Using extracurricular activities to motivate the studentsenglish learning passion of he classes 11a1,11a2,12a1 in quan s

Based on my long working time and real activities I and my students have done in the last nine months, I have made a decision to choose the theme: “Using extracurricular activities to mo

PART I THE INTRODUCTION

I The reasons for choosing this theme.

English has always become an effective media of communication in the world In Vietnam, it has gradually played an important role in the process of recruitment and enrolling The importance of English is once again acknowledged when the Ministry of Education and Training issues a new policy

in which Literature, Mathematics and English are compulsory subjects in the national examination for high school students Furthermore, all officials, managers or the leaders of the organizations who want to get promotion have to achieve an English cirtificate Besides communicating well in English, students also have to master English grammar so as to perform perfectly in their exams Moreover, English is a requisite criterion when applying for a job Each occupation requires a certain level of English Perhaps, that’s why the English centers training learners of different levels are mushrooming The question is how to inspire student’s interest in English

Working as a teacher of English for a long time, and working in a mountainous area, I understand who my students are and what difficulties they have to face when learning a language Also, I have found out the disadvanges

we have to encounter when working with students coming from ethnic minorities Therefore I always try to look for the most effective way of teaching

so that my students can understand the lesson easily and love learning English I together with my collegues have applied a variety of different ways of teaching related using teaching aids and other technologies However, the most effective method is allowing students to participate in extracurricular activities Because students relax and learn in the same time, they have no pressure of studying, and they learn with very comfortable mind Based on my long working time and real activities I and my students have done in the last nine months, I have made a

decision to choose the theme: “Using extracurricular activities to motivate the students’s English learning passion in classes 11A1, 11A2, 12A1 at Quan Son high school.” to research in my experienced initiative.

I The purpose of this theme

When selecting this theme, I want to provide some useful tips which help teaching English in mountainous schools less hardship.I will explain the theorical base and real evidence of using extracurricular activities in schools and that what we have applied to teaching in our school really brings great effect Taking part in extracurricular not only helps students master academic knowledge quickly but also trains their living skills and other social skills I would like to prove that learning English does not mean simply to learn by heart new words or grammartical structures but students learn English in a real atmosphere and have chances to experience real situations in their life I also want to persuade my students that English is not a very difficult language as they assume, the more we learn it, the wider our mind becomes Learing English will give them a good opportunity to discover new things in a creative way

III The researched subjects

Generally speaking, teaching English is a rather arduous task in our country, especially in the remote and mountainous areas where students hardly have interests in English Even, their parents never pay attention to children’s study Foreign language is something which is luxurious for them Most of the students in my school find English difficult and hate learning it They told me that it was not only difficult but also boring because they had to learn by heart endless vocabulary, and so strange structures Whenever doing an English test they usually did it unconciously without clear basis It’s due to their lack of English basic knowledge and their shortage of interest to this subject When English becomes a compulsory subject in the national exam for high school students, it becomes a big barier for students in the same time A long-term method is how to inspire student’s learning passion from the beginning of the education process I have conducted a survey on students in class 11A1, 11A2 and 12A1 in Quan Son high school during the school year 2017-2018 and I personally admit that students are really interested in outdoor activities related to the subjects in the class This is one of my main encouragements which lead me

to do the research

IV The method to study.

As I said above, when doing the research, I have done a survey among

124 students at class 11A1, 11A2, 12A1 in my school I gave out the handout to identify the way of learning and teaching students want to take part in The result

of the survey is shown clearly in the table below

Being taught and

guided to do exercise in

the class

sometimes playing

games in the class

Attend extracurricular

activities outside the

class

Attend extracurricular

activities outside the

school

I also have found the information from other sources such as my collegues’ advice, other schools’ ideas and variety of valuable one from the internet All the evidence proves that extracurricular activities really attract to students in general

V The new points in my initiative.

