in the first 2 or 3 days, so the best time to review the lesson done within 24 hours. To
approved information, German psychologist Ebbinghaus conducted an experiment and
discovered: after hour, only 44%the information was remembered, 33% remembered the next
day, 28% remembered the second day. People usually forget the knowledge in order first lastly
than second. For effective to review, students need remember this lesson which they studied. It
operates to test recalled by teachers in class, combining textbooks and notebooks, students will
understand the lesson. From there, students can find answers to their questions during their
studies. It also gives students to think independently. While recollecting the lessons, both the
experience of thinking and the lesson are learned. The brain stimulated more activity. Thus, the
habit of recollecting is not only improves memory, but also fosters the habit of thinking and
learning for students. After remembering, students need to research the lesson in book, because
the content of book is the most generalizes. When student research the book, they can use the pen
to check these important contents, these new ideas, these things that they forget or writing
important things in the lesson. This will be good for remembering because these note can help
their remember contents in lesson or subject when they read again.
Reminder

- Student need to review the lesson instantly. If not, the content will become strange, and much
more time to learn it.
- Reviewing the concepts, recipes, rules, … think about how they formed and effective that,
condition, the ways of demonstrating,… Thank to these question, student will remember more
and longer.
- Students must to revise the lesson many times. When they learned the lesson, they revised.
When they learned chapter or term, they learned it again. Until the final exam, the relationship
between the knowledge in the student does not easily disappear
- The revision needs to be follow its own thinking, by that student needs to write summation for
the subject.
- Student must do the exercises when they revise the lesson. The purpose of doing exercises is to
check the effective the review, improve student to solve the problem and use the knowledge of
their.
(Nguyễn Hoàng Minh Mẫn)
Self-study affair in the world.
Self-study has been created by human very early. At that age, they already cared about how to
make the learners study hard, actively memorize lessons of teacher.
Montaigne one said:” Better that the teachers let the students study by themselves, step forward
by themselves”.


From the XVII century, J.A Comensky (1592-1670); G.Brousseau (1712-1778); J.H. Pestalozzi
(1746-1872); A.Disterweg (1790-1866), in their studied researches were all concentrate on the
positivity, independence, creativity of the students and emphasize that there should be the
encouragement for the learners to acquire knowledge by discovering, finding and thinking in
learning.
The development rapidly of psychology in the XX century, many teaching methods were born. It
asserts the decisive role of the students in learning, lowered the function of the teachers and also

complicated the teaching process. In the other side, these methods require a highly standard from
the learner and the teacher so that it is difficult to widely deploy. Since the middle of the 70s
there have been books or articles on this subject (Benn, S. I. wrote “Freedom, Autonomy and the
Concept of the Person” , 1976; ; Holec H. wrote “Autonomy in Foreign Language
Learning”, 1981).
Beside the process very quickly of the science, scientific education has many considered
progress . One of that progress is the closer connection between traditional teaching( teachers are
the people launching the information, students receive information through the lesson on the
class) and the modern teaching points( students are the positive subject, teachers are the
instructor).
Educators from the United States and the Western Europe at this time unified agree the role of
the learners in teaching process, and also assert the role of the teachers, methods and facilities in
education.
The learner synopsis at this time is no longer important like before, but still being noticed.
According to J.Dewey:” Learners are the sun, surrounding it is all the educational facilities”.


The thought” student-centered” was concretized into many specific methods such as cooperative
method, active method, the method of rising issue, but positive method is researched and
developed the most. According to this method, teacher plays the role stimulate the curiosity,
promote student to self-active. Therefore, learners are the center in teaching process, and
teachers are an expert of learning. In general, the thought “student-centered” in the process of
teaching in particular and the education in general requires the combination between many
methods, and the “active method” is the most essential element. This is the cornerstone to take
measures self-study ability of the students.
Having the agreement of the point of view ahead, the Soviet educators confirmed the huge
potential role of self-activity in school. Especially, many author studied how to efficiently
improve the self-study of learners.
Self-study in Viet Nam.
The issue of self-study in Vietnam has also been noted for a long time. At the beginning of the

feudal period, the education was not develop but had many talented people. Beside the well
teaching of expert teachers, the most important element is self-learning. That’s why they give
prominence to self-study, respect successful self-study examples. But in general, the way to
educate has limited” learners found the imitation, exact but not creative, learners learned by
heart, etc..”.
At the French regime, although the Western education developed strongly, ours still slowly
innovated. Self-study issue was not studied and popular, but in reality appeared the highly self learning need in many social classes.


