Technology as a motivating factor to students: an exploratory study at thai nguyen college of mechanics and metallurgy Trần Thùy Dung Trường Đại học KHXH&NV Luận văn ThS. Chuyên ngành:English Teaching methodology; Mã số: 60 14 10 Người hướng dẫn: Phạm Thị Ngọc Phượng Năm bảo vệ:2010 Abstract: In language classrooms, being in unnatural conversational situations, students need motivation more than other learning milieus. Teachers try to capture the attention of students through various methods and techniques. Many researchers in EFL teaching profession have stated that good motivation has appositive effect on foreign language learning. The purpose of this study is to explore how technology impact on students’ motivation in EFL classrooms.For this purpose; a questionnaire was administered to 100 first-year students and 6 language teachers at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy in 2009-2010 academic years. As a result it was found out that technology was a dynamic and challenging motivating factor in EFL classrooms and there may be some suggestions for teachers and administrators focusing on the achievement of teaching objectives Keywords: Tiếng Anh; Phương pháp dạy học; Công nghệ thông tin; Hứng thú học tập. Content: TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION 1 1. Rationale 1 2. The aims of the study 1 3. Scope of the study 2 4. Research questions 2 5. The methods of the study 3 6. Significance of the study 3 7. Overview of the thesis 4 PART II: DEVELOPMENT 5 CHAPTER I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 5 I.1. Education technology and EFL teaching and learning 5 I.2. Computer uses for language teaching and learning. 6 I.3. Applications of technology (IT) in EFL. 8 I.4. Benefits of using Technology in EFL 11 I.5. Motivation in learning English 12 I.6. Effects of Technology on Motivation in EFL. 13 I.7. Limitations of using computer in EFL teaching and learning 15 I.8. Considerations of computer-assisted EFL teaching and learning. 16 CHAPTER II: THE STUDY 17 II. 1. The setting of the study 17 II. 2. Procedure 17 II. 2. 1. Methodology 17 II. 2. 1. 1. Subjects 17 II. 2. 1. 2. Instrumentation 18 II. 2. 2. Data analysis 18 II. 2. 3. Findings 31 II. 2. 4. Implications 33 CHAPTER III: RECOMENDATIONS 35 III. 1. For the administrators 35 III. 2. For the teachers 35 PART III: CONCLUSION 36 I. Conclusion and limitations 36 II. Further directions 36 References 37 Appendices I PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Rationale For centuries foreign language teaching approaches, methods and techniques have been changing because of different factors. Learning a foreign language is a challenging process and students always need motivation and encouragement during this period. Technology might be one of the factors which affects students’ attitude positively in the teaching/ learning process. Adiyaman (2002) defines one way of technological equipment such as radio, TV, cassettes, CD, DVD and two way of educational technological equipment used in EFL classrooms like e-mails, computers, interactive radio and television programs, teleconference and internet conferences. In the process of teaching and learning a foreign language, learners are always the most important factors. To be successful or get failure in understanding well or owning the language bases on the thing how the learners can use or work with that process. It is the very thing that foreign language learners have not acquired as they expected at the beginning of time. We are living in the era of explosion in information technology. The foreign language training supported by Internet technology has appeared at the university level, secondary schools and vocational training in many countries around the world. Vietnam at the application of technology in teaching in schools is also on the momentum of development. Teaching English in Vietnam, especially in Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy where students are specializing in the field of Mechanics, is considered as an interesting but challenging job. Today, learning and teaching English through the computer and learning how to use computer proficient in English through the trends in the foreign language training. In the field of language education, a great deal of emphasis now focuses on using technology (IT) in ETL. The application of ICT (Information and Communication technology) in the language classroom is one of new methods in renovating methods of teaching methodology of Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training. 