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Haiphong private univerysity
Department of foreign languages
Graduation paper

A study on how to improve English
speaking skill through extra- activities
for the first year english non- major
students in hai phong private university.

By:
Nguyen Thi Dieu Huyen
Class:
NA904

Supervisor:
Le Thi Hong
Hai phong- June 2009 2
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Nhiệm vụ đề tài
1. Nội dung và các yêu cầu cần giải quyết trong nhiệm vụ đề tài tốt nghiệp
( về lý luận, thực tiễn, các số liệu cần tính toán và các bản vẽ).
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2. Các số liệu cần thiết để thiết kế, tính toán.
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3. Địa điểm thực tập tốt nghiệp.
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Đã nhận nhiệm vụ Đ.T.T.N Đã giao nhiệm vụ Đ.T.T.N
Sinh viên Cán bộ hướng dẫnĐ.T.T.N

Hải Phòng, ngày tháng năm 2009
HiỆu trƯỞng
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PHẦN NHẬN XÉT TÓM TẮT CỦA CÁN BỘ HƯỚNG DẪN

1. Tinh thần, thái độ của sinh viên trong quá trình làm đề tài tốt nghiệp.


(Họ tên và chữ ký) 6
NHẬN XÉT VÀ ĐÁNH GIÁ CỦA
CÁN BỘ CHẤM PHẢM BIỆN ĐỀ TÀI TỐT NGHIỆP

1. Đánh giá chất lượng đề tài tốt nghiệp về các mặt thu nhập và phân tích số
liệu ban đàu, cơ sở lựa chọn phương án tối ưu, cách tính toán chất lượng
thuyết minh và bản vẽ, giá trị lý luận và thực tiễn đề tài.

2. Cho điểm của cán bộ phản biện
(Điểm ghi bằng số và chĩư)
supervisors for their constant and tireless support throughout this study.
Next, I am indebted to MsTran Ngoc Lien, Dean of Foreing Language
Department with her useful advices and ideas. My sincere thanks also go to
other teachers in Foreign Language Department for their lectures and
instructions during the four years which helps me much in completing this
study.
Espeacially, I am profoundly grateful to all the members in my family and
friends, who always beaside me, suporting me to complete this paper.
Finally, I wish to thank all those who have kindly given their advice and helped
me with source materials during the writing of this paper.

Hai Phong, June 2008
Nguyen Thi Dieu Huyen- NA 904.
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Table of contents
Acknowledgement 4
Part I: INTRODUCTION 4
1. Rational 4
2. Aims of the study and the scope of the study 5
2.1. Aims of the study. 5
2.2. Scope of the study. 5

3.2.2. The way of learning and teaching a English speaking lesson 22
3.2.3. Some expected techniques to learn and improve speaking skill. . 24
4. Findings and discussions of findings. 25
Chapter III: Some suggested techniques to study English speaking skill
for the first year English non- major students 27
3. Suggested activities for teaching and studying English speaking skill. 27
3.1. The language game 27
3.1.1. The advantages of using Language games. 28
3.1.2. Introduce six suggested extra- activities of using language games. 28
A. The “ Twenty second” game. 29
B. “ Where are my glasses?” game. 30
C. The Word search game. 30
D. The Matching game. 32
E. The Hangman game. 33
F. The Crossword game. 34
3.2. Story telling activities. 35
3.2.1.The advantages of storytelling. 36
3.2.2. The procedure of story telling. 36
A. Before Story telling. 36
B. While Story telling. 37
C. After Story telling. 38
4. Suggested activities to improve speaking skill for the 1
st
year English
non- major students at Hai Phong Private University. 41
4.1. Teaching through poems, songs…. 41
4.2. Using pictures in teaching and studying English speaking. 42
4.3. Studying through the funny games. 44
4.4. Aplicibility of Internet in studying English speaking skill. 45
4.5. Using mass media. 49

through extra- activities. That is the reason why I decided to choose the research
with the title “ How to improve English speaking skill through extra- activities
for the first year English non- major students at Hai Phong Private University”

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2. Aims of the study and the scope of the study
2.1. Aims of the study
My study is about to help the first year English non-major students at Hai Phong
Private University improve their speaking skill through extra- activities and to
prepare for them to the basic knowledge of speaking skill with higher
requirement for the next graders. To sumarize the above, my study is aimed at:
- Cover background knowledge of speaking
- Find out reality of teaching and learning English at HaiPhongPrivate
University.
- Find out appropriate techiniques for teaching speaking lessons which draw
students’s attention into the lesson. The students will feel interested, enjoyable
and funny when they come into the speaking lesson. Some good techniques,
especially the extra- activities will be given out inorder to improve their
speaking skill.
It should be noted that this paper shouldn’t be considered exclusive to English
non- major students at Hai Phong Private university. Infact, the fundamental
concepts and result of this paper can be applied to most English learners.
2.2 The scope of the study
There are so many different material resources and researchers that require a lot
of time and effect while my personal experien ce is limited. Therefore, this
study can only foucs on study some effective techniques in studying English
speaking skill, especially through the extra- activities for the first year English
non- major students at Hai Phong Private University.
I hope that this study is a good reference material for the English non major as
well as all students who wish to get the higher speaking skill.


