Using some useful warm- Up activities for teaching English 10 - semester 1 - Standard syllabus to motivate the study excitement of the students in Tho Xuan IV high school

I. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Reasons for choosing the research
 According to the trend of globalization, English has played an increasingly important role in all areas. As a result , the deman of learning English has been constantly increasing.
 Before that trend, English is considered the dominant subjects in the schools. To be a young and enthusiastic teacher with teaching English, I always put out for myself the question is: How do students love and become good at this subject? Through five- year practical teaching in Tho Xuan IV High school , I learned an experience is: If students take part in a warm- up activity before starting a new lesson, the lesson will be more successful. From this fact, I study and design some suggested warm- up activities for teaching English 10 (term I) to attract students’ attention in new lessons and make these lessons more interesting and effective.This is the reason why I choose the topic: “Using some useful warm- up activities for teaching English 10- semester 1- Standard syllabus to motivate the study excitement of the students in Tho Xuan IV high school ”.
1.2. Aims of the research
 My research is aimed at:
- Provide some basic knowledge about the role of warm- up activity
Offering some suggested warm- up activities for teaching English 10 (term I) suggest for teaching English 10- term 1 to the teachers.
1.3. Participants of the research
 This research was applied to six classes of tenth grade in Tho Xuan IV high school (10A1, 10A3, 10A5- academic year 2014- 2015 and 10A2, 10A3,10A4- academic year 2015- 2016). Each class contains different number of participants who are of mixed genders and language ability. In term of language competence, most of them might be considered as pre – intermediate students
1.4. Methods of the research
- Observing students working.
 - Analyzing students’ results
II. CONTENT
2.1. Theoretical Background
 All of us know that the new version of English 10 was brought to the curriculum from the academic year 2006- 2007 and it has really brought a new wind in method of teaching and learning foreign language. However, in my opinion beside the advantages the textbook English 10 also brings some disadvantages to both the learners and teachers.
 About advantages, the English 10 has 15 lessons which focus on 6 topics (You and me, education, community, nature, recreation and People and place). These topics are rather suitable with the hobby and knowledge of students. They can not only make use of the general knowledge but also encourage them to find out some other informations relating to the lesson. These information will provide students the necessary knowledge.
 About disadvantages, some units contain some difficult structures to the students. For example, in unit 8: Make ends meet, meet one’s wish. Beside that, the tasks of a few writing and speaking lessons are boring and unrelated to the topic of the Unit, which causes the difficulties in designing lesson plan to the teachers. Being aware difficulties and advantages above, myself as well as other English teachers always think carefully before the completing a lesson phan.And this research is also aimed at promoting the advantages and limiting the disadvantages of teaching English in general and teaching English 10- semester 1 in particular.
2.2. The status of the problem
From all the periods , I see that most of our students are still passive, not really interested in learning English. This consequence is partly because our students come from the rural regions, their knowledge of English is not rich, especially some know very little about English. When the teacher asks them to read the reading passages to give the answers, they all give correct answers but some of them do not understand the content of the lesson. In the examinations, they do not do the part reading well and some do not know how to do these exercises. 
That is the reason why I think that we must design the really interesting warm-up activities for each new lesson to attract students’attention and make them more excited with the lessons.
2.3. Some useful suggested warm- up activities for teaching English 10- semester 1
2.3.1.Unit1: A day in the life of.
a. Lesson A: Reading
Name : Describing pictures
Type : class work 
 Materials : Pictures
Time : 3-5 minutes 
Procedure
- Hang on some pictures in turn and ask sts to say out what they can see 
- Ask students to guess the content of the lesson 
b. Lesson B: Speaking
Name: matching words
Type: group work
Materials: poster, large papers, board pens 
Time: 5 minutes
Procedure: 
Devide the class into 2 groups
Provide each group with 1 large and 1 board pen
Give instruction and time allotted
Check groups’ work and declare the winner
 Subjects in English
 Subjects in Vietnamese
Civic Education
Technology
Maths
phyics 
geography
History
Chemisrty
Physical Education
English
Biology
Literature
Infomatics
Văn
Toán
Vật lý
Hoá học
Tiếng Anh
Gíao dục công dân
Lịch sử
Thể dục
Công nghệ
Vật lý
Tin học
Sinh học
c.Lesson C: Listening
Name: Network
Type: class work
Material: board, chalk
Time: 3 mins 
Procedure:
write the key word on the board
ask students to think of the related words and say in English
Lead in the lesson by some guiding question:
 + Do you like travel by cyclo?
 + Do you think Cyclo_ driver is an easy work?
