SỞ SỞGIÁO GIÁODỤC DỤCVÀ VÀĐÀO ĐÀOTẠO TẠOTHANH THANHHỐ HỐ* PHỊNG GD&ĐT (TRƯỜNG THPT )** TRƯỜNG THPT THẠCH THÀNH (*Font Times New Roman, cỡ 15, CapsLock; ** Font Times New Roman, cỡ 16, CapsLock, đậm) SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM (Font Times New Roman, cỡ 15, CapsLock) TÊN ĐỀ TÀI MOTIVATE 11TH GRADERS TO USE IDIOMS IN WRITING EFFECTIVELY TÊN ĐỀ TÀI (Font Times New Roman, cỡ 16-18, CapsLock, đậm) Người thực hiện: Trịnh Thị Liên Chức vụ: Giáo viên SKKN thuộc lĩnh vực (môn): Tiếng Anh Người thực hiện: Nguyễn Văn A Chức vụ: Giáo viên SKKN thuộc lĩnh vực (mơn): Tốn THANH HỐ NĂM 2018 (Font Times New Roman, cỡ 15, đậm, đứng; mục Đơn vị công tác ghi SKKN INDEX Contents Page A INTRODUCTION I THE REASONS FOR CHOOSING TOPIC II RESEARCH PURPOSES III RESEARCH SUBJECTS IV RESEARCH METHODS B CONTENT INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE I THEORETICAL BASIS OF THE PROBLEM II STATE OF THE MATTER RESEARCH III IMPLEMENTING MEASURES IV EFFECTIVENESS OF INITIATIVE 15 C CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 16 16 I CONCLUSION 17 II REQUEST REFERENCES 18 NAMES OF PREVIOUS INITIATIVES 19 A INTRODUCTION I THE REASONS FOR CHOOSING TOPIC No one can deny the importance of English in their lives, especially in a society of integration English is not only necessary in helping students improve knowledge through reading documentary in English or exchanging understandings but also helps them communicate with the others in the international integration stage The entire education, therefore, has the breakthrough in innovation, more and more people focus on how to learn English well English pilot project in the period from 2015 to 2020 is under experimental time at some schools in Thach Thanh district, which puts the teachers under a lot of challenge to meet the increasingly advanced requirements of particular subjects, of society in general Modern English values four skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing Although they are independent skills, they support each other so that students can improve comprehension thoroughly In four skills, my students find writing the most difficult and they consider writing a new skill Like Vietnamese, when students want to write a good essay or a paragraph, they need to have good knowledge about grammar, vocabulary which is appropriate with each type of writing One of the most effective ways to get good results in their writing is that they can use idioms However, remembering an idiom is not easy and using it correctly seems to be more difficult In this situation, the teacher needs to take a serious look at the teaching and learning of writing in general and using of idioms when writing an essay in particular English idioms are as rich and diverse as Vietnamese idioms In fact, an idiom can convey various meanings and how to use it correctly is a matter you should take into consideration Therefore, using idioms reasonably will make your writing effective After two years of struggling, I've learned from experience to form English essay article titled "Motivate 11th graders to use idioms in writing effectively." When carrying out this study, I myself wish my students-especially the students of grade 11 to improve their writing using idioms Perhaps my research is certainly not perfect so I am looking forward to receiving comments from all of you Thank you II RESEARCH PURPOSES The purpose of this topic is to make my students aware of the importance of idioms writing as well as in communication to create a habit of using English idioms Through using idioms in writing students can expand vocabulary,express ideas more abundantly and eventually get better results in writing III RESEARCH SUBJECTS The research focuses on two contents: - Creating the habits of using the idioms in writing for students of grade 11 - Guiding students to use the idioms when writing IV RESEARCH METHODS The method I have used: - Research methodology built on theoretical basis - Scientific research method - Investigation method - Experimental method - Comparative method - Intuitive Method - Methods of analysis summed up the experience B CONTENT INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE I THEORETICAL BASIS OF THE PROBLEM Writing an essay or a paragraph plays an important role in everyday life, in scientific research, as well as at schools English writing is an important skill for students to complete their synthesis capabilities In their writing students express their opinions, their views on a particular issue in life But how can the students write an essay or a paragragh well? Applying the language of the essay is an important factor It is one of the most important elements to decide the success of writing When using expressions in writing, however, the user must understand the implications of the new idioms used because the expression in English are the sayings that are not intended to common sense, the meaning of an idiom is not easily recognized What language is also a collection of idioms, phrases used to refer figurative meaning instead of literally living