Investigating the difficulties in reading English for specific purposes experienced by the Second-year students at Thai Nguyen University of Technology

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES
*****************

HOÀNG THỊ THU

INVESTIGATING THE DIFFICULTIES IN READING
ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES EXPERIENCED BY
THE SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS AT THAI NGUYEN
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
(KHẢO SÁT NHỮNG KHÓ KHĂN TRONG VIỆC HỌC ĐỌC
TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM
THỨ HAI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KỸ THUẬT CÔNG NGHIỆP
THÁI NGUYÊN)

MINOR THESIS
Field: English Teaching Methodology
Code: 601410

Hanoi - 2011


VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES
*****************

HOÀNG THỊ THU

INVESTIGATING THE DIFFICULTIES IN READING

ENGLISH FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES EXPERIENCED BY
THE SECOND-YEAR STUDENTS AT THAI NGUYEN
UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
(KHẢO SÁT NHỮNG KHÓ KHĂN TRONG VIỆC HỌC ĐỌC
TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH CỦA SINH VIÊN NĂM
THỨ HAI TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC KỸ THUẬT CÔNG NGHIỆP
THÁI NGUYÊN)

MINOR THESIS

Field: English Teaching Methodology
Code: 601410
Supervisor: M.A Nguyen Minh Ha

Hanoi – 2011


TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION

i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ii

ABSTRACT

iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

iv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

vii

LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES

viii

PART ONE: INTRODUCTION

1

1. Rationale

1

2. Aims of the study

1

3. Methods of the study

2

4. Scope of the study

2

5. Organization of the study

2

PART TWO: DEVELOPMENT

4

Chapter 1: Literature review

4

1. The nature of reading

4

1.1 Definition of reading and reading comprehension

4

1.2 Reading process

4

1.3 Reading comprehension skills

7

2. ESP reading

8

2.1 Definition of ESP

8

2.2 Reading skills in ESP

9

2.3 ESP reading materials

9

3. Reading difficulties for non-native learners

10

3.1 Reading skills problems

10

3.2 Language problems

11

3.3 Cultural and background knowledge and reading difficulties

12

4. Summary

13

Chapter 2: Investigation into the current situation of teaching and
learning ESP at TNUT

14


1. Introduction to Thai Nguyen University of Technology

14

2. Syllabus, materials and assessment

14

3. Teachers and methods of teaching

14

4. Students

15

5. Summary

15

Chapter 3: Research Methodology

16

1. Research questions

16

2. The participants

16

3. The data collection instrument

17

4. Procedure for data collection

18

5. Data analysis

18

Chapter 4: Findings and discussion

19

1. Students’ attitude towards ESP reading

19

2. Students’ opinion of ESP reading difficulties

20

2.1 In the area of vocabulary

20

2.2 In the area of grammar

22

2.3 In the area of discourse

24

2.4 In the area of reading skills

26

2.5 In the area of background knowledge

27

2.6. Rank order of ESP reading difficulties

28

3. The causes of difficulties

30

3.1 The reading materials

30

3.2 The teachers

31

3.3 The learners

31

4. Students’ recommendations for improving reading

32

5. Summary

32

Chapter 5: Pedagogical implications

34

1. Making ESP reading interesting and useful

34

2. Developing ESP reading materials

34

2.1 Adjusting and improving reading exercises

34

2.2 Updating reading texts in the coursebook

35

3. Training students to become efficient readers

35


3.1 Making students aware of the nature of reading process

35

3.2 Making students fully aware of their purpose of reading

35

3.3 Teaching students a variety of reading strategies

36

3.4 Encouraging students to develop extensive reading habits

37

4. Improvement of teachers’ teaching techniques in the classroom

37

4.1 Employing three phases in ESP reading lessons

37

4.2 Giving homework and checking the previous lessons frequently

38

4.3 Adjusting teaching time and imposing time limits

38

5. Summary
PART THREE: CONCLUSION

39
40

1. Conclusion

40

2. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further study

40

References

42

Appendices
APPENDIX A

I

APPENDIX B

VIII

APPENDIX C

XII


ABSTRACT
As we all know, reading is one of the most effective ways to obtain knowledge. For
students at Thai Nguyen University of Technology, in learning English, especially
English for electrical and mechanical engineering, it is an important skill which is paid
more attention than other skills because they will have to read English materials related

to their future jobs. However, they encounter a lot of difficulties when reading and do
not get good marks. So what are the difficulties that they face during reading ESP
materials? And what hinders their reading comprehension?
This study aims to explore the areas of difficulties in ESP reading experienced by
second-year students at Thai Nguyen University of Technology and the causes of their
unsuccessful reading comprehension. To collect data for the study, a survey
questionnaire was done on 100 second-year students randomly chosen from K45.
The results of study have shown that our students have difficulties in such areas as
vocabulary, grammar, discourse, and reading skills and background knowledge. Their
sources of difficulties are: inadequate linguistic knowledge, unsuitable reading
materials, the teaching methods of teachers and negative attitude of students. This
study also suggests some ways to reduce their difficulties when reading ESP materials
to get better results.


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