MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING
HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY

EFFECTS OF MIND MAPPING ON
FRESHMEN’S READING COMPREHENSION ABILITY
AT HO CHI MINH CITY UNIVERSITY OF TRANSPORT

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Master of Arts in TESOL

Submitted by: NGO THI PHUONG THAO
Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. NGUYEN THANH TUNG

HO CHI MINH City
August 2017


STATEMENT OF AUTHORSHIP
I certify that this thesis entitled is “Effects of mind mapping on freshmen’s
reading comprehension ability at Ho Chi Minh city University of Transport is my
original work.
Except where reference is made in the text of the thesis, this thesis does not
contain material published elsewhere or extracted in whole or in part from a thesis by
which I have qualified for or been awarded another degree or diploma.
No other person’s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the
text of the thesis.
This thesis has not previously been submitted for any degree in any other
tertiary institution.
Ho Chi Minh City, 2017

NGO THI PHUONG THAO

students comprehend a text easily through colorful visuals and feel interested in doing
comprehension activities. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate whether
the use of mind mapping had any effects on freshmen’s reading comprehension ability
and theirattitude towardits use after the period of eight weeks.
The study employed the three main data collection instruments of tests,
questionnaire and interview. The data were collected from 83 freshmen of the Faculty
of Mechanical Engineering at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport for the 20162017 academic year. The independent samples t-test was used for proving that the
disparity between the means of the pre- and post-tests of both groups was statistically
significant, while the questionnaire and interview were used for determining the
students’ attitude.
The findings show that after treatment, the students of the experimental
group made a great progress in their reading comprehension while those of the control
group did not present the remarkable improvement. In addition, most of the students
expressed their positive attitude towards the use of mind mapping in their reading
lessons.

iii


TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Statement of authorship ....................................................................................................... i
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. ii
Abstract ............................................................................................................................... iii
Table of contents ................................................................................................................ iv
List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................... ix
List of figures....................................................................................................................... x
List of tables ....................................................................................................................... xi
Lists of charts..................................................................................................................... xii
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1

3.3.2.1. Experiment .......................................................................................... 33
3.3.2.1.1. Pre-test ........................................................................................ 34
3.3.2.1.2. Experimental teaching process ................................................... 34
3.3.1.1.3. Post-test ...................................................................................... 36
3.3.2.2. Questionnaire ...................................................................................... 37
3.3.2.3. Interview ............................................................................................. 39
3.4. Analytical framework ................................................................................................. 40
3.4.1. Tests .................................................................................................................. 40
3.4.2. Questionnaire ................................................................................................... 41
3.4.3. Interview ........................................................................................................... 42
3.5. Validity and reliability of the instruments ................................................................. 42
3.5.1. Tests ................................................................................................................. 42
3.5.2. Questionnaire ................................................................................................... 43
3.5.3. Interview ........................................................................................................... 45
v


3.6. Summary .................................................................................................................... 45
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS .................................................................................. 45
4.1. Results of the experiment .......................................................................................... 45
4.1.1. Resemblance in the pre-test ............................................................................. 45
4.1.2. Difference in the post-test ................................................................................ 49
4.1.3. Summary ........................................................................................................... 53
4.2. Results of questionnaire ............................................................................................ 53
4.2.1. The students’ awareness of reading comprehension in learning English and
their expectation in improving their reading comprehension ability ............... 54
4.2.2. The students’ reflection on the using of mind mapping in reading
comprehension ................................................................................................. 57
4.2.2.1. The students’ impression on mind mapping ....................................... 57
4.2.2.2. The students’ reflection on the teacher’s application of mind

6.2.2 Weaknesses ........................................................................................................ 84
6.3. Recommendations for reading comprehension teaching and learning ...................... 85
6.3.1. For teachers ...................................................................................................... 85
6.3.2. For students ...................................................................................................... 87
6.4. Suggestions for further research ................................................................................. 88
6.5. Summary .................................................................................................................... 88
REFERENCES
APPENDICES
Appendix 1: The typical lesson plan of the experimental group ....................................... 97
Appendix 2: The typical lesson plan of the control group .............................................. 101
Appendix 3: List of students of two groups .................................................................... 103
Appendix 4: Pre-test ....................................................................................................... 106
Appendix 5: Post-test ...................................................................................................... 110
Appendix 6: Questionnaire (Vietnamese version) .......................................................... 114
vii