meanings.When learning English, understanding the common idioms will help students better their reading and listening to what native people really wants to say An essay is usually divided into parts: Introduction, body and conclusion In an essay students must have at least passages, a section for the introduction, a passage to the post and the body parts are all three segments According to the logical sequence, the introduction always indicate the topic that you want to develop next, followed by the additional proof that the student is given at the introduction and finally summed up his ideas mentioned in the end all To write a good essay or paragraph, the writer must know how to use words II STATE OF THE MATTER RESEARCH Most of the students at high school find it hard to write an essay as well as a paragragh because they are lacking in words and phrases to express their ideas so using idioms in writing is one of the best solutions Subject English is a foreign language Applying to write essays is so often difficult for students to understand and apply well Writing abilities in particular, writing essay needs time and asks the students to master the grammatical structures, using language flexibly Writing essays, as well as writing a Vietnamese essay requires students to make great efforts to get good results To the teachers In recent years, English teachers who have been invested more in knowledge and teaching assistant equipment However, to meet the standard in accordance with the requirements of the subjects in English is still limited, writing is a difficult skill which asks teachers to invest more in lessons Besides, guiding students uses the structural grammar, teachers have to motivate them to apply flexible language structures including idioms in writing The use of proverbs in English during the teacher's lectures is very limited, because teachers have not really seen the role of expression in lessons Add to that the proverbs are fixed meaning- phrase should require users to be very careful language appropriate to the context, situation To the students Until now students have learnt English only in the passive form (Teachers say they understand such games), they not have the concept of investment for subject because they consider that English is a foreign language So the preparation of new and old studying at home is also deal, sketchy, especially in the regular classes Students are not really interested in learning English now, particularly writing skills because of limited vocabulary, structures did not remember, practice led to face many difficulties The 11th grade students in the second year have been accessed to English courses in secondary school Students may not be led to the basics Therefore the use of proverbs in English for students is difficult Here are some essays of students before being taught to use the idioms when writing Here are the results of the current situation without application essay writing using English phrases The survey used the idiom in academic subjects in English Using Number Use less Never use effective of students No % No % No % 44 0 6,8 41 93,2 Number of students 44 The survey used idioms in English essayist Good use Use less No use No % No % No % 0 0 44 100 From the results of this situation, to help students get better results in the essay, I have read the document, consult with colleagues and receive information from the student to get the solution and specific measures for the application on your topic III IMPLEMENTING MEASURES Create students the habit of using the idiom in English subject 1.1 Create routines for students to use the idiom through the activities of teachers In a forty-five- minute lesson, we have got many formal activities, and other activities which depend on the content of the lesson Normally, we have three main types of post are: The introduction - lesson corpus, skill lessons, practice grammar lessons However, during a lecture, teachers often diverge the lesson five main sections are: Warm up, presentation, practice, production, and homework Flexible use of proverbs in parts of the lesson will help the class atmosphere less tense, highly effective Besides the main activity in the part of the lesson, many pedagogical situations can occur during the lecture such as: Students are sometimes lack of focus, or seem to get tired in class Use a proverb in time is also a solution to attract the attention and create interest for students in learning In another activities, such as extracurricular activities, daily communication The teachers should use the idioms at the same time with encouraging them to use This approach also contributes to create idiomatic usage habit for students Here are some specific solutions: 1.1.1 Use idioms in lecture activities I Warm up: Entering the class the teacher can: + Joking a few sentences to break the ice as: "Out of sight, out of mind "or "No see, no feeling" or "Cleanliness is next to godliness"……………[1] + Asking a few questions (open questions): How are you today? Is it hot? Have you ever been to Hanoi? Today, I’m under the weather [2] Or: What’s the weather like today?