Solutions to improve the quality of teaching English through games designed in Power Point in the grade of 8, 9 at Ha Duong secondary school

CATEGORY
I. INTRODUCTION
1. The reason for choosing the topic.
As we can see, as society grows, the need to expand international relations more powerfully and language learning is an essential element, therefore English is introduced into schools as a main subject, be encouraged from pre-school, primary school. It is compulsory at schools and universities. That makes a dynamic environment of study and plays an important role in teaching and learning at schools. This environment also means that the purpose of the teaching process in general. This environment is not only means but also the purpose of the teaching process in general, because no learners are always keen on and able to learn English well.
So, how does an English teacher can bring students the interesting lessons and stimulate them to learn ...? Each lesson will not just inculcate knowledge but also help students remember the impressive colorful picture and vivid sound of it, so students will remember the lessons easily. There are many ways to express this way. However, the most affordable way is to design the games which integrated into the essential lessons.
	However, transfering or incorporating a lesson from traditional teaching methods to modern teaching methods such as current IT applications is something that many teachers still worry. Teachers can only compose electronic lesson plans due to the Microsoft Office, specifically with Microsoft PowerPoint, but they do not have basic skills and they have a lot of difficulties in using it. In other words, although all English teachers want to use PowerPoint to prepare lessons, they often do not attend a pro class for using Powerpoint and the knowledge comes from the process of self-learning and self-study.
	As an English teacher, I myself also met a lot of difficulties in the application of IT in interactive electronic lesson plans. But with passion and eager spirit to learn. From a teacher without much experience in the electronic lesson plans, I did not stop self-studying and improving IT from books, friends, on the Internet and IT professionals on the forums. So far, Preparing the electronic lesson plans in Powerpoint has become easier, I can create content lectures with integrated vivid games which are paid attention to students and colleagues to participate comments, appreciated well in recent years.
	From the above statement, I wanted to share the experience that I had while studying how to prepare the electronic lesson plans with Powerpoint, especially the difficult issues when designing the games to teach English effectively to all the colleagues who are beginning to research whether or not proficient as I was in the previous years, in order to help you reduce the time and research partially.
That is the reason why I chose the theme: 
"Solutions to improve the quality of teaching English through games designed in Power Point in the grade of 8,9 at Ha Duong secondary school"
2. The purpose of research.
	Helping students at Ha Duong secondary schools learn English better through the games in Power Point.
3. Study subjects.
	Research subjects are students in grades 8 and 9 of Ha Duong Secondary School, school year 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.
4. Research Methodology.
	Research methodology through the documents: Book of Applied Informatics, Internet, textbooks 8.9, teacher book, exercise book and related documents.
	Research Methodology of actual survey, gathering information and data processing.
	Research methods from the actual teaching and learning of each student object.
II. CONTENTS OF THE INITIATIVE EXPERIENCE
Rationale of the initiative experience 
	The integration of IT into teaching has been mentioned for a long time and very specific in the Directives on education such as: N0 29 Directive on the "Application and development of IT in education and training would create a fundamental shift in the process of renewing the contents, programs, methods of teaching, learning and educational management”, or "Promoting the application of ICT in education and training at all levels of education, school discipline under the guidance of IT as a tool of effective supporting for innovating teaching methods in the subjects”. To accomplish these goals more effectively and improve the quality and quantity, the leaders of the school need to invest some more projectors for each classroom, a audio - visual standard classroom.
	While these problems have not been enforced in time, the teachers’ self-study and research for electronic lesson plans is essential, in order to serve the teaching in general and the learning English in particular. Therefore, every teacher we all try our best to learn, to explore, to create, not to hesitate or not to be shy to discuss with other colleagues and IT can be applied quickly and efficiently into each unit of study, that is the best thing to the most successful IT applications, contributing to build friendly schools, active students.
2. Status of the problem before applying the initiative experience.
2.1. For the teacher:
Most teachers understand the importance and benefits of IT application in writing instructor as well as the integration of teaching English games which need more pictures, audio, and video clips illustrating the real life of the language, especially for secondary school students. But until now there remain many teachers who are fearful of using electronic lesson plans because they think it will take time to prepare a period of teaching.
