SKKN Using cooperative learning in teaching speaking competence for the 11th form students

A. INTRODUCTION
I. RATIONALE OF THE STUDY.
	Nowadays English has become more and more important part in Vietnam and it is an international language. Therefore, it has been taught in Vietnam from primary schools to high schools as a compulsory subject. 
	With many years of experience in teaching English at Nguyen Quan Nho high school, I found out that speaking stages are very important in teaching speaking and it also has significant effects on the students’ speaking performance. If students do not prepare well enough they can not speak well. They can not even speak anything. However, my students have met difficulty in oral communication classes. This is, as recognized, due to their little motivation in the English oral classes. Many of my students usually find no interest in speaking English even they are asked to do and some, in other cases, feel less confident when they use English to interact among class members because of their language ability. Therefore, I have tried lots of possible teaching methods in oral class so as to probably change the current situation. Among many teaching techniques for speaking skill I found out that cooperative learning strategy, as group-work learning, has lots of interesting activities from which my students can benefit in English oral classes, for they will get more confidence and chances as well to express their ideas and opinions among group members. My students will feel more motivated when they have chances to engage in a variety of speaking activities such as round robin, three-step-interview (Spencer Kagan), team jigsaw (Sikes and Snapp 1978) or group investigation, etc. By using teaching method of this kind, I hope that my students’ attitude towards English oral class will have a lot of positive changes. They, to large extent, become more activated and ready to work hard to master their speaking skill in all oral communication classes. Therefore, I decided to apply “Using cooperative learning in teaching speaking competence for the 11th form students ” as the topic of my research. 
II. AIMS OF THE STUDY.
	This paper aims at research carried out with 11th graders at Nguyen Quan Nho High School. The main objective of the research was to establish strategies to help students to improve their oral ability in English. Instruments used to collect the data were: lesson plans, student questionnaire, class observation, teacher’s notes and diary and interviews. Considering the data gathered, this research prompted a more cooperative environment among students in the oral process. Finally it was a way to motivate other teachers in the school to work with these kinds of strategies.
1. Research questions
This study is carried out to find the answer to the following questions:
	1. Why do my students become unmotivated in oral communication classroom?
	2. What benefits of cooperative learning can my students accomplish?
	3. What can we do to improve their motivation in oral communication classroom?
2. Definition of specific terms
+ Cooperative Learning: The instructional use of small groups so that students work together to maximize their own and each other’s learning (Johnson & Johnson, 1993). 
+ Motivation: Motivation is defined as the impetus to create and sustain intensions and goal seeking acts (Ames & Ames, 1989).
III. SCOPE OF THE STUDY.
With this study, I put focus on investigating and discovering obstacles or difficulties encountered by students in English speaking lessons at Nguyen Quan Nho high school. From these findings, the internal and external causes are analyzed to give some suggestions for tackling them in order to motivate students and help improve students’ speaking competence.
The study was conducted on the students of grade 11 at Nguyen Quan Nho high school with the textbook “Tiếng Anh 11”. 
IV. METHODS OF THE STUDY. 
- Using the text- book to apply to each lesson and section.
- Using references to improve.
- Pictures and other materials.
- Discussing with other teachers, 
- Observing and drawing out experiences.
B. DEVELOPMENT
I. LITERATURE REVIEW.
According to Cohen(1994) and Weidner(2003: 33), Cooperative learning can be characterized as a social process in which knowledge is acquired through the successful interaction between the group members. Also, Slavin(1995: 2) said cooperative learning refers to variety of teaching methods in which students work in small groups to help one another learn academic content. In cooperative classrooms, students are expected to help each other, to discuss and argue with each other, to access each other’s current knowledge and fill in gaps in each other’s understanding.