Appendix 7: Questionnaire (English version) ................................................................ 117
Appendix 8: Interview questions .................................................................................... 120

viii


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
CG

Control group

EFL


WTO

World Trade Organization

ix


LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 2.3.1: Sample of mind map on the topic of Mind map in the classroom
Figure 2.3.2.1: Model of a library mind map
Figure 2.3.2.2: Model of the presentation mind map
Figure 2.3.2.3: Model of a tunnel timeline mind map

x


LIST OF TABLES
Table 3.2: The information of the control group and the experimental group
Table 3.3.2.1.2: Information of reading text taught to both groups
Table 3.3.2.2: Distribution questions on the questionnaire
Table 3.3.2.3: Distribution questions on the interview
Table 3.5.1: Reliability Statistics of tests
Table 3.5.2: Reliability Statistics of questionnaire
Table 4.1.1.1: Pre-test results for the control group
Table 4.1.1.2: Pre-test results for the experimental group
Table 4.1.1.3: Compare means of the pre-test results of the control group and the
experimental group
Table 4.1.2.1: Post-test results for the control group
Table 4.1.2.2: Post-test results for the experimental group
Table 4.1.2.3: Compare means of the post-test results of the control group and the

xii


CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the study
Vietnam has opened its door to the world in order to welcome international
friends and as a result, Vietnam has quickly been shifting itself for the growth. The
growth of economy in the last ten years has been the most impressive with the
important milestones of its accession to WTO in 2007, the membership of TPP in
2010 and many international economic activities. Therefore, more and more foreign
investors have attracted to Vietnam market and this “has facilitated the economic
development of the country” (Do, 2006, p.3). To maintain this development, it
requires a high quality labor force with good specialist knowledge as well as the
mastery of foreign language skills, especially English because it is an international
language. “English is of great importance for seeking jobs in the domestic labor
market, especially good jobs and jobs in foreign business and joint ventures as well as
a chance to be granted a scholarship” (Phan, 2009, p.178). Thus, more than ever,
learning English becomes imperative and one of the nuclear issues of educational
policy. Particularly, the Vietnamese government has carried out the National Foreign
Language 2020 Project since 2008 in order to improve the Vietnamese people’s
English proficiency.
When working in international business, Vietnamese laborers have to read a
number of foreign materials to upgrade their knowledge; therefore, one of the English
skills that Vietnamese laborers need to master is reading. Reading is one of the
receptive skills that give the main sources of the input for learners (Hasbun, 2006).
-1-


They can learn so many things through reading. Thus, reading is considered as an

than on the process of learning” (Nguyen Thi Phuoc Binh, 2011, p. 4). This causes
students a lack of motivation. Dinh Thi Huong (2015) states a problem of the
freshmen at Thai Nguyen University: They do not feel excited at the reading lessons
inside class; they try to finish the tasks that the teacher gives without any
encouragement. For these reasons, it is worth drawing attention to reading
comprehension.
1.2. Statement of the problem
In the context of Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport (HCMCUT),
students also encounter the same problem. There are many students who cannot
connect their own knowledge to the new one that they receive from the text and
cannot reorganize the text. Consequently, they think it is very difficult to do reading
comprehension activities and get high achievements. The statistical figures of
HCMCUT Center of Educational Testing Service and Quality Assessment about the
2016 English entrance test result for new students at HCMCUT showed that over 50%
students had enough English proficiency to take an official English course; in this test,
over 65% of the students got under 5 marks for reading comprehension. Moreover, as
reading is one of the important parts in the tests, students seem to prefer to give the
answers to the questions given in the text. They read the text for answering the
-3-


questions only, but not for comprehending it. Therefore, students usually ignore the
meaning of the text and do not read it in depth. In addition, after interviewing
informally some students who were getting obstacles in reading comprehension, the
researcher found that reading teachers at HCMUT were using a conventional
technique by giving students a word list of vocabulary in pre-reading stage, then
giving students a text and asking them to read it within 10 minutes. After that asking
them to answer the questions mentioned in the textbook in while-reading stage and in
post-reading stage, students have to summarize the text by filling in the blanks.
Therefore, students are not interested in the reading activities. As a consequence, they