In the last experienced initiative, we set up an English club in my school and enabled my students to attend its activities This contributed to increase the learning spirit of my students to the subject In this research, I continue to widen

by organizing outdoor activities outside my school This is much more difficult and complicated but much more interesting to my students And the result of our trial is rather positive to myself as well as my students

PART II THE CONTENT

I.The theorical foundation of this theme

Traditional learning activities are rather popular and familiar to school And new ways of learning surely gives them curiosity and excitement Factually, almost schools have extracurricular activities such as sport activities, intelectual contests, fashion competition or cooking ability…All these contribute

to educate students fully and give them a lot of fun, and especiall explore their unknown ability Generally, elementary and middle school is a crucial time for student’s development and even top-performing academic students may not be meeting their full potential without the opportunity to contribute or diversify their interests and skills in an extracurricular activity or club By allowing and encouraging students to participate in activities outside of the classroom, you’re giving them a route to make new friends, develop new interests, and deepen their social and intellectual growth For learning a language, this plays an important role in communicative process between the teacher and students, students and students, and students with others Taking part in extracurricular activities is simimar to living in a real English enviroment with true situation and factual characters Students do not have to imagine how they should behave, how they should react and which expression they should use ect…

II The current situation of the issue

Nowadays, it’s essential to have a good command of English and fluently communicate with English speakers in over the world Being able to speak English becomes the first and foremost criterion of all occupations and jobs especially in foreign companies Moreover, the Vietnamese government has set

a new requirement which forces Vietnamese officers, teachers, doctors…all must have a certain level of English so that they can understand books, materials and instructions in English Therefore, all the people especially young ones should know English and use it in the daily life, which helps them meet the requirements easily So, teachers need to guide students the most effective ways

to learn English, communicate in English and pass any English examinations Materials about English Grammar are available for students nowadays English centres are mushrooming everywhere However, it is not easy for learners coming from mountainous areas like Quan Son high school students to approach these sources of material because of the lack of necessary facilities, poor living conditions and the too far distance from the centre So, one of the most effective way to enable them to attend extracurricular activities in which they will have opportunities to experience real situations and react in a natural way This is very important to form a good habit, think and answer in English Because of contemporary situation, I always try to find out the best mode to help my students overcome their difficulty and contribute to decreasing the current

troubles With my limited experience I presume to give some solutions to guide students I hope that I can share meaningful information with the teachers of English to teach this subject effectively

III The methods to solve the matter

The extracurricular activity plays an important role in educating students

in all levels of education system However, because of the limited scale of an experienced initiative, I only focus on having outdoor activities outside school to increase English learning passion of students in my school First of all I will give some information about the categories of extracurricular activities should

be used in high school and their benefits to students Then I will illustrate some activities my students have attended during the school year 2017-2018 and its positive result

1 The Definition of Extracurricular Activities

Before we get into the nitty gritty, let’s take a deeper look at the definition

of extracurricular activities

The word extracurricular is a combination of the prefix extra, which translates

to “on the outside” and curriculum, which translates to “a running course

/career” Generally, extracurricular activities are activities that fall outside the scope of your regular curriculum and related to ourdoor activities in which students have chances to look at real things, people, landscape or environment Completing extracurricular activities means you are going above and beyond your school requirements and living in a real context

However, simply playing soccer with your friends on the weekends for fun isn’t actually an extracurricular activity, even though it has nothing to do with school Extracurricular activities require a regular time commitment and initiative such

as being on a sports team, forming a student newspaper, playing the violin in the local orchestra, taking an online course on robotics, or visiting some historical sites in the country

2 Kinds of extracurricular activities for students

An extracurricular activity can be almost anything that isn’t required for

high school credit or paid employment These activities will become very important later, such as when you are applying to colleges, because they help you develop your talents, interests, and passions They can also teach you practical skills like time management With so many options out there, all students should be able to find an extracurricular that they are interested in and can develop a passion for! Remember that extracurricular activities do not have

to be sponsored by your school, so you should also consider things that you do with your family or within your community as viable options

Below I've listed many popular activities that you may not have thought of as extracurricular activities

