VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HA NOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST - GRADUATE STUDIES
***
NGUYỄN THI
̣
PHÚC USING THE TEXTBOOK PRACTICE MATHS 1 TO TEACH
MATHS IN ENGLISH TO FIRST GRADERS AT MINH
KHAI 1 PRIMARY SCHOOL – DIFFICULTIES AND SOME
SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS

(Sử dụng sách giáo khoa “Practice Maths 1” để dạy Toán bằng Tiếng Anh
cho học sinh khối 1 trường tiểu học Minh Khai 1- Khó khăn và một số giải
pháp)

M.A. MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS

Field: English Language Teaching Methodology
Code: 60 14 10
Hanoi - 2013

Hanoi - 2013

iv TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certificate of originality of the thesis  i
Acknowledgements  ii
Abstract 
Table of contents 
Abbreviations 
List of figures 
List of tables 

’
PART I: INTRODUCTION 1

1. Rationale  1
2. Aims of the study  2
3. Research questions  3
4. Scope of the study  3
5. Significance of the study 3
6. Methods of the study  3
7. Organization of the study  4

PART II: DEVELOPMENT 5


3.2.1. Teachers’ competences  31
3.2.2. Teaching and learning facilities   31
3.2.3. Students’ mixed levels of proficiency in English and their motivation  32
3.3. Research question 3: What are suggestions solutions to overcome the difficulties in
using Practice Maths 1?  32
3.3.1. Modifying the teaching syllabus to fit students’ level and teaching
context  32
3.3.2. Improving the teaching and learning facilities 33
3.3.3. Regrouping students in smaller classes according to students’ level
  33
3.3.4. Professional development program for teachers. 33
3.3.5. Adapting the textbook to fit students’ levels and learning
styles  34


PART III: CONCLUSION 36

1. Conclusions  36
2. Limitations of the Study 
3. Suggestions for Further Study 
REFERENCES 38

vi
ABBREVIATIONS


vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: The 4Cs Framework of CLIL (Coyle, 2011) 6



Table 2: The te
-evaluation of their training
Table 4: The necessity of being well-trained

-report on when to use Vietnamese during the lesson
-reported frequency of using teaching aids in teaching

   ics vocabulary in the
textbook.
   


Table 12: The use of different organization types of classroom activities
Table 13: The design of the activities in the textbook
Table 14: Can students learn English for Maths in Practice Maths 1

Table 16: The necessity to teach Maths through English to first graders



Table 20: The number of English for Maths periods per week
Table 21: Do all teachers use Practice Maths 1
Table 22: The language used in the lesson
Table 23: Would students choose the textbook if they are allowed to

Table 25: Vocabulary in Practice Maths 1
-report on what they gained after the lesson



extent, its content meets the objectives such as the objectives
in vocabulary and reading skill development. However, the best exploitation of the
book are not yet achieved. Teachers still find it hard to bridge the gap between
language level of proficiency of first graders and the language proficiency level
2 required to do all the tasks and activities in the textbooks. The lack of teacher book
and teaching facilities also poses a big challenge to the quality of teaching and
learning. Though this material has been used at Minh Khai 1 primary school for
several years, no evaluation or consultation has ever been conducted to check its
strengths and weaknesses and to see how well it can suit the desired and attainable
goals of the course. As a teacher of English at Minh Khai primary school, I myself
also use Practice Maths 1 to teach my students Maths through English at their very
first grades; and I therefore have first-hand experience in how hard it is to use the
textbook Practice Maths 1 to teach Maths through English to the first graders in the
school. I am fully aware that, the only way to improve the teaching and learning
quality in the Teach Maths-through-English program here is to conduct a study on
the real teaching context and the difficulties that teachers and students are facing.
Only when the difficulties are found could solutions to overcome those difficulties
be suggested. For those reasons, the topic “Using the textbook Practice Maths 1 to
teach Maths in English to first graders at Minh Khai 1 Primary School -
Difficulties and some suggested solutions” was chosen as the theme for my minor
MA thesis.
2. Aims of the study.
The study is carried out with the hope to be some of help to improve the
effectiveness of the teaching other subjects through English at primary school. The
major aims of the study are:
- to explore the context of using the textbook Practice Maths 1 to teach 1
st

