An investigation into problems faced by teachers and the first year students in large multilevel classes at electric power university when teaching and learning speaking skill

VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HA NOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES
*****************

BÙI THỊ MINH

AN INVESTIGATION INTO PROBLEMS FACED BY
TEACHERS AND THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN LARGE
MULTILEVEL CLASSES AT ELECTRIC POWER
UNIVERSITY WHEN TEACHING AND LEARNING
SPEAKING SKILL
NGHIÊN CỨU NHỮNG VẤN ĐỀ GIÁO VIÊN VÀ SINH VIÊN NĂM THỨ
NHẤT TRONG CÁC LỚP HỌC LỚN NHIỀU TRÌNH ĐỘ TẠI TRƯỜNG
ĐẠI HỌC ĐIỆN LỰC PHẢI ĐỐI MẶT KHI DẠY VÀ HỌC KỸ NĂNG
NÓI

M.A MINOR THESIS

FIELD: METHODOLOGY
CODE: 601410

Hanoi – 2010
VIET NAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY-HA NOI


UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGE & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY
OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES *****************

BÙI THỊ MINH

AN INVESTIGATION INTO PROBLEMS FACED BY
TEACHERS AND THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS IN
LARGE MULTILEVEL CLASSES AT ELECTRIC
POWER UNIVERSITY WHEN TEACHING AND
LEARNING SPEAKING SKILL
NGHIÊN CỨU NHỮNG VẤN ĐỀ GIÁO VIÊN VÀ SINH VIÊN NĂM
THỨ NHẤT TRONG CÁC LỚP HỌC LỚN NHIỀU TRÌNH ĐỘ TẠI
TRƯỜNG ĐẠI HỌC ĐIỆN LỰC PHẢI ĐỐI MẶT KHI DẠY VÀ
HỌC KỸ NĂNG NÓI
M.A MINOR THESIS

FIELD: METHODOLOGY
CODE: 601410
SUPERVISOR: TRẦN THANH NHÀN, M.A

Hanoi - 2010


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TABLE OF CONTENTS
CERTIFICATION
ACKNOWKEDGEMENTS
ABSTRACT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
PART A: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................
1. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY..........................................................................................
2. AIMS OF THE STUDY ......................................................................................................

3. RESEARCH QUESTIONS .................................................................................................
4. SCOPE OF THE STUDY....................................................................................................
5. METHODS OF THE STUDY .............................................................................................
6. DESIGN OF THE STUDY..................................................................................................
PART B: DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................
CHAPTER I: LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................
I.1. Large multilevel classes ....................................................................................................
I.1.1. Definitions of large multilevel classes ............................................................................
I.1.2. Challenges and benefits of teaching a large multilevel class............................................
I.1.2.1. Challenges ...................................................................................................................
I.1.2.2. Benefits .......................................................................................................................
I.2. An overview of speaking skills ..........................................................................................
I.2.1. Roles and status of speaking in language learning and teaching ......................................
I.2.2. Characteristics of a successful speaking activity ...........................................................
I.2.2.1.High learner‟s talking time .........................................................................................
I.2.2.2. High motivation.........................................................................................................


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I.2.2.3. Even participation.......................................................................................................................... 12
I.2.2.4. An acceptable level of language................................................................................................. 12
CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................... 13
II.1. Setting of the study............................................................................................................................. 13
II.1.1. An overview of Electric Power University and English courses at EPU............................ 13
II.1.2. Learners at Electric Power University........................................................................................ 14
II.1.3. Teachers at Electric Power University........................................................................................ 15
II.1.4. Teaching and learning conditions................................................................................................. 15
II.2. Methodology......................................................................................................................................... 16
II.2.1. Methods of the study....................................................................................................................... 16

II.2.2. Description of data collection instruments & procedures...................................................... 17
II.2.2.1.Subjects............................................................................................................................................ 17
II.2.2.2. Instruments..................................................................................................................................... 17
II.2.3. Data collection and data analysis procedures............................................................................ 18
CHAPTER III: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS......................................................................... 19
III.1. Current situations of teaching and learning English at EPU................................................... 19
III.2. Difficulties in teaching &learning English speaking skills in large multilevel classes.....20
III.3. teachers‟ and students‟ attitudes towards teaching and learning speaking skills
24
III.4. Teachers‟ current methods and techniques for English language speaking teaching .........
24
III.5. Teachers‟ and students‟ evaluation on the effectiveness of teaching and learning through
group work and pair work activities in large multilevel classes....................................................... 30
CHAPTER IV: RECOMMENDATIONS.......................................................................................... 35
IV.1. SOME GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TEACHERS.......................................... 35
IV.1.1. Understanding individual students as much as possible in large class English teaching


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35
IV.1.2. Clarifying learning goals to inspire the motivation and interest of the students .............
35
IV.1.3. Use of group work and collaborative learning......................................................................... 36
IV.1.4. Foster the students' independent learning abilities and reduce their dependence on
teachers........................................................................................................................................................... 37
IV.1.5. Form the students‟ habit of speaking in the class................................................................... 37
IV.1.6. Use different learning materials and different teaching forms............................................. 38
IV.2. SOME ACTIVITIES FOR USE IN LARGE MULTILEVEL CLASSES............................ 39
IV.2.1. Using information gap activities................................................................................................. 39

IV.2.2. Using role plays............................................................................................................................... 39
IV.2.3. Using communicative games....................................................................................................... 40
IV.2.4. Using Discussions or opinion-sharing activities..................................................................... 40
VI.2.5. Using project presentations.......................................................................................................... 41
VI.2.6. Using interviews and surveys...................................................................................................... 42
PART C: CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................ 44
REFERENCES .........................................................................................................................
APPENDICES .........................................................................................................................