The implementation of an elaborate lecture by a vivid evidence on the slides in the school is that teachers are often shy away and afraid to use. Besides, it was more the idea that, students are now very lazy, addicted to internet and online games, so as to achieve high quality in education, teachers must work very hard, guiding them to finish the homework well lost a lot of time.
Several other teachers are concerned, if students many students play anything more, they will not take notes, so they do not learn much. This is also somewhat limited to design games to teach English in general and in particular design on Powerpoint. Facilities are lacking as well as one of the problems affecting the teaching of teachers in using the projectors.
On the other hand, we want to "click" the mouse to truly effective lessons, the teachers had to be hard many times more than the traditional way of teaching. In addition to basic knowledge about computers, using PowerPoint software proficiently, teachers need to have real passion, because design work requires creativity, acumen and aesthetic to hunt for data from multiple sources. Besides, some teachers said that the design and change games in PowerPoint by higher information technology is very difficult and I was a teacher of English, that is hard to learn it. composing electronic lesson plans has also concentrated in just a few teachers who are interested in IT, not really required. So, teachers just do some sample lessons and teaching performances, not to invest in teaching every lesson. This situation is common in schools, 
2.2. For the students:
	Many students also said that, they did not have enough time to play at recess. Besides, they also find English difficult to learn, economic difficulties, social life like Ha Trung district, they almost did not get a chance to practice this language in real life. Language learning is to attempt to obtain a high score, not to learn to use it as a means of communication in the future. 
	However, the survey show that students, if we use the traditional teaching methods with white chalk and blackboard, the performance brings only about 50%, while the efficiency of the method of multimedia (audio - visual) is more than 80%. Especially the children enjoyed learning English has integrated into the games, but the games are designed like those that students play computer games at home, it's nice. The fact observations show that they are often not aware that they are doing so well at schools. This is very good because the teacher has done any work: learning to play, Playing to learn. Teachers have thus contributed to build friendly schoolroof for the children. If the teacher does not provide interesting vivid lessons to be able to relate to reality and compare with Vietnamese, then they will not know where to study, because there are not any language centers with native speakers in Ha Trung to learn.
	Besides equipments for the service of studying English at their home are not available to use. Let us observe the statistic table of the second 45 minute test results, school year 2014 - 2015 by the pupils of grade 8, 9 at Ha Duong secondary school as follows:
School year 
Grade 
Number of students
The results
Good
Quite good
Average
Bad
2014 - 2015
8
38
1
9
23
5
2014 - 2015 
9
35
1
10
20
4
3. The solutions were used to solve the problem.
 3.1. Some of the highlights of designing games in power point.
	In terms of themes, I would not say more about the effects of games in English that I would prefer to offer solutions, experience and how to design a number of popular games in the power point when teaching English at Ha Duong secondary school.
	Since this is the field of technology on how to communicate differently and receive information to students. Second, the design of the power point games, most of us use the technique Trigger and visual basic programming objects which are available to MS PowerPoint and supporting PC operating system with MS Office suite is enough. Third, the new "interactive and depends on the object" is one of the effects in PowerPoint, this is not a new problem, but it is new to this form of teaching. Fourth, the experience I shared what was sure that the teachers who are not proficient and crestfallen in composing electronic lesson plans can find and use. Partly to bring the excitement and attract all students enrolled in the learning process to achieve higher results, including poor students.
3.2. Solutions to design the popular games in teaching English effectively.
	In two years, I have successfully implemented a number of common games while teaching English in secondary schools in Ha Duong ward, Ha Trung district, specifically for grades 8 and 9 which I use projectors and embedded games in Powerpoint. My lessons gave them the excitement, passion in English, even if they are good students as well as weak students. It was thanks to this that the quality of my teaching comes up positive each year.
	So, let me share solutions to design 10 common games that I have done successfully and efficiently as follows:
3.2.1. BRAINSTORMING / NETWORKS
* Purpose: Used to warm up (Review the words learned)
To design, I have used textbox in the Control Toolbox to be able to interact with students during the slideshow. It means that, if only at a basic level, it can not interact back and forth in the slide show, the teacher can not add to what students say.
