VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSTIY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST – GRADUATE STUDIES


ĐÀO THU PHƯƠNG

DIFFICULTIES IN LEARNING PRONUNCIATION ENCOUNTERED BY
THE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH MAJORS
AT HANAM TEACHERS’ TRAINING COLLEGE

(KHÓ KHĂN TRONG VIỆC HỌC PHÁT ÂM CỦA SINH VIÊN CHUYÊN
TIẾNG ANH NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƯỜNG CAO ĐẲNG SƯ PHẠM HÀ NAM)
M.A. Minor Thesis Field: ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Code: 60.14.10

TIẾNG ANH NĂM THỨ NHẤT TRƯỜNG CAO ĐẲNG SƯ PHẠM HÀ NAM)
M.A. Minor Thesis
Field: ENGLISH TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Code: 60.14.10
Supervisor: PHÙNG THỊ KIM DUNG, M.A Hanoi - 2011

iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Declaration…………………………………………………………………………….
i
Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………
ii
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………
iii
Table of contents……………………………………………………………………

5
1.4. Differences in the Sound Systems of the Two Languages: English and
Vietnamese .…………………………………………………………………………….

7
1.5. Some Common English Pronunciation Problems Met by Vietnamese
Learners .………………………………………………………………………………

8
Chapter 2: Methodology ……………………………………………………………
12
2.1. Context of the Study .………………….…………………………….……………
12
2.2. Participants of the Study …………………………………………………………
12
2.3. Instruments ………………………………………………………………………
13
2.3.1. Survey Questionnaire ……………………………………………………………
13
2.3.2. Interview ………………………………………………………………………
13
2.3.3. Classroom Observation …………………………………………………………
14

v
Chapter 3: Data Analysis and Discussions …………………….…………………….
15
3.1. Data Analysis and Discussions …………………………………………………….
15
3.1.1. Students’ Evaluation of the Importance of Pronunciation ………………………

37
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………
39
APPENDICES ……………………… ……………………………………………….
I-VII SUMMARY OF THE STUDY
Despite the full recognition of the importance of English pronunciation in developing students’
communicative competence, students at Hanam Teachers’ Training College do encounter a
number of difficulties in their pronunciation learning process. This case study aims at
investigating what difficulties the first year students majoring in English at Hanam Teachers’
Training College meet when learning English pronunciation and what are possible causes of such
difficulties. The data was collected by means of survey questionnaire, interview and class
observation. Results indicated that the first year students at Hanam Teachers’ Training College