MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING UNIVERSITY OF DA NANG

COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Title:

A STUDY OF THE EFECTIVENESS OF AUTONOMY ENGLISH LEARNING

ON THE INTERNET OF DA NANG UNIVERSITY'S STUDENTS

Supervisor: Luu Quy Khuong

Students: Dinh Thi Nguyen Anh

Mai Thi Tam

Phan Do Bich Ngan

DA NANG, 2010
1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Statement of the problem

English is the most polular language all over the world. It is estimated that English is
the mother tongue of about 400 millions people, more than 430 millions people are
using English as a second language anh at least 750 millions people are speaking it as a
foreign language.

English plays an very important role in many fields of society today. In terms of
education, this language is used mainly in international universities worldwide and
almost all applications for international universities are required with good- qualified
diplomas in English. Many references found from different sources such as books,
articles, internet are written by English with a great deal. In terms of economics,
English is communicative tool of businessman and written tool of most trade
contracts . In terms of science , it is a unique language for global scientific
conferences.

As the same as many other countries, English is the most important foreign language in
Viet Nam. Although our country might realize its importance, the ability of
Vietnamese students’ s English still ranks among the worst in South - East Asia. In
recent years, the teaching and studying English catch much attention of public. It is
considered one of the necessary reforms in our educational policies. Ministry of
education and training have already made a request for improving the level of English
among Vietnamese students. English is recognized as one of the most important
communicative means which supports our globally intergrating process.
There are certain explainations for the reason why Vietnamese students find it hard to
be professional in English.First of all, education in school does not have efficiency.For
example, teachers do not make equal training among English skills. They attach
exaggerated importance to grammar, and most parts of their tests concentrate on
grammar use. Meanwhile , other skills namely listening, speaking, writing are taught in
a perfunctory manner. Secondly, the teaching quality of teachers are still not
guaranteed. In a reality, teachers in primary and secondary schools often have wrong
pronounciations, they do not have confidence to train their pupils’ pronounciations and
so that, many pupils pronoun uncorrectly . Thirdly, pupils and students depend too
much on what they have learned from school, and the discovery of new English
knowledge outside the class have rarely made.

From achievements of science and technology, Internet becomes a vital part of people
in general and youth in particular. The youth considers internet as a effective
imformation searching tool in the purpose of learning and making research. Recently,
studying on the Internet has been new trend and habit of them. A large number of
online training programs attract Vietnamese learners and gain much success,
especially English programs.

Advantages of internet bring English self- learners big benefits, the effectiveness must
be discussed first. If learners have a good learning method, internet will help them to
succeed beyond expectations. internet provides learners with huge knowledge, self-
testing exercises, interesting lessons to practice skills and give them chances to talk to
native speakers. Above are some reasons why this research focus on analysing the
effectiveness of new learning method- study on the internet with English of
vietnamese students in general and Da Nang university’s students in particular. This
research topic is “ a study of the effectiveness of self- learning English on the internet
of Da Nang university’ students”. This research hopes to make readers understand the
way of studying English on the internet clearly and propose the most effective learning
method to English learners.

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

1.2.1 Aims:
This research aims to make a survey of Da Nang University’s students in the
habit of studying English thanks for the internet tool to understand the effectivity
which internet supports English learners. Then this research provides leaners with a
effective method to gain best results in studying English on the internet
1.2.2 Objectives:
- To make comparisons between studying English on the internet and studying
English in traditional way
- To find out advantages and disadvantages of studying English on the Internet.
- To understand the reason why some Vietnamese learners did not succeed in this
studying method on the internet
- To propose a effective method for English learners.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

With the objectives metioned above, the study attemps to answer the following
questions:
1)What are the differences between study English on the internet and study English
in traditional learning approach?
2)What are strengths and weaknesses of self-learning of English on the Internet?
3)How can Vietnamese learners study English on the internet in most effective
way?

1.4 HYPOTHESIS
The central hypotheses of this studay can be stated as follows:
- There are differences between self-learning English on the internet and learn
 English in traditional way.
- In terms of knowledge availability, time management, cost,flexibity, self-
learning on the internet is benifical than other methods.
- Students still have difficulties in finding reliable and prospective learning
methods.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

How to master English skills is not an easy task whether learners are students or adults.
The problem is how to have a best method to study this English language smoothly,
easily and effectively. Hence, this research will help learners recognize their
weaknesses in studying English before and change their method to have good results.
That method is a new way of studying which is self- learning on the internet. The
effectivity of self-learning on the internet is the decisive factor for the learners’ sucess.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
1 Until now, many researchers have studied how to study English well and
propose studying method of English. Besides, many materials found on the internet
are metioning this problem clearly. Below are some reviews of recent researches:

2 A Study of Autonomy English Learning on the internet by Yunsheng Zhong

(2008), Foreign Language Department of Qinzhou University, Qinzhou 535000,
China: This study points out that autonomy English learning on the internet
facilitates the improvement of the English level even more on the basis of the
author’s acquisition and experience, as well as explains the favorable factors and
unfavorable factors of autonomy English learning on the internet and then suggests
the effective strategies of autonomy English learning on the Internet.