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Part II. Development
Chapter I: Literature review

Firstly, to master the techniques of studying speaking skill, especially for the
first year English non- major students of Hai Phong Privste University, it is
imposible not to mention the concept of speaking.
1. What is speaking
Different people use the term “ speaking” in different ways, which can cause
much confusion. Speaking a foreign language ususally seems much harder than
learning to write and and read it, especially to the first year English non- major
students. Often the most important problems peple have with forein language is
that they can not speak their thinkings and their ideas as well. In fact, it is likea
vicious circle: they make mistakes, they become afraid of speaking and thus
they never get the practise which would able to correct their mistakes. Most of
the beginning learners do not understand axactly “ what is speaking?”. We only
regard speaking sd a simple, easy process that involves speaking the words, the
ideas…by speaking out what they think without the correct. So, we had better
start by making sure that we are thinking about the same thing when we use this
term. As the first step, it would be use ful to undersytand “what is speaking”.
According to the Oxford Pocket dictionary of Current English 2009 “ Speaking
is the action of conveying information or expressing one\s thoughts and feelings
in spoken language. And speaking used to indicate the degree of accuracy
intended in a statement or the point of view from which it is made.”
In the book “ Developing speaking skill” of David Scheter, published on 1999,
there is a definition that: “ Speaking is to uuter words or articulate sounds, as
human beings to express thoghts by words, as the organs may be so obstructed
that a man may not be able to speak”. Meanwhile in the book “ Collins Cobuild
English for avanced learner 4

3.1.1. The definition of “ language games”.
One of the language skills that must be mastered by any foreign language
learner is the ability to speak or communicate in the target language fluently.
However, most of the researchs finding has shown that most of the students

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learning English, especially the English non-major students are quite difficult to
improve their English speaking ability since they are customed to use their
native language in their daily life. So that, language games is belived can give
the positve effect and joyful learning to the sudents in developing their speaking
skill. So,what is the language game?
The term of “ language games” refers to the models of primitive languages that
invent to clarify the working of language in general. It refers to games that
childrens which enable them to learn language.( according to Wittgenstein as
citied in Shawver). So, it can be said that, language games not only function as
time filling activities but also can bring some educational values that enable the
children to learn English.
While Mc Cabe ( 1992) defines a language games as spoken routine for two or
more players, meant to repeated many times. This implies that such repetition
will enable the chidren to communicate effectively since playing language
games will help the children to develop language and thought.
From the definition above, it can be seen clearly that language games do not
only povide supportive activities and practises that can motivatethe students to
interact and communicate, but games can also create opportunities for students
to acquire the language is a meaningful way.
Inshort, it can be said that, language games are able to help students use and
practise the target language in a relaxed way.
3.1.2. The purpose of language games
-The purpose of language game is that it can be a very useful teaching technique
for the effective and joyful learning. Games also believed can give the positive

be engaged in at all grade levels. The teacher should model storytelling before
expecting students to tell stories. As well, students should have opportunities to
listen to Native Elders and other storytellers who can provide enjoyment and act
as role models for their own storytelling experiences.
Storytelling can be a nurturing way to remind children that their spoken words
are powerful, that listening is important, and that clear communication between
people is an art. 17
4.The importance of using extra- activities.
Success in speaking skill through extra- activities can open a whole world of
opportunities for all of us. It can help our students conquer new frontiers.
Especially, the first year English non- major students can broaden horizons
through personal development influence, and influence the social behaviour of
students.
4.1.using extra- activities improve the personal development
The extra- activities help the beginners,especially the first year English non-
major students realize self- worth through the personal satisfaction he
experiences whenever take part in the extra- activities.
The extra- activities are building the confidence in students for speaking skill
and strategies. These starting small will help the the students a lot in the
professional years in the future. That ways, students don’t feel the pressure and
burden when it comes their term to present a presentation, speak out their ideas,
feeling…. The extra- activities also reduce the anxiety and rising the interesting
and the exciting as well when they practising English speaking skill. Through
the extra- activities, the shiest students will get more opportunities to express
their opinion and feeling.
. 4.2.Extra- activities influence the social bahaviour.
As we know, extra- activities require the solidaration, the knowledge/

old topic, the passived lectures, teaching without activities…. So,I think,
beaside the high quality, techers should apply some interesting extra activities in
the lecture to draw the attention and the interset as well of the students.
2.2. The students
In so far as I concerned,the number of the first year English non- major students
in a class quite big, approximately 45-55 students, even higher in each class.
That is not mention the fact that they have just left the high school and they
come from differents places and experienced different learning condition. There
still have many passived students with the lessons, that is the most difficult
problem when they learn at the new environment. Their basic English,
therefore, not equal. However, they begin to acquaint with the new learning