1) What is the effect of the use of mind mapping on students’ reading
comprehension ability?
2) What is their attitude towards its use in reading comprehension?
2.1) How do students perceive the effects of mind mapping on their
motivation, learning process, group work skill and creativity?
2.2) What are, if any, some problems of using mind mapping in reading
comprehension lessons?
1.4. Significance of the research
The research wishes to contribute itself to both theoretical and practical
aspects as presented below.
Theoretically, by applying mind mapping in reading comprehension, the
researcher contributes to the current requirement of English language learners in
exploring the strategies to enhance their learning of reading comprehension. By
examining the use of mind mapping in an academic setting, she hopefully can add
-5-


more useful knowledge about the advantages of mind mapping in dealing with reading
comprehension.
Practically, the findings of this research are expected to help the writer
herself in teaching English reading comprehension. Besides, they can help English
teachers have a useful technique to stimulate their students in reading comprehension
by using mind mapping. Finally, students can find reading comprehension interesting
through mind maps; hence, they are motivated to read more and improve their reading
ability.
1.5. Organization of the research
The research is composed of 6 chapters.
Chapter 1 introduces the topic of the research with background of the study,
statement of the problem, research aim and questions, significance and organization of
the research. Chapter 2 reviews the relevant literature which includes the theoretical

Mind mapping overview
Mind map was invented in 1970 by a mathematician, psychologist and brain

researcher –Tony Buzan.

In the early stages, it was known as a concept in

development of thought-radiant thinking. Radiant thinking is considered as the theory
behind mind mapping. Buzan (1993) describes that radiant thinking is a machine of
mind which radiates from a central image with a number of branches away. When the
brain receives bit of information such as feeling, perception, thought, it represents the
information as a central area which radiates never ending hooks, each of which
represents a relationship and each relationship contains its own links and connections
(Buzan & Buzan, 2004).Furthermore, Buzan states that instead of linear structures,
our brain tends to map the information by using data that the brain possesses to make
patterns and organizing them using radiant. Therefore, using mind map helps our brain
receive information, process it, enhance memory, concentrate and create ideas as a
natural function of the brain.

-8-


The process of developing a mind mapping technique was reported by Buzan
(1993) that he tried to use mind mapping primarily for memory. However, over
months of the debate, he was persuaded that creative thinking was also an important
application of this technique. He promoted this technique to the world and since 1990,
the term “mind maps” has been the trademark of the Buzan Organization.
Jonassen, Beissner, and Yacci (1993) define mind maps as “representation of
concept and their interrelationship that are intended to represent the knowledge
structures that humans store in their minds” (p. 16). It could be free to style a mind

Based on these definitions, it can be concluded that “a mind map is a creative
way to represent idea or information through diagram” (Indrayani, 2014, p.16).
A mind map is a diagram while mind mapping is a technique; therefore, there
are different ways to define mind mapping.

- 10 -


Mento, Martinelli and Jones (1999) state that mind mapping is a technique
which enhances creativity and promotes individuals’ learning. They assure individuals
to recall knowledge and to show the relations between different thoughts and
concepts. So, mind mapping can help teachers get feedback about the development of
students’ mental structure. It can help students recall their own knowledge and recycle
them through the use of visual elements. Mind mapping can also be used as a learning
activity in a lesson in which students engage themselves in.
It is also quoted by Brown (2001) that mind mapping is a technique used as “a
specific activity implemented in the classroom that were consistent with a method and
therefore were in harmony with an approach as well” (p.14). While Sugiarto (2004)
defines mind mapping as “a technique to summarize reading resources and then
visualize the problems in the form of map to make it easier to comprehend”(p.11). The
students can use mind mapping to quickly determine the information from the reading
texts, and grasp the organization of a subject and the way the ideas link together. They
can also make notes from the reading recourses clear in order to then report them in a
map which uses colors, symbols or pictures to link the pieces of information to
complete the whole text.
Potter and Hernacki (2004) mention the power of the brain when they define
mind mapping. They state that the mind mapping is a technique to use the whole brain
by using visual and other graphic to create a meaningful impression. Using mind
mapping means using both sides of the brain; hence, the users can maximize the
power of the brain to produce the meaningful things.