Means of transport
d. Lesson D: writing: Writing a narrative
 Name: Telling a story
Type: Individual work
Materials: Nothing
Time: 3- 5 Mins
Procedure:
ask sts to think of the most impressed story that they witnessed or heard
call on 1 advanced to tell in front of the class( Encourage him/ her to use English)
Give some other guiding questions:
+ What items are mentioned in his/ her story( Time, event, place)
+ Which tense is used in the story?
e.Lesson E: Language Focus:
Name: Describing pictures
Type: Class work
Materials: Pictures, chalk
Time: 2-3 mins
Procedure:
Hang the 2 pictures on the black board and ask sts to speak out what they can see in these pics.
Write the 2 key words on the black board
Call on some students to read the words
Write the phonetic forms of them and read the words aloud several times
2.3.2. Unit 2: School talks
a.Lesson A: Reading:
Name: Slap the board
Type: Group work
Materials: stick cards
Time: 3- 5 Mins
Procedure:
Divide the class into 2 groups
Ask each group to send 5 presentatives and set in a queue
Provide each group of students 7 stick cards & Give instruction
Read aloud sentence by sentence
Give feedback
Declare the winner
7 Suggested sentences:
+ I often play online when I have free time
+ After the school year, I’ ll go on a summer.
+ Soccer and badminton are my favourite.
+ Do you usually watch.at 6p.m everyday?
+ What is the .like today?
+ Students have tohard for the exam.
+ My .is collecting stamps.
Keys : games/ holiday/ sports/ film/ weather/ study/ hobby
b.Lesson B: Speaking
Name: Jumbled words
Type: class work
Materials: Poster
Time: 5 mins
Procedure:
Hang on the poster
Give instruction and time allotted
Check with the whole class
Jumbled words:
+ nice/ been/ has/ it/ meeting/ you
+ later/ you/ see/. Goodbye.
+ Hello. Are/ you/ how
+ Sorry, go/ to/ have/ got/ I. you/ catch/ later
Keys:
+ It has nice been meeting you
+ Goodbye. See you later
+ Hello. How are you?
+ Sorry, I have got to go. Catch you later.
c.Lesson C: Listening
Name: Missing words
Type: group work
Materials: Poster, chalk
Time: 5 mins
Procedure:
Divide the class into 2 teams
Give instruction 
Hang on the poster
Call on 2 representatives of the 2 groups to come to the board and write down the key words
Poster:
+ The duty of students is to S_ _ _ _
+ In summer, my family often go to the B_ _ _ _.
+ 30th April is Hoa’s birthdayP_ _ _ _.
+ My hobby is T_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ around the world.
+ He invites me to go out for a D_ _ _ _.
Suggested answers: STUDY/ BEACH/ PARTY/ TRAVELLING/ DRINK
d.Lesson D: Writing: Writing a form
Name: Brainstorming
Type: clas work
Materials: Chalk
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
Write the key word in a circle on the B. B
Ask sts to list as many things relating to this word as possible
Write on B. B what the sts say out
Lead in the lesson by using some more questions:
+ Where do you often see these information?
+ Have you ever used these informaion? When
 Private information
e.Lesson E: Language Focus
Name: Describing pictures
Type: class work
Materials: Pictures, chalk
Time: 3- 5 mins
Procedure:
Hang on the 2 pics and give the questions:
 + What is the boy doing?
 + What is the little girl doing?
Write down the 2 keys word on black board 
Call some students to read aloud
Read as model 3 times
Write the phonetic forms of them
2.3.3. Unit 3: People’ s background
a.Lesson A: Reading
Name: Game: Who am I( 3 persons)
Type: group work
Materials: pictures, some pieces of paper
Time : 5 mins
Procedure:
Divide the class into 2 teams
Give instruction
Read aloud the 3 clues for 1 person in turn
Declare the winner
Who am I
+ I was born in Nghe An
+ I am the greatest leader of Vietnam
+ My birthday is May 19th 1890 
à UNCLE HO 
Who am I?
+ I live in America
+ My name begins with letter B
+ I am the boss of the company Microft
à BILL GATES 
Who am I?
+ I am a famous female scientist.
+ I was born in Germany
+ My name begins with letter M
à MARIE CURIE
b.Lesson B: Speaking:
Name: Listing words beginning with the letter I
Type: Group work
Materials: Large papers, boardpens
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure:
Divide the class into 2 teams
Deliver each group with 1 large paper and 1 boardpen
Ask sts to write down the words beginning with I in 3 minutes 
Check with the whole class and declare the winner
c.Lesson C: Listening
Name: Name some Olympic champions 
Type: class work
Material: none
Time: 2-3 mins
Procedure:
Give the question: “Can you name some famous Olympic champions in the world?”