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environment at university and are fully aware of the fact that English is really
important and necessary for their future work. As a consequence, their attitudes
toward learning English seem to be serious.
2.3. English teaching and learning condition at Hai Phong Private
University.
At Hai Phong Private University, each classroom of the first year English non-
major students is equiped a radio and many cassettes in English lesson.
Additionaly, the teachers sometimes use projector to make English lessons more
interesting and effective. Teachers often organize English contests encourage
studenst to express their abilities. Morover, there are many useful activities such
as oragnizing some small festivals such as: Hallowen, Christmas,
Valentine… to play together, exchange knowledge and relax. Sometimes, they
have many chance to talk and study with foreigners. This is an outstanding
advantage and a good condition to help them improve their English speaking
skill. Beasides, they can learn the way of communication of foreigners rapidly.
It can be said that, the study conditions are quite enough and convenient for
students to study English effectively. These factors have great influence on the

The survey is a very important part of this assigment because it provides the
data and information about the studying speaking skill of the first year English
non- major students in Hai Phong Private University. Its aim is to do research
students’s attitudes and expectations about studying English speaking skill
through the extra- activities.
3.1. The design of the survey questionaire.
The survey questionaire includes 11 questions (in English) and they are
numbered from 1 to 11. in the question, there are 3 or 4 options. The informants
can choose more than one choice. The questionaire is parted into three parts:
The first section ( question 1, 2, 3,4 & 5) focus on sudents’s interest in learning
English and how they think about four skills with three or four choices in each
question. They are marked from A to D.
The second section contains two questions ( question 6,7 & 8) give their
attitudes about the English teaching methods at Hai Phong Private University.
The third sections with 3 questions ( question 9,10&11) asks studenst some
good techniques to teach a speaking lesson applies in the class.

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From this survey, I can find out an appropriate method of learning ad practising
English speaking skill. The survey is base for my study “Improve speaking skill
through extra- activities for the first year English non- major students.”
3.2 The data analysis.
After the survey was implemented, the statistic were totaled up and indicated
though out the following nine charts. Each chart shows us the number of
students who choose the most suitable answer for them in each question. This
number is counted in precentage unit and the kind of chart are bar chart. The
data can be easily seen in the chart, and in the right of chart are the
explainations.

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Question 8: “Do you do the task in speaking lesson at home in advance?”
A: Very often B; Often
C: Sometimes D: Rarely
E: Never
Question 9: studying Englishspeaking through extra- activities is an effective
way,create a pleasant atmosphere in class?
A:Strongly agree B: Extremely agree
C: Undecided D: Disagree
E: Agree
Question 10: Learning English through funny extra- activities is a good way for
students to work in group?
A: Strongly agreed B: Extremely agree
C: Disagree D: Undecided
E: Agree
Question 11: How often do your teacher hold the extra- activities in teaching
speaking?
A: Very often B:Often
C: Sometimes D; Rarely
E: Never 24
3.2.1. Students’ interest in learning English.
10%
55%
9%
16%
10%

A
:
li
k
e
ve
ry
m
u
c
h
B: likeC:
n
or
m
al
B
:
li
k
e

C: normal D :
D
o
n
ot
li
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English in order to improve their studying and how to make the learning process
interesting so as to attract students to this subject. If we can give the answer for
these problems, studenst will learn English better.
Meanwhile, there are 9% students are somewhere do not like and do not hate
learning English. Although it is only a small amount, it shows us that they only
consider English as other subjects and there are may be nothing special in
learning English at school.
12%
62%
26%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
A B C

Question 2:how long have you been learning English
The chart show us that 62% of participants answered they have been learning
English five years, some of them accepted they have been learning less than
five years (26%). It is quite a long time for each student. It is proved that
learning English has become a very important task and the great concern of
everyone. English is an interesting subjects which attracts a great number of
students. Moreover, it is a compulsory subject in most schools from primary
schools to universities as well. Thus, they are fully aware of the fact that
English is really important and necessary for their future jobs. They may use
English to do work as an interpreter or an translator. This requires a certain
English knowledge.
A:
Fi

s