st
graders of the Bilingual Program in Minh Khai 1 primary school for 3 years
now, but there has never been any study on this teaching practice, despite certain
facts about the shortcomings of the book and the teaching-Maths-through-English
program. This study is therefore conducted as the first effort to check the
appropriateness of Practice Maths 1 to the teaching context in Minh Khai 1 Primary
school, the effectiveness of using this textbook, the difficulties that teachers and
students are facing in the program, and to suggest some solutions to these problems.
6. Methods of the study
This study is conducted using descriptive and analytic methods, with survey
questionnaires as the data collecting instruments. In general, the analysis and
arguments in the thesis is based on qualitative explanation and reasoning. The survey
4 questionnaire as the data collecting instrument provides the writer with the
quantitative data needed as the evidence of the real exploitation of the textbook, the
teaching aids and class activities. The quantitative data also play the role of
informing the writer some real-life trends in the attitudes and evaluation of the
informants about related issues. These methods are described in detail in chapter
two.
7. Organization of the study
Besides Introduction and Conclusion, the Development includes 3 chapters:
Chapter 1  Literature review  provides a theoretical basis for the study: the
approach of Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) with some basic
concepts, features and methodology.
Chapter 2  Methodology  includes an overview of the approach used in
conducting the study. It also provides a through description of the data collection
procedure as well as the analytical procedure.
Chapter 3  Major findings and discussion  reports the findings of the

more challenging and intensive as there is more exposure to the language and
learners acquire knowledge and skills in different areas of the curriculum. In
CLIL, learning a curriculum subject in a second, third or sometimes fourth
language involves drawing on effective pedagogical practice from a range of
different educational contexts. Curriculum subjects apart from languages are
taught through the target language […] In Primary contexts, CLIL programmes
are commonly delivered by non-native subject specialists or by English
language teachers.
CLIL aims to create an improvement in both the foreign language and the
non-language area competence, general categories being motivational and cognitive
impact of the positive attitudes triggered by using CLIL, and the linguistic and
methodological utilisation of the non-language content material. It is believed that
content, e.g. mathematics, and a foreign language, e.g. English, can be better
6 developed through gradual interplay (25  100 % of the content is taught in a
foreign language). (Pavesi et al., 2001)
In CLIL, high quality teaching and learning fit for 21
st
century classrooms
anywhere in the world. It is context-embedded, content-driven with clear
pluricultural learning outcomes. It sees language as out greatest learning tool and it
connects learners to the visions and realities of language using for different purposes
at different times. According to Coyle (2005), Cs Conceptual framework consists of
Content  Subject matter, Communication  language learning and using, Cognition
 learning and thinking processes and Culture  developing interculture
understanding and global citizenship.

Fig.1: The 4Cs Framework of CLIL (Coyle, 2011)

Mehisto et al. (2008) summarize six core features of CLIL.
8 First of all, CLIL approach makes the teaching and learning a dual-focus,
even multiple-focus process, which at the same time serve more than one function as
follows:
 Supporting language learning in content classes
 Supporting content learning in language classes
 Integrating several subjects
 Organizing learning through cross-curricular themes and projects
 Supporting reflection on the learning process.
Teaching and learning in a CLIL approach can also create a safe and
enriching learning environment by:
 Using routine activities and discourse
 Displaying language and content throughout the classroom
 Building student confidence to experiment with language and content
 Using classroom learning centers
 Guiding access to authentic learning materials and environments
 Increasing student language awareness.
Such a learning environment in turn authenticity to be maximize in different
ways:
 Letting the students ask for the language help they need.
 Maximizing the accommodation of students interests.
 
 Connecting with other speakers of the CLIL language.
 Using current materials from the media and other resources.
Accordingly, students take a self-motivated part in their learning 
induces the learner to be more cognitively active Van
9


Fig. 3: Characteristics of Young Learners in Language Acquisition (Slattery &
Willis, 2001)
Marsh (2000) sees that, regardless of the differences in how the brain works
as a child grows 
relates to the opportunities we have for learning languages. This is where CLIL can
be of interest. One reason why very young children seem so good at picking up
language is often to do with the naturalness of the environment around them. A
language classroom, where learners go through the often difficult process of sorting
out sounds, structures, grammar or vocabulary is rarely natural. The language
classroom is essential f 
the architectural plans. But there is rarely enough time in the classroom for the
language teacher to go beyond this essential part of the learning process. Learners
need time to build things  to build the house which they
see in theory on paper. The best way to acquire language is therefore provide them a
chance for natural language acquisition: language is acquired when children learn to
do things, when they learn other subjects using the language. What CLIL can offer to
young learners of any age, is a natural situation for language development which
11 builds on other forms of learning. This natural use of language can boost a young
 motivation and hunger towards learning languages. It is this naturalness

in relation to both language and other subject learning. Thus far, CLIL is appropriate
 conceptual mapping can be easily built up, so
             
language not just to learn about the language itself as the major learning focus. CLIL
enable both subject knowledge and language skills to develop at the same time.
1.1.4. CLIL Teacher Competence