Learners, on the one hand, can gain such great achievements, social benefits and economic benefits through cooperative learning, which is seen as key changes in societies Weidner(2003: 18-25). Obviously, more learners can probably become the winners by joining in cooperative learning and sharing the success of achievements among them, Slavin(1984). Cooperative learning produces greater student achievement than traditional learning methodologies (Slavin 1984). Low achieving students when grouped with higher achieving students tend to be more hard-working, for there is a competition among groups in cooperative learning. Likewise, one of the essential elements of cooperative learning is the development of social skills. Besides academic benefits, learners can retrieve social benefits, which can be understood in a way that those who collaboratively work can know how to cooperate with others. Much has been learnt from others’viewpoints other than from their own. Social interaction improves communication skills that become a necessity to functioning in society. Last but not least, cooperative learning requires fewer materials as learners can share among other group members. Less equipment is necessary so learners can save money without sacrificing the quality of education.
Teachers, as a role of a coach, a facilitator, and sometimes a spectator in this approach, are also the beneficiaries from the cooperative learning. By applying cooperative teaching method, teachers can probably save their time for their target lessons. This is due to the fact that when the classrooms are well organized students will work more effectively rather than one that is clutter. With traditional teaching methodologies, students sit in pre-arranged rows. Class members may be of oversize. Cooperative learning works best when group size is of smaller clusters of about 3 or 4 students. Furthermore, teachers become more interactive with each cluster during the class time. He/ she can easily manage group work or monitor group actions and behaviors, for all activities are well prepared in advance. Finally, teachers can no longer be under increasing pressure to work with each individual, which possibly put them into stress in some way. 
In summary, cooperative learning approach has far and away proved itself as an effective way to motivate learners in EFL classroom in comparison with other teaching techniques or approaches. Thus, it is the teachers that should know when and how to use it in their classrooms in order that the lessons are better taught and the learners will benefit more from the teacher’s teaching.
II. METHODOLOGY AND RESEARCH SCHEDULE.
1. Independent and dependent variables
The use of cooperative learning
To motivate students in oral communication classrooms
Operational definition:
Operational definition:
Students get motivated and more confident in English speaking classes.
Teacher uses the cooperative learning approach to help motivate students to speak English in the class
2. Research design
Research Questions
Research Instruments
Subjects
Tools for analysis
1. Why do our students become unmotivated in oral communication classroom?
2. What benefits of cooperative learning can my students accomplish?
 3. What can we do to improve their motivation in oral communication classroom?
- interviews
- Teacher’s lesson plans
- class observations
- teacher’s diaries 
- Student questionnaires
- Grade 11
- Age: 17
- Level: Pre-intermediate
- School name: Nguyen Quan Nho High school
- Sample size: 90 students
- Frequency count
- Percentage
- Critical discourse analysis of classroom observation.
3. Data collection procedures.
 The Data collection procedure is indicated in the following chart.
Pre-intermediate 
11 graders
Interviews 
Classroom observation
The use of cooperative learning
Classroom observation
Analysis of classroom observation notes
Students’ Questionnaires 
3.1. Selection of the subjects:
	My research is carried out to see how effectively my students interact in English oral classes and how well they speak English when the cooperative learning approach is applied in the teaching of speaking. My subjects are 11th graders who are studying at Nguyen Quan Nho High School. My teaching is conducted with 90 students from classes 11B3, 11B4, they are at the age of 16 or 17. Although my students are best selected from the Entrance Examination, they seem not to be good at speaking English. It is due to the fact that the annual exams are designed to focus on only English grammar, reading and writing but listening and speaking skills. As a result, they are in the state of being timid in oral classes. For this reason, I decided to apply cooperative learning approach as a method to motivate my students to learn to speak English effectively in the classrooms. 
3.2. Interviews (See APPENDIX).
 Interviews are carried out to see how my students feel about the English oral classes and to find out what difficulties they are coping with. I interviewed our colleagues and other 90 students to see their viewpoints from which I probably choose a suitable method for my teaching. 
Factors that prevent students from taking part in speaking activities
What factors prevents you from participating in speaking activities
Factors
Numbers
(90 Ss)
%
a. Speaking activities are difficult because I don’t have enough words to speak.
50
55%
b. Be shy and fear of mistakes and derision.
20
22%
c. Speaking activities are not interesting, the topics are boring.
15
17%
d. The teacher doesn’t encourage students to speak.
5
6%
3. 3. Lesson plans:
Lesson plans play an important role in the work of teaching. Teachers will know what and how to teach their students. Hence, it is essential that I need to collect lesson plans as a data source for my Action Research. 
