-1- VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES ĐỖ THỊ THANH BÌNH USING STIMULATING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE 10TH FORM STUDENTS’ ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS: A CASE STUDY AT THUAN AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THUA THIEN HUE ( Sử dụng hoạt động khích lệ để nâng cao kỹ nói tiếng Anh cho học sinh lớp 10: Một nghiên cứu điển hình Trường THPT Thuận An tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế) M.A MINOR THESIS FIELD: ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY Code: 60 14 10 Cohort: MA 17 HANOI ,SEPTEMBER, 2010 -2- VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST- GRADUATE STUDIES ĐỖ THỊ THANH BÌNH USING STIMULATING ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE 10TH FORM STUDENTS’ ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS: A CASE STUDY AT THUAN AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THUA THIEN HUE ( Sử dụng hoạt động khích lệ để nâng cao kỹ nói tiếng Anh cho học sinh lớp 10: Một nghiên cứu điển hình Trường THPT Thuận An tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế) M.A MINOR THESIS FIELD: ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY Code: 60 14 10 Supervisor : Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân HANOI- 2010 -6- TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES AND ABBREVIATIONS viii PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale of the study Aims of the study 3 Research questions 4 Scope of the study Significance of the study Research methodology -7- Design of the study PART B: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1: Theoretical Backgrounds 1.1 General issues 1.1.1 What is ―speaking‖? 1.1.2 What is ―teaching speaking‖? 1.1.3 Factors affecting English speaking abilities 1.1.4 What a successfully speaking learner should 1.2 Stimulating activities 1.2.1 Definition of stimulating activities 1.2.2 Types of stimulating activities in teaching speaking skills 1.2.2.1 Role play 1.2.2.2 Simulation 1.2.2.3 Drama -8- 1.2.2.4 Games 1.2.2.5 Short stories 10 1.2.2.6 Discussion 10 1.2.2.7 Video 10 1.2.2.8 Group work 10 1.2.3 Three most stimulating activities used in speaking class 11 1.2.3.1 Games 11 1.2.3.2 Videos/ DVD in language teaching and learning 12 1.2.3.3 Role play 13 1.2.4 Prior studies related to teaching speaking 15 1.3 Summary 15 Chapter 2: The use of stimulating activities to improve 10th form students’ 16 speaking skill at Thuan An USS -9- 2.1 Current situation of teaching and learning English speaking skills at Thuan An USS 16 2.1.1 An overview of Thuan An Upper Secondary School 16 2.1.2 The English teaching and learning situation at Thuan An USS 16 2.1.2.1 Description of the students at Thuan An USS 17 2.1.2.2 Description of the teachers at Thuan An USS 17 2.1.2.3 The syllabus of teaching and learning 17 2.1.2.4 The English textbook ―Tieng Anh 10‖ 18 2.1.2.5 Classroom facilities 19 2.2 A research on the use of stimulating activities 2.2.1 Research Methodology 20 20 2.2.1.1 Participants of the study 20 2.2.1.2 Research instruments 20 2.2.1.2.1 Classroom observations 20 2.2.1.2.2 Questionnaire 21 - 10 - 2.2.1.2.3 Interview 2.2.2 Data collection procedures 21 21 2.2.2.1 Stimulating activities 21 2.2.2.2 Classroom observations through computer 21 2.2.2.3 Post-survey questionnaires for students 22 2.2.2.4 Post-observation interviews 22 2.2.3 Technique for analyzing data 23 2.3 Summary 23 Chapter 3: Findings and discussion 24 3.1 Data analysis 24 3.1.1 Analyzing result of post-survey questionnaire 24 3.1.2 Analyzing results of classroom observations 26 3.1.3 Result of post-observations interviews 29 - 11 - 3.2 Discussion 33 3.2.1 The use of three stimulating activities to intensify students‘ participation 33 3.2.2 The effectiveness of three stimulating activities used in class 34 3.2.3 The students‘ response on the use of three stimulating activities 34 3.3 Summary 35 PART C: CONCLUSION 1.Summary of the study 36 Recommendations on how to use three stimulating activities in class 37 2.1 For the student 37 2.2 For the teacher 37 2.3 For the administrator 38 Limitations of the study 39 Suggestions for further research 39 REFERENCES 40 - 12 - APPENDICES I Appendix 1: Post-survey questionnaire I Appendix 2: Post-observation interviews V Appendix 3: Lesson extract VI Appendix 4: Lesson extract XII Appendix 5: Transcribe video taped lessons (Unit 12+ Unit 13) XIII Appendix 6: Lesson plans (Unit 12+ Unit 13) XXVIII - 13 - LIST OF TABLES AND ABBREVIATIONS TABLES Table 1, 2, 3, 4: The students‘ attitudes towards the proposed stimulating activities Table 4, 5: The effectiveness of the stimulating activities used in 10A class ABBREVIATIONS MOET: Ministry of Education and Training CLT: Communicative Language Teaching EFL: English Foreign Language USS: Upper Secondary School R: Researcher Ss: Students St: Student ... THUAN AN UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THUA THIEN HUE ( Sử dụng hoạt động khích lệ để nâng cao kỹ nói tiếng Anh cho học sinh lớp 10: Một nghiên cứu điển hình Trường THPT Thuận An tỉnh Thừa Thiên Huế) ... improve 10th form students’ 16 speaking skill at Thuan An USS -9- 2.1 Current situation of teaching and learning English speaking skills at Thuan An USS 16 2.1.1 An overview of Thuan An Upper... Secondary School 16 2.1.2 The English teaching and learning situation at Thuan An USS 16 2.1.2.1 Description of the students at Thuan An USS 17 2.1.2.2 Description of the teachers at Thuan An USS