- It’s raining cats and dogs.[2] Based on the responses of students, the teacher might say: Today, I'm in good spirits or in a bad mood because you are good for you.[1] + Or the teacher can check the old posts in the warm up, after calling one or two students to examine ex- post Teachers can encourage students to remain calm to answer questions such as: "Take it easy" or "Good for you" or "Never say die” or "Burning the candle at both ends" [1] II Presentation: Pre - vocabulary: The teacher introduces vocabulary in different procedures: + Suggestions from past pictures or real objects In this case, the teacher can use the proverb "Seeing is believing"[1] + Explaining new words and asks students to guess the word If students respond well, teachers can compliment them with a proverb "Good for you" Pre - model: (if applicable) The teacher gives some examples then asks students to make sentences then presents the model sentences The teacher introduces grammatical sentences then writes on the board and asks students to write down and memorize In this case, the teacher can use the following proverb to remind them all carefully documented "Better safe than sorry” [1] Set the scene: Today we are going to learn about The teacher might say: It’s "a piece of cake" or "Burning the candle at both ends” [1] III Practice: Teachers have students practice During the practice, the teachers encourage students, sometimes urge them through the following phrases: "Take it easy" or "Good for you" or "Never say die” or “Burning the candle at both ends "or "Better late than never" or "Practice makes perfect" "Don’t sweat it" IV Production: - The teacher asks students to summarize their knowledge which they have learned - The teacher gives comments on the lesson by using a proverb "Travelling forms a young man" or "Knowledge is power” [1] V Homework: - The teacher asks students to: + Learn and memory + Do the exercises in workbook + Prepare the next part - Teachers can use some of the following proverbs to remind children to study at home: "Make hay while the sun shines" or "Theory accompanies with practice" or "Never say die" or "Time is money" or "Time and tide wait for no man" … [1] Example: Unit 8: Celebrations Lesson 1:Reading I Warm up: Brainstormings - Ask students to add some more Christmas - Give comment: "Good for you" II Presentation: Valentine Celebrations Pre - vocabulary: - Elicit from the pictures or realities because "Seeing is believing" banner (n) – băng rôn agrarian (n) - farmer peach blossom (n) – hoa đào apricot blossom (n)- hoa mai lucky money (adj)- tiền lì xì to be made from (vp) – làm từ… - Ask students to read chorally and individaully - Check vocabulary: Rub out and remember - Give comments "Take it easy" Set the scene: Today we are going to learn about Unit 8: The Celebrations -Reading And now "Turn over a leaf" III Practice Activity 1( task 2-page 92): Decide whether the statements are true(T) or False(F) - Ask students to work individually to decide whether the statements are true(T) or False(F) then compare with partners And now remember "Practice makes perfect”.[1] Answer key: F F T F T F Activity 2: Answer the following questions -T lets the students play a game: Lucky celebrations - And please "Burning the candle at both ends" Answer key: IV Production - Ask students consolidate what they have learnt (Vocabulary, content of the text) - The teacher makes sure once more and says that after the lesson we can learn much about the celebrations in the world no doubt that "Travelling forms a young man" V Homework Ask students to + Learn by heart the vocabulary + Talk about Tet holiday in Viet Nam + Prepare the next lesson And remember "Make hay while the sun shines" 1.1.2 Use idioms in pedagogical situations There are many pedagogical situations can occur during the lectures as: + Students lack of concentration, or expression fatigue Teachers can remind students of the proverb: "Bite Your tongue" or "Silence is gold" you should be all ears [1] + Students not write articles or not homework, the teacher might say: "No pains, no gains " or "Practice makes perfect” + Students love to express and get attention In this situation the teacher can say: You are in cloud nine or Please Give him/and her a hand .[1] 1.1.3 Use idioms in daily communication Besides the activities in the lesson In other activities, such as: Daily activities, teachers can still use idioms to communicate with students Create the habit for students to learn the language + Meet and greet each other Long time no see how are you? Are you so far so good? No, I'm under the weather + Meet and talk compliment outfits, personality : Good morning, Oh! You look so nice to day Look at your wearing, I know why you like green That why it is said that "You are what you wear" + Meet a student who makes a mistake like: (late for school ) My dear, "Time is money” Don't that again + Meet a student who is lazy and not concentrate on the lesson: Time and tide wait for no man 1.1.4 Use idioms from extracurricular activities It