2. The aims of the study: The study aims to reach the following targets: - to investigate the teachers’ application of technology in order to find the advantages, disadvantages of the teachers in using technology in teaching English for freshman students of Mechanics department at (TCMM) Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy. - to investigate the role of technology on motivation in the language classrooms and to review the students’ ideas on how to use technological equipment effectively. - to discover how IT influences the students’ learning English, their feedbacks towards the use of technology in classroom instructions. - to propose some recommendations for administrators, teachers in improving the quality of teaching and learning English at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy. 3. Scope of the study Due to the limited time, the author only focuses on using technology in teaching English to freshmen students of Mechanics department at TCMM because most students of Mechanics department are at low level, they are uninterested in learning English; they are usually failed in the English exams. It is the main reason why they do not like learning English subject. The purpose of using IT in teaching English at TCMM in order to make the lessons easier and more interesting to learn by presenting the difficult structures and terms popularly will be used in Mechanics with the assistance of Projector, searching information on the internet. This study aimed at using IT in teaching for Freshman Mechanics Majors at Thai Nguyen College of Mechanics and Metallurgy. The respondents of the study will be 100 freshmen students of the two classes (CK 47 A, B). The research will be conducted during the time of the second semester 2009-2010, from December to April in 2009 – 2010. 4. Research questions In odder to achieve the aims mentions in section 2, the present study focused on answering the research question: How does IT help to motivate students in learning English at TCMM? More specifically, it aimed to address the following sub-questions: i. How is IT used in teaching and learning English at TCMM? ii. Do students get motivated by the use of the technology in learning process? iii.Are students and teachers aware of technology application in teaching and learning English? iv. What suggestions do students and teachers have for organization and language teachers? 5. Methods of the study The method used in this study is exploratory research design which utilizes qualitative data collection techniques with an aim to answer the research questions. To conduct the study, the author will carry out two surveys on six English teachers at TCMM and 100 freshman students of Mechanics department at TCMM. Questionnaires were sent to six teachers who have taught students of Mechanics department and 100 freshman students who were selected from two classes (CK47 A, B) of Mechanics department. The questionnaire was designed to find out the role of technology on the motivation of EFL learners in language classes and to put forward some practical ideas in order to make language learning more effective. The aims of survey is to reveal how teachers use technology in EFL classrooms, their problems when working with computer, if there might be, and their needs for better use of computer in the classroom. 6. Significance of the study Teaching English is one of the main responsibilities and priorities of Vietnam Educational System. This study implements to find the way to improve capabilities of students in learning language. The big problem of the freshman students at TCMM is that most of the students are low-motivated. Besides, the problem of what to teach, how to teach and what is the teachers’ way to motivate their students. There are some significances of the study: Educational Controllers. The results of this study will make this group of people aware of the importance of using information technology to take it into the curriculum program in teaching English at TCMM. English Language Teachers. The study will also make English language teachers identify that the application IT is more effective in teaching English for freshmen students. (Most freshman students are non-major English learners). Students. Especially, it will help them be interested in English and not be afraid of learning English and they will find themselves more confident and motivate in spending time on learning English. 7. Overviews of the thesis: The study consists of the following chapters: Part I - Introduction: introduces the rationale for the research, the aims, the scope, and the research questions of the study, the methods, the significance and the organization of the study. Part II – Development: includes three chapters: Chapter I- Literature review: reviews the theoretical background to Education technology and EFL teaching and learning , the applications of technology in ELT, benefits of using technology in ELT, effects of technology on motivation in EFL, the limitations of using technology in ELT, and some considerations using technology in ELT. Chapter II – The study: discusses the detailed methodology to do the research. It comprises participants, instrumentation, and data collection. Next, presents in details the data analysis, findings and implications of the study. 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Technology as a motivating factor to students: an exploratory study at thai nguyen college of mechanics and metallurgy Trần Thùy Dung Trường Đại học KHXH&NV Luận. English teachers at TCMM and 100 freshman students of Mechanics department at TCMM. Questionnaires were sent to six teachers who have taught students of Mechanics department and 100 freshman students