2.1 Sports

Being a varsity athlete requires a great deal of time and dedication If you are serious about a sport, trying out for varsity athletics is a wonderful way to make friends, improve your athletic skills and experience team camaraderie It may even lead to scholarships and/or professional athletic opportunities in the

future If participating in a varsity sport is not for you, most schools offer students the opportunity to participate in intramural athletics Though there are typically no tryouts for these teams, they are often fairly competitive Participating in an intramural sport can have many of the same benefits as varsity athletics

If you are more comfortable on the sidelines than on the field, you can still be involved in athletics Spirit organizations like cheerleading and pep band are available on many campuses These groups are also a great opportunity to form friendships, be part of a team and improve your social skills

2.2 Academic and professional organizations

Look for on-campus academic or professional organizations that are relevant to your major or intended field of study Depending on your college, campus organizations may focus on any number of fields, from acting to applied mathematics As a member of such organizations, you will meet with other like-minded students, professors and professionals In such meetings, you will discuss issues of importance and also learn field-related job skills that can help you be better prepared for your future career

2.3 Volunteer and service-related activities

Volunteering your time or partaking in service-learning activities can benefit both you and the world around you Most campuses offer “alternative spring break” programs, in which students can participate in community service projects during their spring break Other service groups and organizations function year-round

Another option is service learning, which allows students to take what they learn

in the classroom and combine it with community service Though volunteering

in general will help you make friends, grow as a person, and most importantly help others, service learning also emphasizes self-reflection

2.4 Multicultural activities

Becoming involved in campus multicultural activities can help you increase your awareness and understanding of the world’s cultures and its different ethnic and racial backgrounds Such activities can include concerts, festivals, lectures and other events that encourage multicultural awareness on campus Participating in such activities can broaden your cultural consciousness, as well

as help you develop or better understand your own cultural identity

2.5 Arts

Whether you have a love of painting or a love of playing the trumpet, there are many ways to become involved in your college’s art scene Students interested

in fine arts can choose from theater troupes, musical groups and art fields like sculpture or drawing Participating in the arts can help introduce you to new friends and professional contacts, all while improving your artistic abilities

2.6 Real trips

Making real trips to enable to visit culatural and historical sites is one of the ideal actitivites which are attracted by the students However, a successful trip need a careful preparation from school, family and students themselves

3 The Benefits of Extracurricular Activities

3.1 Improving Academic Performance

Some students worry that participating in extracurriculars may take away too much time from their schoolwork, thus hurting their grades; however, extracurricular activities can actually improve your grades and your outlook on school in general! Participating in activities you are passionate about can increase your brain function, help you concentrate and manage your time better, all of which contribute to higher grades High endurance sports, for example, will train you to focus and build stamina in the face of intense difficulty This gives you an advantage when it comes to studying and taking exams Actually, it

is estimated that students who participate in outdoor activities have higher grades, more positive attitudes toward school and higher academic aspirations While students usually have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of study areas through core subjects and electives, extracurricular activities allow students to explore an interest in more depth than what is covered in class — or maybe even find a completely new interest that they wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise They can also provide a great chance for students to broaden their perspective of the world, particularly those involved in volunteering and community service programs

3.2 Explore Interests and Create Broader Perspectives

When students participate in multiple different activities, they will get the opportunity to explore a range of interests and unlock passions they never knew they had! Plus, diversifying their interests subsequently broadens their knowledge and world view Let’s take English club as an example, if you join an English club, they will have more opportunities to communicate in English, read English materials and understand Western countries’cultures In the same way,

if students attend a philosophy club they will begin to look at the world through the eyes of a budding philosopher They will begin to question everything and anything they see or hear, which may annoy their friends a bit but will also help them think more critically and not take everything at face value – both valuable skills in today’s “fake news” world