is necessary that a teacher creates the interest in learning English for students so that they are keen on this subject One of the best way to make them interested in the subject is that they can take part in extracurricular activities At my school, we sometimes organize extracurricular periods or programs in which we focus on providing students with idioms, how to use them in special contexts through English songs, articles in English For example, in one class meeting, my students had a good time to enjoy the song “Seasons in the sun” Goodbye Papa, please pray for me I was the Black Sheep of the Family You tried to teach me right from wrong Too much wine and too much song Wonder how I got along” [3] In this song, an idiom is used namely “A black sheep” When teaching my students the song, I the following: + Explain the idiom “A black sheep” (of the family) - someone who is thought to be bad person by the rest (of the family) + Give them example “He is a black sheep of his family His family suffers from his over expenditure on playing games” 10 + Give some situation when the idiom is used "You can use this idiom when writing about the disadvantages of computer games to students” Or in the song “Proud of you” we can see the idiom once upon a time in the following “Star in the sky Wishing once upon the time-Give me love, Make me smile Till the end of life-Hold my up hold me tight Lift me up to touch the sky-Teaching me to love with heart Helping me open my mind” [3] “Once upon a time” used at the beginning of: - Children’s stories to mean "A long time ago": Once upon a time there was an ugly girl - Used when referring to something that happened in the past, especially when showing that you feel sorry that it no longer happens: Once upon a time people knew the difference between right and wrong, but nowadays nobody seems to care In the topic: "Talk about your memorable day" Students can use this idiom in the conclusion part: That day passed once upon a time however it is still deep in my heart Students can easily remember 19 idioms through the song "That Bat Ngo"[3] 1.2 Guide students to accumulate idiomatic words and structural capital increase 1.2.1 Recording all the proverbs that teachers have presented The first phase, when using idioms, teachers must write on the board to all that Vietnamese translation then asks the students to copy into their notebooks It will gradually form the habit of using idioms for students 11 1.2.2 Learning how to remember the proverb When students have had a number of proverbs, teachers should guide students memorize so effectively: + Remember according to groups (key word) as: The only parts group, only color groups, time-only group The teacher asks students to take notes in a notebook divided by such systems Ex: Weather idiom group On cloud nine Under the weather Only parts group: All ears A big mouth The apple of one’s eye + Find and Compare the English idioms and Vietnamese similar meaning, it is also remembering idioms efficiency and improve translation Ex: I have the English idioms are: "New one in, old one out" Vietnamese as "Có nới cũ" Or "Better late than never" translated "Muộn khơng" Or "Silence is gold" means "Im lặng vàng" etc 1.2.3 Encourage students to use regular expressions to create a habit Idioms in English are often difficult to remember so teachers need to encourage students to: + Give exercises, questions which may require the use of idioms + Give the high scores if students use the idiom in context + Compliment or praise if the student is referred to a proverb in the session Guide students to use the idiom when writing essays Using idioms in essay writing is academic To this, teachers guide students to use flexibly in all three parts of the essay The teacher should give attention to students "The idiom often does not act as a topic sentence that is only a supplementary sentence." The expression is used in the parts of the essay as follows: 2.1 Intro (Introduction) - The idiom in the introduction may serve as Threads Examples: "A friend in need is a friend indeed " Do you agree or disagree? or "You are what you wear" Do you agree or not? With this format students can open the following article There is an undeniable fact that friendship plays an important role in one’s life However, it is necessary to distinguish between the bad and good friends to get prevented from being cheated and get benefited all through the life respectively as the saying goes " A friend in need is a friend indeed” - The idiom could be the supplement for threads 12 Example: The topic is "Secondary Students should wear school uniform” students can recommend the following: In modern society, people are easy to choose their own clothes which are not only nice but also convenient However "You are what you wear", therefore, It is necessary for secondary school students to wear uniforms when they are at school 2.2 Body The idiom in the body usually does not act as a topic sentence that is only a supplementary sentence Example: Unit4: Writing-Write a passage about benefits of the doing volunteer work You can follow the following cues - Doing volunteer work means helping people Useful idioms: give sb a hand, many a little makes a mickle…) -Doing volunteer work means helping yourselves In other words, you can benefit a lot through doing volunteer work.