Specifically, while the PowerPoint presentation slides, any further action on the keyboard or the mouse pointer will only make a certain object or slide appears, therefore we can not write a text paragraph when playing normally. However, how to use the TextBox in the Control Toolbox allows users to add text even when the program is being shown. It is interesting that this utility program are available in PowerPoint and using it is very simple and easy.
	For example, when teaching English 8: Unit 1 Lesson 1
Photograph
 screen is screened, some words were recorded and unrecorded some frames. This frame is recorded.
                             Getting started - Listen and read
* How to do as follows:
+ Step 1: Open the PPT file, go to View, Toolbars Control Toolbox 
+ Step 2: On 1 AutoShapes drawing circles and arrows. In the circle, right-click, select Add Text to write from the mainstream should elicit. Next, in the Control Toolbox toolbar, select the box Text box (box with letters abc), then the mouse will have a plus sign (+), drag the mouse to the arrows on the screen and drag your mouse to draw a box. Text box with white frame box appear as hollow inside.
+ Step 3: right click the Text Box now just created, click Properties and set the following parameters:: 
ExterKey Behavior: select True
(Allows writing in the text).
Multiline: select True
(To be able to write a lot of lines, if a cell write two or more lines).
+ Step 4: Copy and paste that square on the left arrow.
With a simple way, in addition to designing games Brainstorming or Networks, I can create other lectures as additional types of exercises simple multiple choice and many other exercises to support additional abundant lessons.
In addition, during the lecture, so students see that my presentation slides are not only what I ''arrange '' and ask students to listen to, or follow, so by this design, I called some students, who type faster on your computer, directly type their answers.
This makes them feel much more indifferent than doing on the blackboard and encourage them to learn foreign languages.
	Một ví dụ khác khi dạy English 8: Unit 1 - Lesson 6 : Language Focus, tôi đã sử dụng tiện ích này để thiết kế bài tập như hình trên.	
	With this exercise, students will use the keyboard and type in any answer box that you can do it. Then the teacher can feedback and correct them. 
3.2.2. WHAT AND WHERE
* Purpose: Checking Vocabulary (Checking out newly learned vocabulary)
If the game Rub out and Remember or Slap the board is just a simple design to appear and disappear from the order under the quick direction of teachers. What and Where is different. We must make it appear word by word after being disappeared without order, so I had to use the Trigger Effect options to implement the new design. 
+ Step 1: Open the PPT, to AutoShapes à Stars and Banners to draw the circle. Text box is used to write the words superimposed on the circle.
Unit 8: Country life and City life
 Lesson 2: Speak
+ Step 2: 
Select effects appearing for all words. Then choose the disappeared effect for words again.
+ Step 3: Select the first word in a circle 1 à add any effects appear. In the options bar à effects Effect select àTrigger à At Start Timing Effect on click of select links circle 1 à OK. Do the same for the rest of the circle. So, when clicking on any circles and that word will appear. I have adopted this solution for a lot of lectures in grade 8,9, such as for example when teaching English 8 - Unit 8, section: Speak, I designedas the images above.
3.2.3. HANGMAN 
* Purpose: Used to WARM UP (checking the vocabulary)
	This is one of games that is used to warm up students like very much. Games also help children get excited and ready psychology when receiving a new lesson.
	The game is made for the whole class. Each member will guess only a letter, and guessed letters will disappear. If you guess correctly, it will appear on crosswords, letters which are not guessed correctly will be lost and frustrated face appears. Students are given a symbol definition of the gallows. After guessing 7 times incorrectly, the gallows complete and students will lose.
For example, when teaching English 8 - Unit 4, part Listen, I've designed this game as follows:
 Đã tìm ra được từ FOLKTALE
 Trước khi chơi
+ Step 1: Using Line to draw frame of Hangman and 6 strokes, using AutoShapes to paint their faces. The effect appeared to 6 strokes and faces.