Suggested names: Michael Phelps (swimming – 2008), Nastia Liukin (Athletes- 2008)
d.Lesson D: Writing: Fill in a form
Name: Matching
Type: group work
Materials: posters, board pens
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure: 
Divide the class into 2 teams
Provide each group with 1 poster containing the matching task
Ask sts to match in 3 mins
Hang groups’ work on & check with the whole class
Declare the winner
 A
 B
name
date of birth
place of birth
school attended
exams passed
previous job
interests
Quynh giang village
Phan Boi Chau
5/ 10/ 1983
Music and dancing
Private tutor
English
Cao Thi Hue
e.Lesson E: Language Focus
Name: Drawing pictures
Type: classwork
Materials: chalk, board
Time: 3 minutes
Procedure:
Draw some unclear things on the board and ask sts to guess what the teacher is going to draw next
Complete the pictures of 3 faces with sadness on them
Ask sts these questions:
+ Who are they? Men or Women?--> Men
+ Are they sad or happy?--> Sad
Write the 2 words on B. B and read them aloud 3 times
Write the phonetic forms of them and ask sts to read
2.3.4. Unit 4: Special Education
a.Lesson A: Reading
Name: Questionaire
Type: class work
Materials: none
Time: 3 mins
Procedure: 
give questions and ask sts to answer:
+ Can all of you hear/ speak/ see?
+ What are people who can’t hear/ speak/ see called?-àTHE DISABLED
+ Is it easy or difficult to teach the disabled?
+ May they have normal education?
lead in the lesson : SPECIAL EDUCATION
b. Lesson B: Speaking
Name: Noughts and crosses
Type: group work
Materials: poster
Time: 5 mins
Procedure: 
Divide the class into 2 teams
Give instruction: each group take 1 turn to choose the number they like . each number carrries 1 word, the group have to make sentence with this word.The group which complete 3 sentences on the same horizontal or vertical line first will be the winner.
Monitor the game
Declare the winner
Subjects ( 1)
Activities( 4)
Friends( 7)
Test (2)
Lower secondary( 5)
Time- table( 8)
Homework( 3)
Break ( 6)
Teachers( 9)
c. Lesson C: Listening
Name: Network
Type: classwork
Materials: chalk, board
Time:2-3 mins
Procedure:
write the key word on the board 
ask sts to say the name of the school for the disabled in Vietnam
lead in the lesson
Schools for the disabled
d.Lesson D: Writing
Name: Describing pictures & questions
Type: classwork
Materials: pictures
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure: 
Hang the pictures on and give questions:
+ Who are in these pictures?
+ How do they feel? Happy or angry?
+What kind of letter do you write if you feel angry with something/ someone? A letter of complaint or a thank- you letter?
- Lead in the lesson
e.Lesson E: language focus
Name: Using realia
Type: Classwork
Materials: a box, some chalk
Time: 2 mins
Procedure:
Take a box and ask sts what you are holdingà BOX
Take some chalk and ask sts what is in your handà CHALK
Write the 2 words on black board
Ask some sts to read aloud the words
Read aloud the words as modal
Write the phonetic forms and lead in the lesson
2.3.5. Unit 5: Technology and you
a.Lesson A: Reading
Name: Matching words and pictures( names of hardware)
Type; group work
Materials: pictures, stick cards
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure:
devide the class into 2 teams and give instruction
hang pictures on black boarb
call on the representative of each group to stick cards with the right words on the pics
declare the winner
b.Lesson B; Speaking
Name; Network
Type: classwork
Material: none
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
write the key word on black board
ask sts to say out the names of modern inventions that they know
lead in the lesson by some more questions:
+ do you have?
+ what is a/ an..used for?
Modern inventions
c.Lesson C: Listening
Name: describing pic
Type: classwork
Material: picture
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
hang the picture on and ask sts: what the man and the girl in the picture is doing?
lead in the lesson with some question:
+ are you learning to use computer at school?
+ is it easy or difficult or interesting?
d.Lesson D: Writing Writing instructions
Name: questions
Type: classwork
Material: picture
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
Hang the pic on and ask sts what is in the picture à Public Telephone
Give questions:
+ Have you ever used a public telephone?
+ is it easy or not to use it?
+ can you show me how to use it?
lead in the lesson
e.Lesson E: Language Focus
Name: realia and questions
Type: class work
Materials: book, chalk
Time:2 mins
Procedure:
take a book and asks sts to say what it is--à BOOK
asks sts what “ Thang 6” in English is à JUNE
write the 2 key words on B. B and read them aloud
Asks sts to tell the difference in pronouncing these words
Give the phonetic forms
2.3.6.Unit 6: An Excursion
a.Lesson A; Reading:
Name: describing pics and questions
Type; classwork
Materials: pics in textbook
Time:3 -5 mins
Procedure:
asks sts to open the textbook and answer the questions:
+ What is pic 1 about? What can you see in pic?