( connects you to others; is good for your mind and body; can advance your career….) Useful idioms: travelling forms a young man, be on cloud nine… 2.3 Conclusion Restated introduction by extension all other + If the proverb is the sentence threads in the introduction may be written as follows: Example: "Good health is more important than money" Do you agree or disagree? For all reasons, I'm convinced that "Good health is more important than money" We are healthy, we have everything + If the proverb is not the problem, then we can all write as follows: Example: Unit 5: Writing In conclusion, we cannot deny the benefits of the Internet in our life The internet makes our world a small village As the proverb "It was brilliant" Illustrative lecture.(extra class) UNIT 4: VOLUNTEER WORK Write an essay about benefits of the doing volunteer work( about 250 words) Learn more new I.Warm up: Brainstormings Help the things others Benefits of doing volunteer work vvolunteer 13 What Are the Benefits of Volunteer Work? - Ask students to feed back - Give comment: "Good for you" II Pre – writing: Set the scene: We are going to write a passage about benefits of volunteer work Reading and discussion Have Ss read some articles about benefits of doing volunteer work( below is an example) and the reading text of unit 4(textbook) Have student to discuss the outline of the essay: Outline: -Introduction: (Paraphrase question,thesis statement,…) -Body: +Main body paragraph 1: topic sentence, supporting ideas Ex: Doing volunteer work means helping people Useful idioms: give sb a hand, many little makes a mickle…) +Main body paragraph 2: topic sentence, supporting ideas Ex: Doing volunteer work means helping yourselves In other words, you can benefit a lot through doing volunteer work.( connects you to others; is good for your mind and body; can advance your career….) Useful idioms: travelling forms a young man, be on cloud nine… -Conclusion: summary III While- writing: - Ask students to write a passage individually (use idioms as possible) IV Post- writing: - Ask students to present their writing (some students) -T call some students to give comment 14 - The teacher gives comment and conclusion: Together with writing the correct structure of the article, students can use phrases like the sample to make the essay higher efficiency in terms of language use -T can provide the example essay V Homework: - Prepare "Language Focus" And remember "Burning the candle of both ends" PERIOD 49: UNIT 8: CELEBRATIONS (Writing) I Warm up: Match the celebrations with the pictures Picture a Picture b Picture c Picture d 1.Valentine’s Day 3.Mid-autumn Festival Teachers’ Day National Independence Day 15 -T leads in the lesson: Today we are going to write a description of one of the popular celebrations in Vietnam.(page 96-textbook) - Ask students to feed back - Give comment: "Good for you" II Pre – writing: Reading and discussion -T gives students a model passage about one Teacher’s day and ask students to answer the questions then find out the idioms in the passage Read the description about the Teacher’s Day and answer the following questions Teacher’s Day is one of the popular celebrations in Vietnam This celebration falls on November 20th It is the time when students show their love and respect to the teachers On the streets, people are as thick as ants on that day Students give flowers and best wishes to their teachers Most of Vietnamese Students are proud of this celebration because it is an occasion for them to express their gratitude to their teachers Everybody is in good spirits Where and when is Teacher’s Day celebrated? In Vietnam on the 20th November What is its main purpose? Sts express their love and respect to the teachers What are its main activities? Sts give flowers and best wishes to the teachers How people feel ?-They are happy The outline: -Name of the festival -Time of the festival -Purpose of the festival -Main activities -Your feeling about the festival(whether you like it or not and the reasons) 16 Useful idioms: -A good beginning makes a good ending; the more, the merrier; as playful as a kitten; as thick as ants; in good spirits; over the moon, ….[2] III While- writing: - Ask students to write a passage individually (use idioms as possible) Useful idioms: -A good beginning makes a good ending; the more, the merrier; as playful as a kitten; as thick as ants; in good spirits; over the moon….