3 Online Self-Tests: A Powerful Tool for Self- Study by Manoj Killedar(2004) ,

Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University, Nashik, India. This research
 shows the recognition of Self-Study achievements of a distance learner in
comparision with other fellow students is a strong motivation for further Self-
Study. As a results, the “Online Self- test” is a simple and effective solution for
dealing with two common concerns of almost all distance learners: lack of time and
lack of motivation. This “Online Self- Test” is introduced to improve the self –
study of distance learners.

4 Learner Autonomy Through Computer Mediated Communication(CMC) by Journal

Technology(2007), University Technology of Malaysia: The purpose of this study
was to investigate learner autonomy which refers to learners’ abilities in taking
responsibility for the management of their own learning through one mode of
computer mediated communication

5 Study on Autonomy Learning in Computer and Web-based Environment by Xueai

Zhao and Ying Zhan(2007): This study endeavors to present “ three- stages”
teaching mode- a new mode of promoting students’ independent learning of English
in Northwestern Polytechnical University.This study,moreover, attempts to present
an effective teaching method of promoting students’ autonomous learning of
English .

6 Intermediate Online English: An Attempt to Increase Learner Autonomy, by Ana

Gimeno- Sanz (2008), Universidad Politecnica de Valencia, Spain. This research
shows the necessary of designing online learning activities to suit their learners’
particular needs by intergrating Web 2.0 tool into their teaching practices.
However , these researches have not directly mentioned the (importance, necessity)
effectiveness which Internet aids learners of English and expressed the
indispensability of using Internet to improve English.
2.1 Theoratical Background:

2.1.1 Autonomy learning:

Although being a buzzword in foreign language education in the past decades, there
might be much confusion and disagreement about what is meant by the term
“autonomy learning”. According to Holec, one of the earliest advocates of
autonomy in language teaching, autonomy is “the ability to take charge of one’s
own learning” (Holec, 1981, p.3).
In Technical perspective (Benson, 2006), Dickinson (1987) views autonomy as a
“situation in which the learner is totally responsible for all of the decisions
concerned with his or her learning and implementation of those decisions ” .
Psychological perspective (Benson, 2006) considers autonomy as “a capacity,
consisting of two cyclically interrelated elements, namely behavioral and
cognitive” (Horváth, 2005; Rivers, 2001).
Besides, David Little states “autonomy is essentially a matter of the learner's
psychological relation to the process and content of learning – a capacity of
detachment, critical reflection, decision-making, and independent action” (Little ,
1991, p.4)
2.1.2 The components of autonomy in English
There seem to be seven main attributes characterising autonomous language
learners (see Omaggio, 1978, cited in Wenden, 1998, p.41-42):
a) having insights into their learning styles and strategies;
b) taking an active approach to the learning task at hand;
c) being willing to take risks, i.e., to communicate in the target language at all costs;
d) being good guessers;
e) attending to form as well as to content, that is, place importance on accuracy as
well as appropriacy;
f) developing the target language into a separate reference system and are willing to
 revise and reject hypotheses and rules that do not apply;
g) having a tolerant and outgoing approach to the target language.
2.1.3 The role of internet in autonomy English learning
According to Dwi Heriyanto (2005:57 – 58) in Belajar dan Mengajar Bahasa
Inggris Dengan Menggunakan Teknologi Modern Audio dan Multimedia said, there
are many facilities internet to offer for students in learning English online and
many websites,newspapers, English magazines and online dictionaries in internet
to support and help students in learning English

