Motivating 10th grade students in a speaking skill lesson at ham rong high school

THANH HOA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HAM RONG HIGH SCHOOL
INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE
THEME
MOTIVATING 10th GRADE STUDENTS IN A
SPEAKING SKILL LESSON AT HAM RONG HIGH SCHOOL
	 Researcher: Nguyen Thị Xuan Oanh
 	Function: Teacher
 	Work place: Ham Rong High School
 	Research field: English
THANH HOA 2019
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays Speaking English is very important in our life especially to the young, however, there are some students who were good at English, passed entrance university exams with mark 9 or 8 in English, but at University their English speaking skill was bad. They had to go to the English center to add their English speaking skill. This is the problem I have been thinking for a long time. The English which students have learnt at school is not small but there is little chance for them to use English to communicate to other people by speaking at school. There are few foreigners in Thanh Hoa city, where my school is situated so my students don’t have much opportunities to practise speaking English to them. In my experience I want students to make chances themselves to practise speaking English in their class and school. The English speaking environment appears in front of them. 
II. CONTENT
1. Aims of study 
Facilitate students’ process of learning speaking skill
Suggest some models used for practicing speaking English to both acquaintances and strangers at school 
2. Scope of study
The study only focuses on introducing the techniques helping students in grade 10 at Ham Rong high school to motivate in speaking English acquaintances and strangers at school through the models designed for optional lessons and out-door activities. From the result of application of the technique, suggested models will be given to improve teaching speaking skill to students at Ham Rong high school.
3. Background of the problems
In the optional lessons of Tieng Anh 10, our English group has composed the program that we have used to teach in our school for years, and in the lessons students are given many exercises to do. Most of these exercises are written ones so that students are fed up with the lessons. They do not want to learn a language in this way so that in some classes students have four English lessons a week but their English speaking skill is not good. After four years of studying in lower secondary school and one year in upper secondary school, most students hardly use English to communicate to other people. With what I have learned from my colleagues and my experience in my teaching life, I show my little experience to help students motive in speaking skill in the optional lessons of Tieng Anh 10.
4. Measure
4.1. At class
According to the topic of each unit, some different pictures are collected and printed in colour. After each unit, there are two or three optional lessons. I deliver each table a picture relating to the topic and guide students how to do with these pictures. They look at the pictures, work on group to find out answers to the questions about their pictures. The questions are divided into different kinds to make students to observe and think more about the pictures and things that relating to the pictures. The teacher is willing to answer the students’ questions when they do not know the answers. Good students can answer the questions and explain, not good students can give short answers without explaining. They work in groups for about 7 minutes and then each table selects two students to go to the board to ask and answer about the picture they have worked with. The other students look at the picture and take notes what they have listened to and then the teacher choose one student report what they have taken notes to the class.
4.2. Outdoor activities
After 8 Units in the first semester, students are used to speaking in front of the class, they are asked to go out to interview other students in grade 12 who are good at English to get some information and then they report the information to the class.
The information and the questions are discussed and pre-practised carefully at class in 2 periods with the teacher’s help.
4.3. Models 1: Indoor activities (The first semester)
4.3.1. Unit 1: A day in the life of.
* Before conversation
Pictures and questions are shown:
1. A farmer/ Peter
2. A writer/ Linda
3. A student/ John
4. A singer/ Jesca
5. A doctor/ Mary
6. A fisher man/ Ann
7. A taxi driver/ Ana
8. A tour guide/ Barbara
9. A teacher/ Bush
10. A gate keeper/ Dean
11. A journalist/ Lan
 Questions: 
1. What is your picture about? à It is about a .
2. What is his/ her name?
3. What is her/ his job?
4. What does she/he do every day?
5. Does she/ he like her/ his job? Why/ why not?
6. Do you like this job? Why do you think about it?
7. What job do you want to get in the future? And why do you want get 	the job?
8. What do you do for your career?
* While conversation
After working in the group, they choose two students in their group to 	practice asking and answering the questions.
A singer/ Jesca
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
It is about a singer
2. What is his/ her name?
Jesca
3. What is her/ his job?
She is a singer
4.What does she do every day?