The issue of true self-study was launched seriously, widely from the revolutionary education was
born (1945), president Ho Chi Minh was the one beginning about morale and teaching method.
He one said:” you must study when you are living”.
No doubt to say that self-study is the brilliant idea of Ho Chi Minh, the valuable instruction, the
durable and successful self-taught example of him and the prince has unchanged so far. In the
60s of the XX century, the thought about self-learning was presented directly and indirectly in
psychological, educational study. Some typical works are Nguyen, C.T “Discuss about selfstudy experience,(1997)”, Tran Kieu, Nguyen Ba Kiem, Thai Duy Tien, Bui Van Nghi,ect… .
Professor, doctor of science is one of the biggest examples of self-study in Vietnam. From the
high school teacher (1947), only by self-learning, he became a famous mathematician. Not only
for basic science, he had many works, articles about education, self-study. He supposed:”
Learning is always associated with self-learning, self-training to transform our personalities. The
good teacher is the one teaching students to self-learning, self-educated”.
Many authors: Nguyen Canh Toan, Nguyen Ky, Vu Van Tao, Bui Hien have asserted: “The selflearning ability of students while still developing is the internal force that determines the
development of learners themselves, teacher is the external force, actor, guide, organization,
director for students self-study. In other words, the process of self-learning, self-study,
personalized learning of the student must be combined with the teacher's teaching and the
process of your collaboration in the classroom, ie the process of socializing learning”.
Entering the current changing period, self-learning in general, and self-study of students in
particular are increasingly concerned and studied because of the important role of self-learning in
teaching and learning in the direction of innovation is learner-centered. We can refer to Nghia
Dan’s article” For creative ability of student”(“ Educational study”, vol.2, 1998.). And teachers

at universities also have research to help turn self-study into an indispensable activity in the
current teaching and learning process.
(Trần Ngọc Khôi)
Self-study, when done correctly, which can be a very effective learning tool, so it can be helpful
when used to prepare for a test or learn an outright subject on your own. These are some best
advantages of it.
First, you could find best way to study with high performance of your brain. There are a lot of
different ways to learn, it may either be studying through books, online journals, or watching
tutorials to learn a particular topic. Explore the method that makes your brain have a better work,
and stick with it. With new study methods, you can find out your strengths and weaknesses of
study skills. By this way, you have to solve problems your own, it could make an amazing
creative mind with valuable experiences. You will learn things that you will remember for your
life time. Your I.Q level will be raise up and you can handle all of issues that you cannot solve
before.
With this style of study, you can understand deeply the concept from your point view and
expand it through your own way from different angles. You can exploit more and more
information of your subject that you learn, improve your weaknesses and increase your strengths.
According to Lailah Gifty Akita (2015), “With self-confidence, self-education and selfdiscipline, you can master the act in any chosen field”. Once you are expert at it, you can
develop the topic that you learned to more related knowledge. Beside those mind effectives,
there are amount of skills that you can get when you choose the lone study way like self-


organized skill, problem solving skill, self-revise skill, repair and do exams skill, self-assess
skill,…
By lone study, you can schedule the topic and go with it by your own pace. You have the
liberty to study whatever you want, according to your needs without being restricted by rigid
"planned books" made by someone else. Moreover, at teaching places, lessons are taught at an
average speed, while students have different grasping speeds, so with this kind of studies, you

can learn with your own speed. It very needed for your knowledge acquisition. After got you
main topic to be learn, you can schedule time and place to learn by easy way. You got your own
timetable. You don't have to follow the timetable and rules made by someone, just study
whenever you want. You got your own environment of studying. Some feel like reading outside,
some studying in library, some may feel comfortable to read louder inside their room, some by
listening exercise at the coffee shop. Choose the place that you like to study at and enjoy selflearning session.
Self-study entails far fewer distractions than other kind of studies, the interruption when you
study at class or with group in the middle of a session can set you back by several minutes. Now,
by lone learn, you got your private space and got a good concentration to study better. When they
see you concentrating with your own work, no one want disturb you.
You just need to pay a little money when you choose lone-study way. You will spend a lot of
money to hire tutors or go to the private class. You just need the internet and book to have a good
self-study session. Moreover, it can be free if you use public internet or go to the library to find
books, borrow some document from your friends. Now you can save a large sum of money if
you become a self-learner.


There are an absolute that knowledge is not only from teachers or tutors. You can find a huge
valuable material for study from many sources like music, documentary film, books… Especially
from the internet which got everything that you need to find. After filtered, there would be
helpful materials that serve for your study. Abraham Lincoln one said: “All I have learned, I
learned from books.”
The one of best benefits of self-study is it can preparing very much for your future. Through
self-study, you can build a strong, valued habit for your own future. If you build habit study and
solo work with concentration, it will also hold you in good stead when you enter job. If you can
do better than others on this count, you will get huge of benefits in future.
(Phạm Thiên Bảo)


References:

Darriulat P,2007, [Việt Nam cần các trường đại học và viện

nghiên cứu tốt hơn]

[Vietnam in need of better universities and laboratories] retrieved Dec 3rd,2017
from http:// />Duong Thi Thanh Huyen, 2013, [quá trình tự học và phương pháp dạy tự học cho sinh viên]
[self-learning process and teaching methods for students], retrieved Dec 3rd, 2017 from
/>Tran Minh Trong, 2008, [Cần đam mê và cả tư duy độc lập trong nghiên cứu] [Be passionate and
need independent thinking in the research], retrieved dec 3rd, 2017 from
/>Kim Dung, [ 30 phương pháp giúp con học tập tốt] [30 ways to help children learn well],
HCMC: People's Army Publishing House, 2015
Vuong Vu, [ 63 thói quen tốt giúp trẻ trưởng thành] [63 good habits help children grow up], Ha
Noi: publisher of cultural information, 2015
Nguyen Dung, 2009, [ Sinh viên Đại học chưa dám tư duy độc lập] [University students do not
dare to think independently], retrieved Dec 3rd, 2017