switching is a natural communication strategy, and teachers should allow it,
             
instructional support bearing in mind that in order to enable incidental language
learning, i.e. language acquisition in the learners, their main concern should be to
scaffold them on their way towards achieving mathematical competences. Learners,
whose attention is focused on the non-linguistic content, need to have access to
spontaneous speech, preferably in an interactive context.
Methodology-based competences
Teachers task is to enable students to develop their individually different
process of knowledge building and meaning construction as well as positive attitudes
(De Corte, 2000). Continue with the example of teaching Maths through English
above, it is a common belief that mathematics and languages are difficult subjects.
Therefore, in order to help the learners succeed, it is of the utmost importance for the
teacher to examine and analyse possible barriers that might have a negative impact
on learning. The CLIL teacher should be able to suggest ways how these could be
minimised and use a variety of effective teaching strategies that would help
overcome individual learning difficulties.
Class management competences
 task is to identify and use dual-focused activities which
simultaneously cater for language and content aspects. From the point of view of
class management, a qualified CLIL teacher should be able to decide whether
teaching the whole class, groups, pairs, or individuals is appropriate for particular
learning purposes, should be able to maintain learners´ interest and motivation
through relevant learning opportunities, and to consider time management.
13 In summary, CLIL has been proved to be an approach suitable to teach young
learners subjects through the English. The approach has many advantages and it is
         

2.1. The Current Situation of Teaching and Learning English at Minh Khai
primary school
2.1.1. The Context
The study was conducted at Minh Khai 1 primary school, one of the famous
public schools in Thanh Hoa City. In this school, English has always been regarded
as an important subject there. At present, there are four English teachers in the
school, and they are all involved in the Bilingual Program of the school. All teachers
already have B.A degrees in English, but not in young learners education. Most of
them are active, enthusiatic, and full of inspiration for teaching, and most
importantly, they love their students and always try to enhance their teaching quality.
To meet the pressing need of society for future generations who are
competent in using English in both their social life and jobs, in the school year 2009,
Minh Khai 1 primary school piloted an intensive English program at grade 1 with 2
periods (a period lasts 35 minutes) per week. At the start in 2009 with 80 students in
grade 1 participating in the program. This program aims at teaching Maths through
English to first graders, whose levels of proficiency in English are mostly beginners.
2.1.2. The Course Objectives
The main objectives of the course are set out by the leaders and teachers at
Minh Khai 1 primary school as follows:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- gradually become familiar with lessons of Maths in English.
- listen and read with comprehension, follow instructions, and solve Maths problems
related to certain basic mathematical concepts like the calculations of additions and
subtraction, comparison between numbers from 1 to 10, and some basic geometrical
representations in English.
- conduct simple oral interactions to learn Maths through English
2.1.3. The Material Description
15 Maths 1 to teach Maths through English to first graders at Minh Khai 1 primary
school, the difficulties that teachers face when using the textbook in to meet the
objectives of the program in such a teaching context. Some questions in the
questionnaires aim to seek for suggested solutions to overcome the difficulties in
using the textbook. All of the four teachers informants did provide suggested
solutions which are what they have actually piloted in their own classes.
The questionnaire for the students comprises 10 items in which question 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 7, 10 were the open-ended questions and questions 6, 8 were open questions.
The questionnaire is designed in order to find out the prominent difficulties students
face in learning Maths through English and reflect their attitudes and evaluations of
the learning-Maths-through-English program that they are participating. It was
delivered to 80 students.
2.2.3. Data collection procedure
The questionnaire for the students was administered to 80 students during
their Maths in English lessons. Before the questionnaire was delivered, the reseacher
spent time to explain s purpose, the requirement for the
participants and answer any questions made by the particidants. The participants
were also encouraged to ask if there was anything in the questionnaire they did not
understand. Then they were instructed to take as much time as they needed to
complete the questionnaire. 100%.
Differently, the teachers were requested to complete and return the
questionnaires in one week to ensure that they would have enough time to give
detailed and accurate information. There was a return rate of 100% from the
teachers. In brief, there were 80 responses from students and 4 responses from
teachers being coded for statistical analysis.
2.3. Data analysis
In this part, the data collected and analyzed from the questionnaires will be
presented in the forms of tables.

Help students know how to use knowledge learned in learning
Mathematics and other subjects.
2
50
Table 1: Teachers’ ideas of the implications of using the textbook “Practice Maths
1”
The data in table 1 showed that all the teachers (100%) thought that the

Maths in English. Some teachers (50%) thought that using the textbook was to help
students know how to use knowledge learned in learning Mathematics and other
subjects. A minority of teachers (25%) thought that the implications of using the
textbook was to help students read, write and answer mathematical concepts in
           
18 implications of using the 
the students positively affects the lessons. And the implications of using the textbook

familiarize with maths in English.

Question 2: What are the objectives of the course?
No of
informants
%
Teaching Maths
0
0
Teaching English
0

0
0
Useful
1
75
Not useful
0
0