+ What do you know about it?
+ Which site do you like to visit best?
b.Lesson B: Speaking
Name: completing the pic
Type: classwork
Materials: chalk, board
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure:
T draw a horizontal line on the black board
Asks some sts to come to the board and complete it in their own opinion
Praise the st if he/ she can draw a pic of a boat
If sts can not draw a boat, T has to do it
Lead in the lesson by some more guiding questions:
+ Have you ever traveled by boat? Do you like it?
+ which place on the boat do you like best?
c.Lesson C: Listening
Name: answer the questions in the textbook
Type: classwork
Materials: textbook
Time: 3 mins
Procedure: 
asks sts to answer the Qs in the part “ Before you listen”
lead in the lesson
d.Lesson D: Writing:
Name: network
Type: classwork
Materials: chalk, board
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
write the key word on black board
ask sts to speak out types of letter that they know
lead in the lesson
 Types of letters
e.Lesson E: Language Focus
Name: odd one out
Type: group work
Materials: chalk, black board
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
divide the class into groups
write the 2 groups of words on black board
ask students to find out the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently
give feedback and lead in the lesson
earn, bird, fir, other
today, nurse, from, of
2.3.7.Unit 7: Mass Media
Lesson A: Reading:
Name: listing words beginning with M
Type: groupwork
Materials: large papers
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure:
divide the class into 2 groups
provide each group a large paper and 1 boardpen
give instruction
hang the groups’ work on & check with the whole class
declare the winner 
lead in the lesson
b.Lesson B: Speaking
Name: Network
Type: classwork
Materials: chalk, black board 
Time: 3 mins
write the key word on black board
ask sts to speak out the names of some Mass media
lead in the lesson
c.Lesson C; Listening
Name: pic and questions
Type: classwork
Materials: picture
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
Take the pic and ask sts to say what is in the picà RADIO
Give some guiding questions:
+ what is it used for?
+ do you often listen to it? When? How many hours a week?
+ which programme on it do you like best? Music or news?
lead in the lesson
d.Lesson D: Writing
Name: questions
Time: 3 mnis
Procudure:
give questions:
+ can you name some kinds of Mass Media?
+ Which is the most popular?
+ what are the advantages and disadvantages of TV?
Lead in the lesson
e.Lesson E: Language focus
Name: group words
Materials: pieces of papet
Type: groupwork
Time: 3- 5 mins
Procedure:
divide the class into groups
give each group a piece of paper with 9 words on it
ask each group to put the 9 words in 3 columns basing on their phonetic feature
lead in the lesson
9 words: buy, boy, enjoy, play, say, toy, kind, type, they
2.3.8 Unit 8: The story of my village:
a. Lesson A: Reading
Name: comparing the 2 pics
Type: classwork
Materials: pics in textbook ( listening)
Time: 3-5 mins
Procedure:
hang the two pics on and ask sts to find out 4 differences between them
 lead in the lesson
d. lesson D: Writing: Giving directions
Name: Questions
+ Where do you live, An?--> I live at block 5, caugiat town
+ The whole class, do you know how to get there/
à lead in the lesson
e.Lesson E: Language Focus
Name: odd one out
Type: group work
Materials: chalk, black board
Time: 3 mins
Procedure:
divide the class into groups
write the 2 groups of words on black board
ask students to find out the word whose underlined part is pronounced differently
give feedback and lead in the lesson
2.4.Results of the Research
After five years teaching English 10 at Tho Xuan IV high school, I realize that the warm- up activities in teaching English 10 have following results:
Students have more progress in developing skills: reading, speaking,listening and writing. They can use the information from the reading passage to apply in their writings. Therefore, students’ reading, speaking and writing skills are made full use in each unit.
Weaker students have made more progress in learning at school. Moreover, they became more confident in expressing their ideas, thoughts and feeling in class. 
These warm- up activities made students become more active and excited about the reading lessons. In addition, the classes became really effective. Students felt happy when doing well the activities that the teacher required by their efforts.
 After two years teaching English 10 for six classes (10A1, 10A3, 10A5- academic year 2014- 2015 and 10A2, 10A3,10A4- academic year 2015- 2016), I compared the average mark of all the tests and achieved in term 1 the following results:
* The academic year 2014- 2015:
Class
Number of students
Mark
8 - 10
6.5 - 7.5
5 - 6
2.5 – 4.5
1 – 2
10A1
43
3 (7 %)
9 (20.9 %)
22 (51.2 %)
9 (20.9 %)
0
10A3
50
8