A survey of using technology to assist language learning of English major students at Ho Chi Minh city Open University

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY

A SURVEY OF USING TECHNOLOGY TO

ASSIST LANGUAGE LEARNING OF

ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS

AT HO CHI MINH CITY OPEN UNIVERSITY

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Master of Arts in TESOL

Submitted by HUYNH HUU THANH

Supervisor: PHAM NGUYEN HUY HOANG, Ph.D.

HO CHI MINH City

September 2015

i

STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY

I certify my authorship of the thesis submitted entitled “A survey of using technology to

assist language learning” as the statement of requirements for thesis in Master’s

Programs at Ho Chi Minh City Open University issued by the Higher Degree

Committee.

All sources used by me have been documented. No other person’s work has been used

without citation and acknowledgement in the main text of the thesis.

This thesis has not been submitted for a degree or diploma in any other tertiary

institution.

Ho Chi Minh City, September 2015

Huynh Huu Thanh

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RETENTION AND USE OF THE THESIS

I hereby state that I, Huynh Huu Thanh, being the candidate for the degree of Master of

TESOL, accept the requirements of the University relating to the retention and use of

Master’s Thesis deposited in the Library.

In terms of these conditions, I agree that the original of my thesis deposited in the

Library should be accessible for purposes of study and research, in accordance with the

normal conditions established by the Library for the care, loan or reproduction of thesis.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to acknowledge all the following people without whom I would not have

fulfilled this master’s thesis.

First, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Pham Nguyen

Huy Hoang for his valuable instruction and endless support. He spent his valuable time

and effort reading my work with much care and gave me his insightful comments.

Without his devoted assistance, this thesis would not have been completed.

I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tuan and

Dr. Pham Vu Phi Ho for all valuable comments and instruction.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all lecturers in the Ho Chi Minh City

Open University who provided me with invaluable sources of knowledge during my

study there and all the staff members of the Department of Post Graduate Studies for

their help during the course. Moreover, my appreciation also goes to Trinh Thai Van

Phuc, coordinator assistant for the TESOL master program, for his support and

devotion.

I also express my special thanks to the students who took part in this study for their

willing support and contributions to my research.

Last but not least, I would like to send a special gratitude to my family for their

consistent support. I thank my parents for their abiding love. I thank my lovely son,

Happy, for his sweet smile. Finally, I want to express my deepest love and thanks to my

loving wife, Huong Giang, for her support and encouragement.

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ABSTRACT

In the early part of the 21st century, the development of information technology and its

important applications in language learning, especially the field of Computer Assisted

Language Learning (CALL) has developed significantly. The study aims at

investigating the situation of technology use including how benefits and challenges that

English-major students at Ho Chi Minh City Open University applied technology to

assist their language learning. This paper, which employed questionnaire as the main

instrument, presents the result of data collected from 126 participant students at Faculty

of Foreign Languages of Ho Chi Minh City Open University. Moreover, the study used

quantitative approaches as the method of data analysis.

The outcomes of the study indicate the following:

Students own a variety of information and communication technologies and use them

quite regularly in schoolwork, recreation and online activities. Among these

technology, smartphone and laptop are leading the top of device ownership chart.

Most of the participant assess their technology skills at high level, remarkably in fields

of online application and mobile technology.

In general, the study result has proved that students have positive attitude towards

technology use in the language learning.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY ............................................................................. i

RETENTION AND USE OF THE THESIS ............................................................ ii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................... iii

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................. iv

LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................. viii

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................. ix

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................... x

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 1

1.1 Background of the study ................................................................................... 1

1.2 Aim of the study ............................................................................................... 4

1.3 Research questions ............................................................................................ 5

1.4 Definition of terms ............................................................................................ 5

1.5 Significance of the study ................................................................................... 8

1.6 Overview of the thesis ...................................................................................... 8

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 10

2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 10

2.2 Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) ............................................. 11

2.3 Stages of CALL .............................................................................................. 12

2.4 Technology and language learning .................................................................. 15

2.4.1 The relationship between learning styles and CALL ................................ 16

2.4.2 Technological tools and language knowledge ........................................... 17

2.4.3 Technical tools and language skills .......................................................... 22

2.5 Mobile Assisted Language Learning ............................................................... 29

2.6 Internet and Web-Based Language Learning Activities ................................... 31

2.7 Research Gap .................................................................................................. 32

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2.8 Chapter summary ............................................................................................ 32

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY ......................................................................... 33