3.3 Higher Self-esteem

The more they achieve success through activities you’re passionate about, the more their self confidence will improve For example, when students are good at English and the teacher encourages them to get involved in competitions They join the school’s English club and starts training for singing and presenting in English at the competition among high schools in the region During the process they will realise how fun English can be and how talented they actually are, which gives their confidence a massive boost Besides, they also have good chance to work with the students who have the same interest coming from other schools It is a good time for them to show their abilities And they will be more and more self-confident.Working hard and mastering new skills in a fun, relaxed and sometimes competitive setting allows them to be successful without the pressure of getting a good grade.Plus, once their confidence improves, they will be more open to taking risks in all aspects of the life, not just in English competion in scale of their school

3.4 Social Opportunities

As being said above, when students participate in social activities they certainly meet a lot of new people and make new friends Especially, the friends have the same hobbies and interests Each extracurricular they engage in provides them with another opportunity to expand the social network, which will also come in handy when they finish school and look for a job in the future Plus, if pupils make friends in extracurricular activities, they will be more likely

to get more deeply involved For example, if they make a few friends doing community service at school they might decide start a volunteer club together and really make an impact in their community In addition to building skills within a specific discipline, extracurricular activities are great for developing general academic and soft skills Think debating for public speaking, academic competitions for exam strategies and sport for teamwork Balancing a number of commitments can help to improve your child’s time management skills, while finding an area they enjoy or excel at can boost self-confidence

3.5 Productive Breaks

Studying will become stressful and a little dull if all students do is going

to school, doing homework and sleeping Luckily, extracurricular activities give learners something fun (and parent approved) to do aside from school Instead of sitting in the classroom, students join in activities out side their school in other environment, learning and relaxing in the same time Therefore, the lesson will become more interesting, attractive and memorable An image, a picture or a real site often gives a deeper impression on students than a number or a statement Weekly activities can offer a welcome break from studies and homework particularly for senior students if they can spare the time Depending

on students’ interests, they may provide the chance to get outside and exercise, see friends, pursue a hobby or simply destress and refresh their mind They also help limit the time your child is spending in front of a TV or computer screen General speaking, outdoor activities help students get rid of the pressure of study, exams without making them forget their duty But it is only another way

of learning

3.6 Forming Essential life skills

On top of all of the benefits of extracurricular activities we already talked about, one of the greatest advantages extracurricular activities give you are “real world” skills.These skills include:

Goal setting: when attending useful activities, students will realise what is the

purpose of each action, then they also find out a specific objective for themsefves whenever they do something

Teamwork: When attending these social activities, students will learn how to

work with others, increasing the solidarity among the members of the team and work with strict discipline, respect other members

Learning time management and prioritizing

When students take on additional extracurricular activities outside the normal school day, they are also learning about time management and prioritizing work As an adult, you hold down a job, sometimes more than one

job in addition to being a parent, plus working on your own interests; here students will learn to manage time properly, prioritise what must be done first, second…, balancing school, homework, and extracurriculars will help prepare students for these adulthood tasks

Problem solving when organising open air activities, students sometimes have

to face with unexpected situations and they have to learn how to deal with these

It helps them react much more quickly and flexibly

Analytical thinking: when attending these activities, students will experience a planned way of living Therefore, they always think and prepare carefully for their intention, which impacts positively on their future orientation of career

Leadership: Besides when holding outdoor activities, each student has his own

responsibility So they learn how to take responsibility for doing their task, and occationally control the others of the group

Public speaking: students can take advantage of attending extracurricular

activities to show their abilities These may be their abilities of presenting in front of their class, acting a play or making something They gradually become self-confident in public, which affects positively on

3.7 Resumes

Without much previous work experience, one of the only ways hiring managers can assess your ability and work ethic is through your extracurricular activities

For example, if you were on a debating team, the manager would know that you work well with others, can argue a point professionally and have public speaking experience - all awesome skills to have in the workplace!

3.8 University Applications

Last but not least, taking part in extracurricular is also one of the important criteria of university applications! Some students especially pay attention to those who do varitety of outdoor activities and give them the prioritation to take a seat in their stitutions Because these students are considered to be the dynamic ones and intend to be brilliant member in the future.That is usually the case in many countries, like Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, especially, in US and UK, It’s pretty much impossible

to get into any university in the US or UK without extracurricular activities Universities in the UK want to see that you’ve gone above and beyond in your intended area of study and have made a difference and/or excelled your field If you want to major in chemistry, a UK university is more likely to accept you if you’ve joined a chemistry club, taken extra chemistry courses at your local university and volunteered in a lab

4.The selected kind of extracurricular activity and the lessons related.