In the morning she gets up late. After getting up, she goes to the gym room to do morning exercise and she has breakfast in the restaurant with her husband. In the morning she spends an hour to some new songs. In the afternoon, she teaches children how to sing at a singing club. She gets home at about half past four and prepares for singing at theatres, or modern restaurants. 
Sometimes she sings at the meetings or conference.
5. Does he/she like her/ his job? Why/ why not?
- Yes, she does. Because she likes singing/ when she sings she feels 	happy.
- No, she doesn’t. Because she can’t sing
6. Do you like this job? Why do you think about it?
- Yes, I do. I think it is an interesting job.
- No, I don’t. I think it is an interesting job but I can’t do 	it.
7. What job do you want to get in the future? And why do you want get 	the job?
I want to become a doctor because I can treat my family, relatives and 	friends.
8. What do you do for your career?
From now, I will study harder, especially 3 subjects: Math, Chemistry, Biology.
* After the conversation
One student is chosen to report:
This is Jesca. She is a singer. In the morning she gets up late. After getting up, she goes to the gym room to do morning exercise and she has breakfast in the restaurant with her husband. In the morning she spends about an hour singing some new songs. In the afternoon, she teaches children how to sing at a singing club. She gets home at about half past four and prepares for singing at theatres, or modern restaurants. 
Sometimes she sings at the meetings or conference.
4.3.2 Unit 2: School talk
* Before conversation
Pictures and questions are shown:
 The pictures are about 10 students who are good at Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography, Literature, English, Information technology and gymnastics. 
1. Mary/ England/ Literature
2. Viet Ha/ Vietnam/ English
3. Barbara/ America/ Information technology
4. Dean/ Canada/ gymnastics
5. Bonshoo/ Korea/ Geography
6. Chellily/ China/ History
7. Peter/ English/ Math
8. Linda/ France/ Physics
9. John/ Australia/ Chemistry
10. Jesca/ Singapore/ Biology
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
2. What is his/ her name?
3. Where is she/ he from?
4. Do you know how old she/ he is?
5. What subject is she/ he good at 
4.What does she do every day?
5. Do you like this subject? 
6. What subject are you good at?
* While conversation
After working in the group, they choose two students in their group to 	practise asking and answering the questions.
Viet Ha/ Vietnam/ English
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
It is about a student.
2. What is his/ her name?
She is Viet Ha.
3. Where is she/he from?
She is from Vietnam.
4. Do you know how old she is?
She is about 16 years old.
5. What subject is she good at?
She is good at English.
4.What does she do every day?
She goes to school in the morning. In the afternoon, she goes to the English speaking club to practise speaking English with her friends. Sometimes she goes to the park to speak English with foreigners. In the evening, she watches English news program on television and then she does homework until half past ten.
5. Do you like this subject? 
Yes, I do. But my English is not good. 
6. What subjects are you good at?
 I am good at Math. Because it is a useful subject.
* After the conversation
One student is chosen to report:
Viet Ha/Vietnam/ English
Viet Ha is a Vietnamese student. She is about 16 years old. She is good at English.
She goes to school in the morning. In the afternoon, she goes to the English speaking club to practise speaking English with her friends. Sometimes she goes to the park to speak English with foreigners. In the evening, she watches English news program on television and then she does homework until half past ten.
4.3.3 Unit 3: People’s back ground
* Before conversation
Pictures and questions are shown:
 Pictures of some famous people in Vietnam and in the world.
1. An Thuyen / music poet
2. Nam Cao/ writer
3. Ronaldo/ footballer
4. Nguyen Du/ poet
5. Trinh Cong Son/ music composer
6. Cong Vinh/ footballer
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
2. What is her his/ name?
3.When was she/ he born
4. Where was she/ he born?
5.What is she/he famous for?
6. What is her/his background?
7.Do you want to be famous? Why/ why not?
8. Do you know any famous people in your homeland? And tell me some 	things about her/him?
* While conversation
After working in the group, they choose two students in their group to 	practise asking and answering the questions.
Cong Vinh/ Footballer
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
It is about a footballer.
2. What is his name?
He is Le Cong Vinh.
3.When was he born?
He was born in 19.
4. Where was he born?
He was born in Quynh Lam village, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An 	province.
5.What is he famous for?
He is famous for his football playing.
6. What is his background?
When he was young, He lived and studied in Quynh Luu district. He was born in a football- loving family, his father was a good footballer. His mother loves football a lot. His sister used to be a student in our school. She is Le Thi Khanh Chi. When his family realized that he was good at football, they sent him to Song Lam football team to learn and play football and his football career started since then.
7. Have you ever met him?
No, I didn’t. I have seen him on TV many times.
8. Do you want to be famous? Why/ why not?
Yes, I do. Because When I am famous, many people know and pay attention to me
9. Do you know any famous people in your home land? and tell me some things about them?
Yes. He is my uncle. He is a singer. He sings very well. Many people know him.
* After the conversation
One student is chosen to report.
Cong Vinh / Footballer
Le Cong Vinh is a football player. He was born in Quynh lam village, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province in 1985. He is famous for his football playing. When he was young, he lived and studied in Quynh Luu district. He was born in a football loving family, His father was a good footballer. His mother loves football a lot. His sister used to be a student in our school. She is Le Thi Khanh Chi. When his family realized that he was good at football, they sent him to Song Lam team to learn and play football and his football career started since then. He plays very well. He is seen on TV many times.
4.3.4. Unit 4: Special education
* Before conversation
Pictures and questions are shown:
1. A deaf children class/ teacher Peter
2. A blind children/ teacher Linda
3. A street children class/ teacher John
4. An autism children class/ teacher Mike
5. A good student class/ teacher Mary
6. A bed students class/ teacher Ann
7. An English speaking class for the old/ teacher Lan Huong
 Questions:
1.What is your picture about?
2. Who teaches this class?
3. How are the students in her/ his class?
4.What does she/he do to teach her/ his students?
5. Does his students understand what she/ he teaches?
6. Does she/ he like her/ his job? Why/ why not?
7.Do you like this job? Why do you think about it?
8. If there were not any class for these people, what would happen with 	them? 
* While conversation
After working in the group, they choose two students in their group to 	practise asking and answering the questions.
An autism children class/ teacher Mike
 Questions:
1. What is your picture about?
It is about an autism children class.
2. Who teaches this class?
Teacher Mike
3. How are the students in his class?
They have autism. They don’t want to talk to any one so it is very hard for him to teach them.
4. What does she/he do to teach her/ his students?
He has to use toys, a lot of things to make them happy and then he gets in touch with them first then make them to talk with him. When the conversation starts, the lesson may begin.
5. Does his students understand what he teaches?
At first they didn’t and now they understand.
6. Does he like his job? 
He likes his job. When his lesson starts it means he can link these people to our society.
7. Why do you think about it?
I think it is very important 
8. If there were not any classes for these people, what would happen with them? 
They would lose contact with our society 
* After the conversation
One student is chosen to report:
An autism children class/ teacher Mike
This is a special class. Teacher Mike teaches this class. The students in this class have autism. They don’t want to talk to any one so it is very hard for him to teach them. He has to use toys, a lot of things to make them happy and then he gets in touch with them first then make them to talk with him. When the conversation starts, the lesson may begin. At first they didn’t understand and now they do understand. He likes his job. When his lesson starts it means he can link these people to our society.
4.4. Models 2: Out-door activities (Second semester)
The people asked for the information are in students in Ham Rong school so the interviews carry out between the second and the third periods or even after the fifth periods.
4.4.1. Before the interview
The information
Period 1
 Questions:
Name: What is your name?
Class: Which class are you in?
The number of students in the class: How many students are there in 	your class?
The head teacher: Who is your head teacher?
What the class is like: What is your class like?
Family:	 Can you tell me somethings about your family?
The number of members: How many members are there in your family?
Father:	What is your father’s job? Where does he work?
Mother: What is your mother’s job? Where does she work?
Other member: 1
Other member: 2.
Other member: 3.
Hobby:	What is your hobby? /What do you usually do in your free time?
The favourite subject: What is your favourite subject at school?
The way to study English well: Your English is Ok. Can you tell me the 	best way to study English?
The job in the future: What job do you want to get in the future?
Some advices: You are big brothers/ sisters in Hoang Mai school. You 	are going to leave our school. Could you give us some advices?
Period 2: Practice at class
Group work:
Students work in groups to ask and answer the questions from 5 to 7 	minutes.
A: What is your name?
B: I am 
A: Which class are you in?
B. I am in class 
A: How many students are there in your class?
B: There are 
A: What is your class like?
B: My class is We are good at We play well/badly. The boys The girls 
A: Who is your head teacher?
B: Our head teacher is
A: What Subject does she/ he teach?
B: She teaches
A: Can you tell me somethings about your family?
B: Yes, I can.
A: How many members are there in your family?
B: There are
A: What is your mother’s job? Where does she work?
B: She is a/an She works in
A: What is your father’s job? And where does he work?
B: He is a  He works in
A: What does your sister/brother do?
B: She/he
Other member: 1.
Other member: 2.
A: What is your hobby? /What do you usually do in your free time?
B: My hobby is
A: What are your favourite subjects at school?
B: I like studying.
A: Your English is Ok. Can you tell me the best way to study English?
B: Yes.
A: What job do you want to get in the future?
B: I want to be a 
A: You are big brothers/ sisters in Hoang Mai school. You are going to 	leave our school. Could you give us some advices?
B: Yes
* Pair work:
Two students in a group are called to ask and answer the questions in front of the class: The other students listen and take notes by filling the information in the poster they have prepared before. After the conversation one student goes to the board to report.
A: What is your name?
B: I am Trang.
A: Which class are you in?
B: I am in class 10A9.
A: How many students are there in your class?
B: There are 45.
A: What is your class like?
B: My class is good. We are good at English, Math and literature. There are only 5 boys. They don’t play football well. They are obedient. The girls are more active.
A: Who is your head teacher?
B: Our head teacher is Mrs. Tran Thi Thuong.
A: What Subject does she teach?
B: She teaches Literature.
A: Can you tell me somethings about your family?
B: Yes, I can.
A: How many members are there in your family?
B: There are 3. They are my parents my sister and me.
A: What is your mother’s job? Where does she work?
B: She is a farmer. She works in Quynh Thien village.
A: What is your father’s job? And where does he work?
B: He is a soldier. He works in Da Nang.
A: What does your sister do?
B: She is a student in Vinh university.
A: What is your hobby? /What do you usually do in your free time?
B: My hobby is reading books. I like reading romantic books
A: What are your favourite subjects at school?
B: I like studying English, Math, history.
A: Your English is Ok. Can you tell me the best way to study English?
B: Yes. The best way to study English better is practising it everyday. In English lessons you have to use English to communicate to your friends and teachers.
A: What job do you want to get in the future?
B: I want to be a teacher of English.
A: You are big brothers/ sisters in Ham Rong school. You are going to leave our school. Could you give us some advices?
B: Yes. You should .
* Individual work:
One student is chosen to report.
She is Trang. She is in class 10A9. There are 45 in her class. Her class is good. They are good at English, Math and literature. There are only 5 boys. They don’t play football well. They are obedient. The girls are more active. Our head teacher is Mrs. Tran Thi Thuong. She teaches Math. There are 3 in Trang’s family. They are her parents her sister and her. Her mother is a farmer. She works in Quynh Thien village. Her father is a soldier. He works in Da Nang. Her sister is a student in Vinh university. Trang’s hobby is reading books. she likes reading romantic booksHer favourite subjects are English, Math, History. Trang says that the best way to study English better is pratising it everyday. In English lessons you have to use English to communicate to your friends and teachers. She advised us
* Group work: Outdoor activities
Good students in grade 12 are given to students to choose.
Each group is asked to go out to interview one of the students in the list to get the information in the poster or more. During the interview the have to use their telephone to record the interview. And then they listen again to write down all the information in the poster. In Class the teacher plays the tape of one group and the groups listen to complete the poster then write a paragraph about it.
The information
Name: 	
Class: .