+ Step 2 : On Drawing à choosing Rectangle to draw 8 squares à copy 8 squares à stick on the first 8 squares. Right click to insert the word FOLKTALE.
+ Step 3 : Using a textbox to write A (eg A1 of 26 letters). Coloring background and text. Next, selecting arbitrary disappearing effects. Using Trigger techniques for letter A1. selecting appearing effects for A2 in word FOLKTALE that is inserted after Triggering word A1. So, when clicking the letter A1, A1 will disappear and A2 will appear in keywords. Do the same with the remaining letters F, O, L, K, T, E.
However, it should be noted that there 2 letters L in the word FOLKTALE. Using trigger for the letter L in the alphabet, we must insert 2 L with effect from FOLKTALE to appear in.
+ Step 4: copying of the letter A in the alphabet. Change letter A into the letter B. In the Trigger letters B, we exchange Link of A into B. Remove the effects of the letter appeared A2 in this trigger. Making effects of facial appearance I'm so sorry instead. When we click on the letter B, letter B disappear and the face I'm so sorry appears. Do the same with the remaining letters of the alphabet that are not in the keywords FOLKTALE.
+ Step 5: Creating a circle with the letter Win, do not effect, clicking the letters FOLKTALE and choose appearing effect of Blinds for these words appearing. Using Trigger for these words the link at the word Win. Insert effects of appearing the smiling faces after this trigger. if students can call out the new keywords when guessing 2, 3 letters, then we can still bring results for their victory by clicking on the word Win which will appear all letters in keywords and funny faces in applausing together. To do this, we Select object àRight click à Select Hyperlink à Choose Place in this document à Choose slide to link and press OK. 
3.2.4. SHARK ATTACK
* Purpose: Used to warm up (like game Hangman)
	If the student chooses Hangman when selecting a wrong letter, it appears a human stroke. Here, students give a wrong letter, the boy will fall into a step until the shark kills them, they will be lost.
	For example, when teaching English 8: Unit 5 - Lesson: READ, I did with the VOCABULARY as follows:	
 Bắt đầu trò chơi
 Đang tiến hành trò chơi
	Although the purpose of Hangman and Shark attack is the same, with the design of some animations, I gave students the relaxation and excitement to start a newlesson. To design in Power point, I also used the Trigger to make:
+ Step 1: Using Rectangle to draw 10 squares numbered from 1-10. When you click on any digit, the letters in the keyword above will appear similar to Hangman. 
+ Step 2: Designing stairs, inserting animated boy and fish. Select the effect appeared to the boy.
+ Step 3: How to move the boy when students guess the wrong letters:
- Click on the boy, in the Add Effects, we choose Motion Paths à Select down. The first point is the first stair, ends at 2nd stair. Copy and paste to the final stair. However, at the end of stair, we add Motion Paths - Right and drag lines to fish as it is going to eat. Add image effects of boy's disappearance in Grow and Turn. These inserted after effects of down at the final rank. when going to the final stair, boys will be ejected to fish and slowly disappear. Click OK to finish the design process.
3.2.5. PELMANISM
* Purpose: Used to warm up.
	These are games that test the student's vocabulary. With this game students turn two arbitrary cells. If It is fit together, paintings and word from the pair of infinitives in the past and ... shall be turned. If you fail to comply, 2 menus closed for selection next time.
	For example, when teaching English 8: Unit 4 - Lesson: WRITE, I asked children to find the pair of infinitives and the past as follows:
 Các ô chữ chưa được lật ra
Hai cặp từ đã được mở
	To design this game we just use the procedure in Power point Trigger.
+ Step 1: Draw 8 rectangles. Use textbox to write 8 numbers below the left corner. Use textbox to write 8 words next.
+ Step 2: Effect of letters to appear «go». Trong Timing section, select Trigger and select the item to link. link the item to No.1. Effect to disappear word «go» in Exit, in Timing, select Trigger and select the item to link. In this article remains an item to link the cell 1. The next numbers, we do the same as above. 
	For example : English 8 - Unit 4, Lesson: READ as follow:
Bảng từ thiết kế để lật
Bảng đã được lật vài cặp ô
	This is also one of the interesting games that students o