VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
*********************
PHAM THI NHUNG
APPLYING KAGAN COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRUCTURES
TO IMPROVE 11TH GRADE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS
AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN THAI BINH
(Áp dụng các cấu trúc học hợp tác của Kagan nhằm cải thiện kĩ năng nói cho học sinh
lớp 11 tại một trường trung học phổ thông ở Thái Bình)
M.A MINOR THESIS (Type I)
Field: English Teaching Methodology
Code: 8140231.01
Hanoi - 2020
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES
*********************
PHAM THI NHUNG
APPLYING KAGAN COOPERATIVE LEARNING STRUCTURES
TO IMPROVE 11TH GRADE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING SKILLS
AT A HIGH SCHOOL IN THAI BINH
(Áp dụng các cấu trúc học hợp tác của Kagan nhằm cải thiện kĩ năng nói cho học sinh
lớp 11 tại một trường trung học phổ thông ở Thái Bình)
M.A MINOR THESIS (Type I)
Field: English teaching methodology
Code: 8140231.01
Supervisor: Hoàng Thị Xuân Hoa, Ph.D.
Hanoi – 2020
i
DECLARATION
I, Pham Thi Nhung, hereby certify that the thesis entitled “Applying Kagan
cooperative learning structures to improve 11th grade students’ speaking skills at a
high school in Thai Binh” is submitted for the partial fulfillment of the Degree of
Master of Arts at the Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies, University of Languages
and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. I also declare that
this thesis is my own research and efforts and it has not been submitted for any
other purposes.
Ha Noi, 2020
Pham Thi Nhung
ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The study would not been completed without the invaluable assistance and
encouragement of many people for whom I am grateful.
I especially would like to express my deepest thanks to my supervisor Dr.
Hoang Thi Xuan Hoa, whose useful instructions and advice, as well as detail critical
comments and encouragement have helped me a great deal from the beginning to
the end of the thesis writing process.
I also would like to thank to the teachers and the staff of the Faculty of Post-
Graduate Studies, University of Languages and International Studies who have
given me useful advice and favorable conditions for the completion of the thesis.
My sincere thanks go to all teachers of English and students in Me Linh high
school who have wholeheartedly helped me much with enthusiastic contribution
and cooperation.
I am really in debt to my beloved family, my friends who always support me
and show great patience all the time in my life. They all are my precious persons
who make me keep moving forward.
At last, I realize that although I made my best effort, this thesis is still far
from perfection. Therefore, any constructive criticism and suggestions for the
improvement of this thesis are highly appreciated. Then, I really hope that this
thesis is able to give contribution to the readers and useful for the teaching and
learning process.
iii
ABSTRACT
The main objective of learning English is using English as a means of
communication. To achieve that objective, teachers can use appropriate techniques
which match with the learners’ characteristics in teaching speaking. Kagan
cooperative learning structures (KCLS), a student-centered instructional approach,
is believed to have the potential to encourage more interactions among students and
maximize the improvement of each student’s learning process, thus have good
effect on teaching in classroom. That is the reason why in this action research
project, KCLS was applied in the speaking lessons of a grade 11 class at a high
school in Thai Binh with a view to improving the students’ speaking skills.
The findings from the data collected via questionnaire, teacher’ journals and
speaking test scores showed great improvement in students’ speaking skills both in
linguistic and paralinguistic features. The students also have positive attitudes
toward the use of KCLS in class. This project provides recommendations to English
teachers for implementing a cooperative learning approach when teaching of
English speaking skills in the context of high school in Vietnam.