Basing on the textbook “Tieng Anh 11” (national English textbook issued by MOET of Vietnam), I choose some of the speaking periods to design my target lesson plans in a way that the cooperative learning can probably be applied and easily observed. Below are some cooperative learning techniques to be applied in my teaching of speaking.
UNIT 1: FRIENDSHIP
Period: 4 Lesson 2: Speaking 
Activity 1. Teacher gives out the network and people below and asks Ss to think of the questions used to ask about the information in it to describe their physical charcteristics.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to describe the physical characteristics of some people in the picture.
Build
(slim, thin, plump)
Hair
(long, shott, black)
Face
(square,oval, round)
Appearance
(handsome, beautiful, ...)
Eyes
(small, big, brown)
Describing people’s appearance
Height
(tall, short, medium)
Lips
(thin, full, heart shaped)
Nose
(straight, small, flat)
- T. calls on some students to give their answers 
 Eg: 1. Can you describe the boy in the picture?
 2. What does the boy look like?
 3. Does he have short hair?
 4. Is he tall or short?
 5. What colour are his eyes?
 6. Does he have a round face?
 7. Is he wearing a pair of glasses?
 8. Is he handsome?
Activity 2. Students work in groups. Discuss and number the following personalities in order of importance in friendship.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to understand some adjectives in the book to order of importance in friendship.
1
2
3
9
4
8
 FRIENDSHIP
7
6
5
caring hospitable modest
sincere generous honest
helpful understanding pleasant
- Teacher divides the class into 3 groups and asks students to complete the network.
Activity 3. Students work in pairs, one student plays the role of a journalist is going to interview an other student to ask some questions about his/ her friend. Using the network and the information in activity 2.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to ask and answer some questions to describe the physical characteristics and personalities of their friends.
Example:
A: What’s your best friend’s name?
B: Her name is Lan.
A: When was she born? (How old is she?)
B: She was born in 2001. (She is 17 years old)
A: What does she look like?
B: She is very beautiful. She is tall. She has big eyes and long black hair.
A: What is she like?
B: She is helpful and honest.
A: What does she usually do in her free time?
B: She usually reads book in her free time?
A: What are her hobbies?
B: They are reading and swimming.
A: What subject does she like best? 
B: She likes Maths best.
A: How much time does she spend on Maths every day?
B: About an hour a day.
UNIT 3: A PARTY
Period: 15 Lesson 2: Speaking 
Activity 1: Warm up: Brainstorming: Types of parties.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to talk about some kinds of parties and revise the vocabulary on the topic party. 
Birthday
Valentine’s day
New year
House warming
Parties
Farewell
Wedding
Graduation
Thanks-giving
Activity 2: Think of a party you have been to. Choose from the list the things you want to talk about.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to talk about a party.
Whose party was it?
What was the occasion?
Did you take a gift for the host?
Who did you go with?
Where was the party? 
Were there any decorations?
Were there a lot of people there?
Did you know most of the people there?
What sort of the drink and food did you have?
What was the music like?
Did you dance?
Did you meet anybody nice there?
What time did it start?
What time did it finish?
Did you stay to the end?
Activity 3: Work in pairs. Tell your partner about the party.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to ask and answer about the party they have been to.
Example:
A: Whose party was it?
B: It was my friend-Lan
A: What was the occasion?
B: It was Lan’s birthday party.
A: Who did you go with?
B: I went with some my friends.
A: Where was the party? 
B: It was held at Lan’s house.
A: Were there any decorations?
B: Yes, there was.
A: Were there a lot of people there?
B: Yes, there were a lot of her friends at there.
A: Did you know most of the people there?
B: Yes, I did. Because most of them are my friends.
A: What sort of the drink and food did you have?
B: I ate cake and drank orange juice.
A: Did you dance?
B: No, I didn’t.
A: What time did it start?
B: It started at 7.30.
A: What time did it finish?
B: It finished at 9p.m.
A: Did you stay to the end?
B: Yes, I did.
Activity 4: Work in groups. You are going to take part in a competition to organise the best party. Decide on the following.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to negotiate in order to come up with a plan sor their parties.