3. RESEARCH METHOD
3.1 Research design and methodology
This study is based on the combination of qualitative and quantitative. And it is also
based on the comparative, descriptive and analytic method. The qualitative approach is
used to describe and analyze the similarites and differences between online and
traditional learning. Meanswhile, the quantitative is used as a tool of collecting data
basing the percentage of online learners as well as compare online learners with
traditional learners.
The descriptive method is used to give a detailed description of online learning.
The analytic method is used to classify and jusstify a certain feature or characteristic of
online learning.
The comparative method is used to compare online learning with traditional learning.
3.2 Procedures
To carry out the study properly, I follow these steps:
- Collecting the materials about learning English on the Internet.
- Picking out its characteristics, usefulness and significance.
- Comparing the similarities and differences between online English and
traditional English.
- Analyzing and discussing the results.
- Proposing the best ways to learn English on the Internet effectively.
3.3 Samplings:
The research will investigate the autonomy English learning on the Internet with the
students at 3 colleges of Danang University by selecting randomly 50 students in
college of Foreign Language, 50 students in University of Economics, 50 students in
University of Technology.
3.4 Data collection:
This research will get data from some articles in education and society newspapers
which comment on the autonomy English learning on the Internet of students. In
addition, information from ideas and experiences of students who have been self-
learning English on the Internet are collected by questionares and interviews. Also,
data can be got from the previous studies and some books written about this topic. And
many web-sites of e-book and online libraries are the biggest resource of this study.
3.5 Instruments for analysis:
The research will use questionares as an instrument to collect the data. After that, the
data will be processed with statistic software, SPSS. In additiion, some interviews are
got through with the sound recorder to get more data that is necessary and exact. Also,
“Google” on the Internet is the instrument used the most for searching the useful
information to do this research.
3.6 Data analysis:
After selecting the material, the benefits and effectiveness of learning English on the
Internet will be described and analyzed. Consequently, leaners will find the similarities
and differences between online learning and traditional learning. The data will be
analyzed to yield qualititive and quantitative information in the following dimensions
of the research questions that set the guidelines for the seeking of answers for the
study:
The differences between online and traditional learning vary and should be considered
when choosing an education program.
Scheduling: It is much easier to schedule your learning English around the rest of your
day when you go to school virtually. Meanswhile, traditional learning requires that you
attend class a certain number of times every week, at specific times.
Communicating with Professors & Students: One of the main differences between
online learning and traditional learning is the type of relationship you develop with
other students and professors. You may not get to know other students and professors
as well as you would if you took in-person classees.
Developing Skills: Other than writing skills, you may also develop technological skills.
Since online programs require you to work with a computer, you may also be working
with different software programs. You may not have had the opportunity to work with
these software programs if you attend traditional courses.
Resources: With online learning, the resources you get will be slightly different than
the resource you’ll get at a traditional learning. Internet provides access to virtual
libraries, and some even have partnerships with local facilities, so your education is not
compromised.
The strenghs and weaknesses of learning English on the Internet:
- The strenghs is shown with the following features: cost reduction, self-
orientating, flexibility, self-management, accessibility & convenience, consistency,
interaction & cooperation and effectiveness.
- The weaknesses resulted in some limitations: no face to face, network security
issues, social isolation, Internet isolation and the problem of inllectually possession.
The most effective way of learning English on the Internet.
- Find friends to study and speak with. Learning English together can be very
encouraging. Society can help you find friends to speak English over the inernet.
- Be patient with yourself. Remember learning is a process - speaking a language
well takes time. It is not a computer that is either on or off!
- Communicate! There is nothing like communicating in English and being
successful. Grammar exercises are good - having your friend on the other side of the
world understand your email is fantastic!
- Use the Internet. The Internet is the most exciting, unlimited English resource
that anyone could imagine and it is right at your finger tips.
- Make learning a habit. Try to learn something every day. It is much better to
study (or read, or listen to English news, etc.) 10 minutes each day than to study for 2
hours once a week.

4. LIMITATION AND DELIMITATION

4.1 Delimitation:
The study will investigate the effectiveness of the autonomy English learning on the
internet of the students in DN university. However, our group just carry out the
research in three colleges of DN university where students are interested in English and
they spend a lot of time on learning English, they are the College of Foreign Language,
Danang University of Economics and Danang University of Technology.
4.2 Limitation:
Although the research was done with our best effort, making mistakes is unavoidable.
Due to the limitation of subjective and objective conditions: time, resource…; the
reliability of the study was not expected.

5. TIME LINE

WORK
- Reading materials,
collecting data and
analyzing data.
- First draft.
TIME
- From October, 13/2010
to October 18/2010.
- From October, 19/2010
to October, 23/2010.
 - Final draft. - From October 24/2010
to October, 28/2010

6. CHAPTER OUTLINE
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Rationale

1.2 Significance of Study

1.3 Aims & Objectives

1.3.1 Aims

1.3.2 Objectives

1.4 Research questions

1.5 Hypothesis

1.6 Definition of terms

Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Review the previous study

2.2 Theoretical Background

2.3 Pratical Background

Chapter 3: METHOD & PROCEDURES

3.1 Research designs & methods

3.2 Research Procedures

 3.3 Description of Population & Sample

3.4 Data Collection

3.5 Instruments for analysis

3.6 Data Analysis

Chapter 4: LIMITATIONS AND DELIMITATIONS