4.1 Selection of a suitable extracurricular activity.

Basing on the purpose of the lesson or subject, teachers select a suitable kind of extracurricular activity for students to join English is a special subject which can be integrated to other aspects such as sport events, environmental problem, celebrities, or cultural and historical sites… For students in Quan Son high school, I want to choose one type of extracurricular activity in which they

can do many things related to their life, and they can semultaneouly also have new experiences they have never seen.So I planned them to make a trip to visit natural park and cultural and historical sites in the nearby Specifically, I together my students visited some tourist attractions in Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces, not far from our school and it didn’t cost too much money

4.2 The lessons related.

There are a lot of lessons in textbook English 10, 11, 12 – basic curriculum, which can be integrated to apply extracurricular activity in teaching so that students are motivated and more interested in the lesson

Unit 10 ENDANGERED SPECIES – English 12

Unit 10 CONSERVATION – English 10

Unit 11 NATIONAL PARKS – English 10

Unit 16 HISTORICAL PLACES – English 10

Unit 10 NATURE IN DANGER – English 11

5.The preparation

5.1 Preparation for the trip

It can be denied that the preparation for outdoor activities is really important, especially when we want to make a trip outside the school Based on real experience we have done in our school I can give some useful tips as followed

- Making a specific plan at the beginning of the school year to ask for the society

of students’s parents for a permision In the plan we need to cover the destination, the expense, time, the transportation and the schedule of the trip After informing the plan of the class, we need to ask for some advice from the society of student’s parents because it is very important and some parents may not want their children to sleep overnight outside Furthermore, the destination

is rather far from their houses Besides that, we should take advantage of their help by accompanying of some representatives of the class society of students’ parents This will make the trip much more useful

- Calculating the fund for the trip including fares, accommodation, meals and possibly unexpected expense

- Handing in a specific plan so that the mamager of the school goes over and gives the permision of the management

- Inform the regulations to all the members of the trip So as to make sure for the trip, we should have strict rule for the group We divided the class into groups of four, they will take care of one another, and stay together at the hotel Reminding students to be careful with all the facilities of the hotel to avoid breaking them And the most important is that noone leaves the group for any reason Because, the safety of all the members is the most important to the leader of the trip Students may be too excited to go out without asking for our permit

- Booking the hotel as well as the restaurant in advance so that we do not have to look for anywhere during the trip

- Prepare some necessary things such as medicin, fast food…in case unexpected trouble may happen

- Making a specific outline of the trip so that all the students and their parents know and have a good preparation

All we can see in the table below

1.Time From 30th – 31th of December

2.Transportation

3.Destination Thanh Hoa-Nghe An

-The Muong Thanh eco-natural park

in Dien Chau, Nghe An

- The Ho Chi Minh square at Vinh city

- The Lotus Village – Uncle Ho’s hometown

- The temple of the Emperor Tran Hung Dao – Quyet mountains

- The cow farms of TH true milk factory with The hill of sunflower

- Lam Kinh historical site in Thanh Hoa

4.Members -30 students of class 11A2

- 2 teachers

- 2 students’ parents

- 1 driver 5.The total

expense

-650 000 per a student -including fares, meals and accomodation

advance

6.The Schedule The first day

-Starting at the school gate at 5 a.m on

30th of December -Having breakfast in Thanh Hoa city then going to the Vinh city

- Having lunch and taking a rest in Vinh city and then visiting The Lotus village and The Ho Chi Minh square

at Vinh city

The second day

-Having breakfast at the hotel at 6 a.m and then visiting The temple of Tran Hung Dao, about 8 a.m going to the Muong ThanhEco-natural park,

-about 12 o’clock, having lunch at the park then leaving for the TH true milk cow farm and visiting The hill of Sunflower