[2] IV Post- writing: - Ask students to present their writing (some students) -T call some students to give comment - The teacher gives comment and conclusion: Together with writing the correct structure of the article, students can use phrases like the sample to make the essay higher efficiency in terms of language use -T can provide the example essay V Homework: - Prepare "Language Focus" And remember "Burning the candle of both ends" IV EFFECTIVENESS OF INITIATIVE After a period of two years applying the mentioned method in writing for the students, the quality of their writing are better and better The students who write the correct structures of this article have flexibility in using language In both her English lessons and games, The children are usually very excited to find a proverb appropriate to the context, the situation of the lesson The students have the habits of using idioms in daily communication and in writing There are the results of the application of the proverb in essay last mid-term examinations The survey used the idiom in academic subjects in English Number of students 44 Using Effective No % 15 34 Use at No % 22 50 Never use No % 16 The survey used idioms in English essayist Number of students 44 Good use No 16 % 36 Use at No 22 % 50 No use No % 14 17 Here are some essays of students have used the idioms when writing Looking at the statistics shows that students know how to apply the proverbs English in school has increased markedly Students know how to apply good idiomatic English in writing The most important thing is that they are more interested in the writing lesson In the examination for gifted students organized by Thanh Hoa Department of education and training on the 9th of March in 2018, my students got awards: Bui Huyen Trang was ranked third; Nguyen Thi Mai got incentive award and Dinh Hoang Nam got incentive award,too In the comparison with many other schools in Thanh Hoa province, Those achievements are so modest However, it is a great effort of a mountainous school as Thach Thanh high school C CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION I CONCLUSION -Writing skill is a difficult but very important one which helps students exercise critical thinking, and the ability to synthesize about a certain matter in life - To write an essay or a paragragh well and attractively, the writer must have basic rules, must know how to apply grammatical structures, and uses diverse linguistic knowledge 18 - Use idioms in writing is a intensively academic technic, however, the user must understand the implications of the idiom because the idioms in English are not easy to understand, their meaning is very different from literary or meaning of each word in the idiom - What language is also a set of idioms, phrases used to refer figuratively instead of literally live, learning English while understanding the common idiom will help students read and hear better what native really wants to say - After a period of application of the teaching practices in grade 11 in Thach Thanh high school both formal class time each afternoon and tutoring time, My students have made much progress in writing, they can use idioms in writing smoothly and naturally II REQUEST To help students interested in writing essays, teachers must completely guide these basic rules while encouraging students to use flexible language structure, use the idiom when writing essays will make pithy prose and rich emotions reach a high level of language use To experience initiatives can be effectively applied, I respect: + Education Department pays more attention to teachers by organizing English classes more thematic advanced to discuss teaching skills, writing skills in particular, to the teachers as I was ironing further arguments about writing + Teachers are more enthusiastic in every lesson they give to students and they can find the best solution to encourage the students to get better results The theme is the experience of myself over the years teaching at high school I am looking forward to the comments from you so that I can fulfill my subject Thach Thanh, May 9th , 2018 I swear this is my own experience initiative CONFIRMATION OF THE HEAD The implementer OF MY SCHOOL Trinh Thi Lien 19 REFERENCES [1] "500 important English idioms" - Flash Oxford [2] New Round-up- book 5,6- English grammar practice by Pearson [3].From the Internet [4] The best English song collection "Sucessful writing"- Upper- Intermdiate by Virginia Evans 20 DANH MỤC CÁC ĐỀ TÀI SÁNG KIẾN KINH NGHIỆM ĐÃ ĐƯỢC HỘI ĐỒNG ĐÁNH GIÁ XẾP LOẠI CẤP PHÒNG GD&ĐT, CẤP SỞ GD&ĐT VÀ CÁC CẤP CAO HƠN XẾP LOẠI TỪ C TRỞ LÊN Kết Cấp đánh đánh giá giá xếp loại xếp loại Năm học đánh giá xếp loại Cấp sở C 2010-2011 implementing comprehension Cấp sở C 2013-2014 TT Tên đề tài SKKN Đổi phương pháp dạy kĩ nghe HS trường THPT Some experience in skills toward teaching English to communicate 21 ... purpose of this topic is to make my students aware of the importance of idioms writing as well as in communication to create a habit of using English idioms Through using idioms in writing students... results in writing III RESEARCH SUBJECTS The research focuses on two contents: - Creating the habits of using the idioms in writing for students of grade 11 - Guiding students to use the idioms. .. of writing When using expressions in writing, however, the user must understand the implications of the new idioms used because the expression in English are the sayings that are not intended to