Entertainment
(dance? music? game?)
Where
(home? Restaurant?)
When
(date and time)
Budget
(How much to spend? How much to contribute)
Dressing codes (formal?informal?costumes?)
Planning
a party
Who to invite
(family?relative? friends? classmates?)
Decorations (colored light bulbs? flower?)
Food and drink (cook our or order? vegetarian food?)
Decorations (colored light bulbs?flower?)
Who to invite (family?relative? friends? classmates?)
Teacher devides the class into small groups of three or four and gets them to do task 3, which is planning a party in the best way they can for a party competution. In groups, students will negotiate in order to come up with a plan sor their parties.
Unit 8: Celebrations
 Period 45 Lesson 2: Speaking
1. Activity 1: Discussion
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to talk about the celebration of Tet in Viet nam.
- Work in pairs and discuss about these questions.
1. What have you known about Tet holiday? Or What is Tet? Or What time of the year is it?
2. What spesial dishes or foods are prepared on Tet?
3. Tell about Tet’s decoration.
4. What activities people usually do during Tet?
*Suggested answers:
A: What have you known about Tet holiday? 
B: It’s time when Vienamese people celebrate the beginning of spring. It’s also the start of the lunar New Year.
A: What spesial dishes or foods are prepared on Tet?
B: Many traditional foods are prepared such as Banh Chung, Mutso on
A: Can you tell about Tet’s decoration?
B: Homes are often decorated with plants and flowers. Peach blossom is traditional at Tet in the North while apricot blossom is in the South.Every family has a five-fruit tray on the ancestral altar and a dish of fruits, a tray of candied fruits and a Banh Chung on the table.
A: What activities people usually do during Tet?
B: People visit their relatives and friends, they exchange New Year’s wishes. Children receive their” lucky money inside red envelopes. Many people go to the pagoda to pray a lucky year for themselves and their family.
2. Activity 2: Matching.
 Work in pais. Look at some pictures about some popular holidays and celebrations in Vietnam and in the world. Asks students match the holiday with their main purpose and activities. 
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to know about some popular holidays and celebrations in Vietnam and in the world.
A: Which holiday is in each picture ? 
B: The first picture is Mid-Autumn Festival (15th , Aug Lunar)
The second picture is Thanksgiving (Thur3rd,Nov)
The third picture is Valentine’s Day (14th Feb)
Holiday/Celebration
Its main purpose
Its activities
1. Thanksgiving
(third Thursday in November)
a. People express their
 love to each other .
A. They give chocolates, flowers or gifts to the people they love .
2. Valentine’s Day
(14th Feb) 
b. People celebrate the largest full moon in the year 
B. Children wear masks, parade in the street, have parties with special cakes and lot of fruits , etc .
3. Mid-Autumn Festival
(15th day of the 8th lunar month)
c. People celebrate the harvest. 
C. Family members get together. They prepare a large meal with roast turkey .
3. Activity 3: Work in pairs. Ask and answer about the holidays above, using the dialogue in Task 1 as the model.
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to ask and answer about some popular holidays and celebrations in Vietnam and in the world.
Sample: 
A: Do you know thet next month is Valentine’s Day.
B: What is Valentine’s Day?
A: It’s the time when people express their love to each other.
B: When is it exactly?
A: Well, it is on February 14th.
B: What do people usually do on Valentine’s Day?
A: They give chocolates, flowers or gifts to the people they love.
B: Oh, that sounds really interesting.
Unit 9: The post office
 Period 56 Lesson 2: Speaking
1. Activity 1: Network - Brainstorming
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to know and talk about some services of the post office.
Ask Ss to work in pairs to complete the network about some services of the post office.
Following Network
facsimile service
Flower telegram service
Telephone& fax service
Mail &Pacel service
Post office
Postal savings
EMS
Phone cards&internet cards
Find out some services of the post office
2. Activity 2: Role-play
Objectives of activity: Students will be able to read and find out the service which the customer using.	
Task 1: T asks Ss to act out the dialogue and then answer the questions: What service is the customer taking in the dialogue ?
- Call 2 students to read the dialogue and answer the question.