In English textbook of grade six, there are seven lessons in each unit. Lesson 1 is Getting started, which helps students have an overview of the topic and
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introduce what they will learn in this topic. Lesson 2 is A closer look 1, which focuses on Vocabulary and Pronunciation. Lesson 3 is A closer look 2, which is about Grammar. Lesson 4 is Communication. Lesson 5 and 6 focus on four basic skills of English. Last but not least, lesson 7 is Looking back, in which students review what they have learnt in the unit and carry out a Project.
In lesson 7, to be more specific, beside Looking back part, there is a Project section presented generally (just giving general clues and instructions), which is hard for students to foster their learning autonomy enormously. As a result, by adapting the projects in textbook, this research is conducted to help students to enhance their learning autonomy in different five areas: Determining the objcetives, choosing the contents, selecting the methods and techniques to be used, monitoring the acquisition procedure and evaluating what has been acquired.
The English course lasts thirty-six weeks with one hundred and five periods.
Each week, teachers of English have three periods of forty-five minutes. Each period is exactly equivalent to one lesson in the textbook. Besides, students have two extra periods every week so as to consolidate and broaden knowledge they have learnt in the textbook.
Based on the English syllabus of the school, the study was carried out in thirty- four extra periods and twelve periods of lesson 7. In other words, the researcher created six projects whose topics were based on the unit topics in the textbook. The students worked in group in two weeks to complete a project. That is to say, students had to do six two-week projects in a semester.
Table 3.1: The project used in the study Project
topics
Objectives Teacher‟
activities
Students‟
activities
Students‟
learning autonomy 1 Your
favorite TV program
- Use and pronounce correctly words about TV programmes, people and things.
- Use conjunction: and, but, so, because,
although.
- Know how to choose
- Guide students when setting objectives, making outline and synthesizing information.
- Makes group of five.
- Choose a topic.
- Set
- Selecting methods and
techniques to be used -Choosing contents - Setting
36 the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
- Listen to their
presentation, and giving comments and
feedback.
objectives.
- Make an outline.
- Divide tasks and roles in each group.
- Search for information.
- Collect information.
- Synthesize and
organize information.
- Write scripts for presentation - Design poster.
- Rehearse before presentation - Make a presentation - Self-
evaluate their strengths and
weaknesses.
objectives - Select methods and
techniques to be used -Choosing content
- Select methods and
techniques to be used
- Evaluate what has been acquired 2 Your
favorite sport/
game.
- Use and pronounce correctly words about sports and games.
- Use past simple and imperatives.
- Practice to choose the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
3 A city in the world
that you want to
visit
- Use and pronounce correctly words about continents, countries, cities and landmarks.
- Use present perfect and superlatives of long adjectives.
- Practice to choose the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
4 Your dream house in
the future
- Use and pronounce correctly words about types of houses and appliances.
- Use will and might to
37 talk about the future.
- Practice to choose the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
5 An
environ- mental problem
and solutions
- Use and pronounce correctly words about environmental
problems and their effects and solutions.
- Use conditional sentences-type 1.
- Practice to choose the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.
6 A type of robot that you
want to own in
the future
- Use and pronounce correctly words about robots and daily activities.
- Use could and will be able to.
- Practice to choose the topic, set objectives, search and collect needful information, well-prepare for
presentation, present in front of the class, and self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses.