RATIONALE
The Communist Party of Vietnam and the Vietnamese government prioritize education as a means to access global civilizations and enhance quality of life They emphasize the need to improve educational quality through innovative teaching methods and modernized management systems In the context of globalization, English has become a vital communication tool that connects people across various domains, including politics, commerce, and culture Notably, since 2015, English has been a compulsory subject in the national general certificate of secondary education examination, presenting challenges for high schools in equipping students with necessary language skills Consequently, English teachers must continuously enhance their qualifications and adopt creative teaching strategies to foster students' communicative competence, enabling them to apply their knowledge in real-life situations.
The Ministry of Education and Training has developed various textbooks using a communicative approach to enhance learners' language skills, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing Each of these skills is equally important and interconnected, contributing to the mastery of the target language A deficiency in any one skill can hinder a learner's ability to effectively use the language Through years of teaching English, I have observed that students struggle with remembering phrasal verbs and often seek strategies to recall them in different contexts Notably, phrasal verbs can have distinct meanings based on the prepositions used, such as "look up," "look after," "look for," "look into," and "look at."
Such difficult questions raised by the students make me think of the topic:
At Buon Ma Thuot Upper Secondary School, students are increasingly engaged in music, making it an effective tool for teaching phrasal verbs By using examples from popular English songs, educators can enhance students' understanding of these complex linguistic structures Incorporating music into lessons not only captures students' interest but also reinforces their learning experience, making phrasal verbs more relatable and memorable.
“Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away
Now it looks as though they’re here to stay
Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be
There’s a shadow hanging over me
Why she had to go I don’t know, she wouldn’t say
I said something wrong now I long for yesterday
Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play
Now I need a place to hide away
(extracted from the song YESTERDAY by the Beatles)
Music serves as an effective tool for students to remember the meanings of phrasal verbs found in lyrics Recognizing the challenge students face in recalling and using these verbs in everyday conversations, this teaching initiative aims to enhance their English learning experience and expand their vocabulary Furthermore, it enables students to apply phrasal verbs flexibly across various contexts, ultimately improving their performance in written assessments.
CONTENTS OF THE TEACHING INITIATIVE
Theoretical Background
There exist a variety of definitions of phrasal verbs which are given in different sources as follows:
A phrasal verb consists of a standard verb combined with one or two particles, which can be either adverbs (like away or together) or prepositions (such as through or in) Examples of commonly used phrasal verbs include "pass away," "pull together," "fall through," "make do with," and "put down to." Understanding these combinations is essential for mastering English.
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb with a preposition or adverb, such as "take off" or "look down on," which creates a unique meaning that differs from the individual words' definitions.
A phrasal verb is a verb followed by a preposition or an adverb; the combination creates a meaning different from the original verb alone
To get = to obtain I need to get a new battery for my camera
Phrasal verbs, also known as multi-part or multi-word verbs, are a significant category of verbs in the English language For instance, the phrase "to get together" means "to meet." A practical example of this usage is: "Why don’t we all get together for lunch one day?" Understanding phrasal verbs is essential for mastering English communication.
Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language
However, they are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts They should be avoided in academic writing where it is preferable to use a formal verb such as
“to postpone” rather than “to put off”
Since the Ministry of Education and Training introduced English textbooks based on the communicative approach, many English teachers have conducted research and implemented innovative teaching strategies to address the challenges in teaching and learning the language Their goal is to enhance student comprehension and improve language skills while fostering enthusiasm for English and foreign languages In addition to transitioning from traditional to learner-centered teaching methods, experienced educators are tasked with identifying students' difficulties to ensure greater engagement and help them overcome obstacles in their learning journey.
After nearly fifteen years of teaching English, I've gained insights into the interests and psychology of high school students A recent survey revealed that most students enjoy listening to music in their free time, as it helps them relieve stress and unwind after challenging study sessions Recognizing the significant role music plays in engaging students, I incorporate songs to enhance their memory retention, particularly when teaching phrasal verbs.
Phrasal verbs pose a significant challenge for high school students, particularly during multiple-choice tests where they struggle to identify the correct answers To address this issue, I propose an innovative approach to help students effectively remember the meanings of phrasal verbs by utilizing English songs that incorporate these expressions.
When I play the songs, I put a stop to the sentences with the phrasal verbs and then ask them to guess their meanings in the contexts Moreover, in the curriculum of the twelfth grade textbooks, phrasal verbs are in Language Focus of Units 14 and 15
E.g: Remember to ……… your shoes when you are in a Japanese house
Phrasal verbs are essential in the English language, significantly enhancing students' writing skills Mastering their effective and flexible use can elevate a student's writing style to a more advanced level.
In recent years, the prevalence of phrasal verbs in written tests has increased significantly, presenting challenges for learners, particularly those preparing for important exams.
Many English teachers have conducted extensive research focused on language practice skills, yet few studies explore teaching phrasal verbs through English songs This innovative approach aims to foster a more engaging and memorable learning environment, providing students with enjoyment while enhancing their ability to memorize phrasal verbs effectively.
Research Method and Data Collection
Two research methods applied to conduct this study are quantitative and qualitative
This research focuses on twelfth graders at Buon Ma Thuot High School, as phrasal verbs are a key component of the Language Focus in Units 14 and 15 The increasing importance of mastering these verbs is highlighted by the students' preparation for the national GCSE examination.
Let me illustrate the steps of this research paper
Firstly, I have read hundreds of English songs, categorized and picked up the songs containing phrasal verbs
Secondly, I have had these English songs recorded in the high quality disk and played the tape recorder for the students
The article concludes by identifying and analyzing phrasal verbs, exploring their meanings within practical contexts Additionally, it includes various exercises and assessments designed to evaluate the understanding and retention of these phrasal verbs.
A study was conducted with over 100 twelfth graders to assess the effectiveness of a teaching method that utilized various types of questions, including informational and yes/no inquiries The findings indicate a need for further enhancements to this approach to optimize its impact on student learning.
Realities
Numerous sources, including test results and student feedback, indicate that students frequently struggle with tests involving phrasal verbs Many students find phrasal verbs confusing and have difficulty distinguishing their meanings.
What are phrasal verbs? Why are phrasal verbs one of the most difficult aspects for the learners of the English language?
English teachers often grapple with thought-provoking questions that inspire them to discover more creative and effective teaching methods One of the challenges they face is teaching phrasal verbs, which can be particularly difficult for English language learners due to their complexity and multiple meanings.
Phrasal verbs often have meanings that cannot be inferred from their individual components, making them idiomatic expressions that can confuse learners For instance, understanding these phrases within context is essential for grasping their true meaning.
Ex: The teacher ticked off the student for being late , in which the phrasal verb to tick off means to reprimand or to express disapproval
Phrasal verbs often exhibit polysemy, meaning they can have multiple interpretations For example, the phrasal verb "to put down" literally refers to placing an object on a surface, but it also carries idiomatic meanings It can imply belittling or criticizing someone, as well as referring to the act of euthanizing an animal, such as in the phrase "I had to have my cat put down." Additionally, it can denote the action of stopping or suppressing something, exemplified by the sentence "The police put down the riots with unnecessary brutality."
To effectively meet the demands of modern English teaching and learning, educators must discover and implement flexible and creative teaching methods that enhance students' understanding of lesson content Given that communication is a key objective in foreign language education, it is essential for students, especially twelfth graders, to master grammatical concepts and develop language competence across various contexts and situations.
Twelfth-grade students face significant challenges as they prepare for crucial exams, highlighting the need for support to help them navigate these difficulties A survey was conducted with over 100 students to gather reliable data on their experiences The analysis of the responses revealed insights into the reasons behind their incorrect answers on multiple-choice tests focused on phrasal verbs.
Procedures and Findings
This article analyzes over one hundred English songs featuring phrasal verbs, providing contextual meanings for each verb based on pragmatic situations It aims to demonstrate effective methods for teaching phrasal verbs through five selected English songs, including "Yesterday Once More."
Last Thing On My Mind , If We Hold On Together , We Are The World and Papa
In the lesson, the teacher plays the song "Yesterday Once More" by the Carpenters twice, prompting students to identify the phrasal verbs featured in the lyrics.
When I was young, I’d listen to the radio
Waiting for my favourite songs
When they played I’d sing along, it made me smile
Those were such happy times and not so long ago
How I wondered where they’d gone
But they’re back again just like a long lost friend
All the songs, I love well
Looking back on how it was in years gone by
And the times that I had
Make today seem rather sad, so much has changed
It was the songs of love that I would sing to them
As they melt the years away
All my best memories come back clearly to me
The song features several phrasal verbs, including "listen to," "wait for," "look back on," "go by," "melt away," and "come back to." The teacher guides students in understanding the meanings and usage of these phrasal verbs Furthermore, students are encouraged to create their own sentences using these expressions to reinforce their learning.
Listen to sth/sb = try to hear sth/ sb; pay attention
Ex: You are not listening to what I am saying!
Wait for sth/sb = stay where one is, delay acting, etc for a specified time or until sb or sth comes or until sth happens
Ex: We are waiting for the rain to stop
Look back on sth = think about (sth in) one’s past: look back on one’s childhood , past, life
Ex: When I look back on those days, I realize that I was desperately unhappy
Go by (of time) = pass, elapse
Ex: As time goes by , my memory seems to get worse
In Last Thing On My Mind by Steps, there exist some phrasal verbs such as go away , look into, work out , plan for
I thought we had it made, I thought you’d never go away
When I looked into your eyes
There was something you weren’t telling me
But in my confusion, I just couldn’t see
If there was any doubt, I thought we would work it out
Of all the things I was ever planning for
This was the last thing on my mind
In this song, the phrasal verbs can be explained as follows:
Ex: We are going away for a few days
Look into = turn one’s eyes in a particular direction in this situation
However, “ look into ” also means “investigate, examine”
Ex: His disappearance is being looked into by the police
Work out = find the answer to sth; solve sth
Ex: Can you work out what these squiggles mean?
Plan for sth = make preparations: plan for the future, one’s retirement, etc
Ex: Has your father planned for his retirement?
In the song "If We Hold On Together," several phrasal verbs are highlighted, including "throw away," "hold on," "roll by," "seek out," "wash away," and "dream about," each playing a significant role in conveying the song's themes.
Don’t lose your way, with each passing day
You’ve come so far, don’t throw it away
Live believing, dreams are for weaving
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by for you and I
Souls and the wind must learn how to bend
Seek out a star, hold on to the end
Washes our tears all away
When we are out there in the dark
We’ll dream about the sun
In the dark we’ll feel the light
From this song, the phrasal verbs contain the following meanings:
Throw away = discard sth as useless or unwanted
Ex: That’s rubbish – you can throw it away hold on (to sb/sth) = keep grasping or gripping sb/ sth; not let go of sb/ sth
Ex: When the horse jumped over the fence, I held on as hard as I could
Roll by = make (sth) or be made into the shape of a ball or cylinder
Seek sb/sth out = look for and find sth/sb
Ex: She sought out and acquired all his early paintings
Wash sb/sth away (of water) = remove or carry sb/sth away to another place
Ex: The cliffs are being gradually washed away by the sea
Dream about sth = experience sth in a dream
Ex: I dreamt about flying last night
"We Are The World" is a globally recognized and impactful song that emphasizes unity and collective action It features notable phrasal verbs like "come together" and "go on," highlighting the importance of collaboration in addressing global challenges.
There comes time when we heed a certain call when the world must come together as one
There are people dying, oh and it’s time to lend a hand to life the greatest gift of all
We can’t go on pretending day by day that someone,
Somewhere will soon make a change
As we can see from this song, the phrasal verbs come together and go on imply the following meanings:
Come together (as one) = unite
Ex: The party went on until dawn
The last song which is used to teach phrasal verbs is Papa by Paul Anka There are some phrasal verbs appearing in this song
After all the prays were said
Growing up with him was easy
Time just flew on by , the years began to fly
He aged and so did I
I could tell that mama wasn’t well
Papa knew and deep down so did she, so did she
When she died, papa broke down and cried
Your children live through you
In this song, the phrasal verbs can be understood as follows:
Grow up = reach the stage of full development; become adult or mature
Ex: She is growing up fast
Fly on by = pass, go by
Break down = lose control of one’s feeling
Ex: Tom breaks down whenever he thinks of the tragedy
Or He broke down and swept when he heard the news
Live through = experience a difficult situation or event
Ex: It was hard to describe the nightmare she had lived through
Incorporating this teaching method into lectures enhances students' ability to memorize phrasal verbs while also making the process of learning English more enjoyable.
After implementing the teaching of phrasal verbs using English songs, I conducted a survey to evaluate the effectiveness of this method Additionally, I compared the results with those from traditional teaching approaches to assess the differences in learning outcomes.
A survey conducted with over 100 twelfth-grade students at Buon Ma Thuot High School, which included various written assessments and interviews with English teachers, revealed significant insights into the students' academic performance and learning experiences.
A significant 72% of students believe they can improve their test performance, attributing this to an increasing familiarity with phrasal verbs Additionally, many students express a growing interest in learning phrasal verbs through English songs, noting that the more they listen to these songs, the better they remember the phrasal verbs.
Despite 28% of students expressing confusion over phrasal verbs and struggling to use them effectively, a new teaching method has been proposed to enhance their English learning This approach includes organizing phrasal verbs in alphabetical order and providing a diverse range of exercises under the principle of "Practice makes perfect."
From the problems and realities illustrated above, the researcher puts forward some suggestions below:
English teachers select engaging songs that feature phrasal verbs, making the learning process more enjoyable for students Through music, students develop a greater interest in English and are motivated to understand the song lyrics As they listen to more songs, they enhance their retention of phrasal verbs.
English teachers should provide clear explanations of phrasal verbs in various contexts to facilitate student understanding and application Additionally, offering diverse exercises will help students use phrasal verbs accurately and flexibly A glossary of commonly used phrasal verbs, along with example sentences, is also included to assist students in their learning process.
PHRASAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLE SENTENCE ask someone out invite on a date Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a movie ask around ask many people the same question
I asked around, but no one has seen my wallet Your purchases total $200 You'll need to back up your car for me to exit My wife supported my decision to quit my job The racing car exploded after crashing into the fence We need to inflate 50 balloons for the party A vehicle or machine may break down and stop functioning unexpectedly.
During a snowstorm, our car broke down on the highway, causing distress The term "break down" can also refer to emotional collapse, as seen when a woman broke down upon receiving news of her son's death In an educational context, "break down" means to divide a project into manageable parts, like when our teacher split the final project into three sections Additionally, "break in" refers to the unlawful entry into a building, as happened when someone broke in and stole our stereo Similarly, "break into" implies forcibly entering a space, exemplified by firemen needing to break into a room to rescue children Lastly, the phrase "break something in" means to wear an item, like shoes, a few times to make them comfortable before use, as I plan to do before our run next week.
PHRASAL VERB MEANING EXAMPLE SENTENCE death break up end a relationship My boyfriend and I broke up before I moved to
In America, the phrase "break up" can refer to informal laughter, as in when kids start laughing after a clown begins to speak It can also mean to escape, like when prisoners break out of jail unnoticed by the guards Additionally, "break out in something" describes the development of a skin condition, such as a rash after a camping trip The expression "bring someone down" signifies making someone unhappy, exemplified by sad music Conversely, "bring someone up" refers to raising a child, as my grandparents did for me after my parents passed away Furthermore, "bring something up" can mean initiating a conversation about a topic, which often leads to my mother leaving the room when my father mentions sports Lastly, to "call around" means to make phone calls to various places or people.
Solutions
Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first Use the words in brackets
1 You’re too young to stop working (GIVE)
2 This bag is Janet’s (BELONGS)
3 We’re trying to arrange a holiday together (UP)
4 I always like to enter quiz competitions (GO)
5 I found this film quite disappointing (LET)
6 The fire suddenly started in the early hours of the morning (BROKE)
7 If you don’t know the number, you can find it in the phone book (UP)
8 I’m bored with waiting for her to telephone (FED)
9 I visited some old friends while I was in Manchester (CALLED)
10 We got some money from the insurance company, but nothing could compensate for losing me wedding ring (MAKE)
1.You’re too young to GIVE UP working
2 This bag BELONGS TO Janet
3 We’re trying to FIX UP a holiday together
4 I always like to GO IN FOR quiz competitions
5 This film LET me DOWN
6 The fire BROKE OUT in the early hours of the morning
7 If you don’t know the number, you can LOOK it UP in the phone book
8 I’m FED UP WITH waiting for her to telephone
9 I CALLED ON some old friends while I was in Manchester
10 We got some money from the insurance company, but nothing could
MAKE UP FOR losing me wedding ring.
CONCLUSION
To meet the Ministry of Education's requirements and enhance our community's prestige, I am committed to equipping future generations with essential foreign language knowledge and language competence.
Based on the survey results, several effective solutions have been proposed to enhance the language competence of twelfth-grade students These strategies are designed to not only prepare them for their upcoming examinations but also to support their ongoing educational journey.
Hopefully, these measures will bring plenty of benefits to the students and they will get higher and higher results in the coming exams
While writing this research paper, I recognize that certain shortcomings and errors may occur I welcome any feedback on this paper to enhance its quality and value.
This teaching initiative includes a compact disk featuring twenty English songs that incorporate phrasal verbs, along with a glossary of these verbs A variety of suggested task types are also provided, allowing students to easily reference them whenever needed.
"Practice makes perfect," emphasizing that consistent exercises enhance English proficiency Ultimately, I encourage the effective and adaptable integration of teaching phrasal verbs through English songs in lessons.
Buon Ma Thuot, March 15 th , 2015
In my research, I analyzed over one hundred songs to identify those featuring phrasal verbs; however, not every English song includes them, and many that do lack engaging melodies Consequently, I have curated a list of twenty songs with beautiful lyrics and captivating beats, ideal for teaching phrasal verbs effectively.
1 Yesterday Once More _ The Carpenters
2 Last Thing On My Mind _ Steps
3 We Are The World _ All stars of USA and Africa
4 If We Hold On Together _ Diana Ross
6 Take Me To Your Heart _ Michael Learns to Rock
7 If You Go Away _ Terry Jacks
9 Because I Love You _ Shakin’ Stevens
10 A Love Before Time _ Coco Lee
13 Carry You Home _ James Blunt
15 Everytime You Go Away _ Paul Young
16 Nobody Wants To Be Lonely _ Ricky Martin
17 Nothing To Lose _ Michael Learns to Rock
18 Rhythm of The Rain _ The Cascades
20 Shape of My Heart _ Backstreet Boys