3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 33

3.2 Research site ................................................................................................... 33

3.3 Participants ..................................................................................................... 33

3.4 Instrument ....................................................................................................... 34

3.5 Data collection procedure ............................................................................... 39

3.6 Methods of analysis ........................................................................................ 39

3.7 Chapter summary ............................................................................................ 40

CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS ................................................ 41

4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 41

4.2 Findings .......................................................................................................... 41

4.2.1 Questionnaire result ..................................................................................... 41

4.2.1.1 Research Question 1: To what extent do the English-major students at Ho

Chi Minh City Open University utilize technology to assist their language

learning? ........................................................................................................... 41

4.2.1.2 Research Question 2: What benefits and challenges do English-major

students at Ho Chi Minh City Open University have when applying technology to

assist their language learning? ........................................................................... 46

4.3 Interview result ............................................................................................... 51

4.3.1 The students’ perception of E-learning system. ..................................... 51

4.3.2 How students utilize smartphone in improving their language learning .... 52

4.3.3 The students’ perception of face-to-face learning and online learning ...... 53

4.4 Discussions ..................................................................................................... 54

4.4.1 Student electronic device ownership and activities ................................... 54

4.4.2 Information technology skills ................................................................... 59

4.4.3 Technology improves learning ................................................................. 59

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4.4.4 Technology brings both benefits and challenges ....................................... 60

4.5 Chapter summary ............................................................................................ 61

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................ 62

5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 62

5.2 Conclusion of findings .................................................................................... 62

5.2.1 Student electronic device ownership and activities ................................... 62

5.2.2 Information technology skills ................................................................... 63

5.2.4 Technology improves learning ................................................................. 64

5.2.5 Technology brings both benefits and challenges ....................................... 64

5.3. Recommendations .......................................................................................... 64

5.4 Limitations of the study .................................................................................. 68

5.5 Suggestion for further study ............................................................................ 69

REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 70

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................ 80

APPENDIX 1: Questionnaire (Vietnamese version) ............................................. 80

APPENDIX 2: Questionnaire (English version) ................................................... 83

APPENDIX 4: Interview Questions ....................................................................... 86

APPENDIX 4: Summary of responses ................................................................... 87

viii

List of Tables

Table 1. Questionnaire Adaptation ...................................................................... 38

Table 2. Self-assessed Technology and Information Literacy Skills .................... 47

Table 3. Students’ Attitude ................................................................................. 49

Table 4. Students’ Perception of E-Learning System ........................................... 53

Table 5. Students’ Favorite Activities (1) ............................................................ 54

Table 6. Suitable Language Skill for Smartphone (2) .......................................... 54

Table 7. Face-to-face Versus Online Learning ..................................................... 55

Table 8. Hours of Use ......................................................................................... 56

Table 9. Information Technology Skill Levels ..................................................... 60

Table 10. Top Three of Benefits and Challenges ................................................. 61

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List of Figures

Figure 1. Electronic Device Ownership ................................................................... 20

Figure 2. Computer Activities .................................................................................. 21

Figure 3. Online Activities (part 1) .......................................................................... 22

Figure 4. Online Activities (part 2) .......................................................................... 23

Figure 5. Self-assessed Technology and Information Literacy Skills ....................... 24

Figure 6. Mean score of students’ attitude................................................................ 25

Figure 7. Overall attitude about technology ............................................................. 27

Figure 8. Online study (part 1) ................................................................................. 28

Figure 9. Online study (part 2) ................................................................................. 28

Figure 10. Benefits and challenges of using technology ........................................... 29

x

List of Abbreviations

HCMCOU ........... Ho Chi Minh City Open University

CALL .................. Computer Assisted Language Learning

EFL ..................... English as a Foreign Language

ESL ..................... English as a Second Language

CDs ..................... Compact Disc

DVDs .................. Digital Versatile Disc / Digital Video Disc

ED ....................... Electronic Dictionary

PD ....................... Paper Dictionary

MALL ................. Mobile Assisted Language Learning

MP3 ..................... Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio

CD-ROMS ........... Compact Disc Read-Only Memory

PLATO ................ Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations

TICCIT ................ Time-shared Interactive Computer Controlled Information

Television

BYU .................... Brigham Young University

E-MAIL ............... Electronic Mail

SMS ..................... Short Message Service

PC ........................ Personal Computer

MS. Word ............ Microsoft Word

PDA ..................... Personal Digital Assistance

FAQs ................... Frequently asked questions

AECT ................. The Association for Educational Communications and

Technology