TTLA: Modal expressions in Vietnamese language textbooks for foreigners

1. Full name of the doctoral candidate:Pham Thuy Chi2. Gender:Female

3. Date of birth: 14/03/1981                                                     4. Place of birth:Hanoi

5. Decision number for admitting doctoral students:Decision No. 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 30, 2013, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

6. Changes in the training process:

- Decision on extending the study period: from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.

7. Thesis title:Modal expressions in Vietnamese language textbooks for foreigners.

8. Major:Linguistics9. Code: 62 22 02 40

10. Scientific supervisor:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Thi

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

This thesis surveyed, statistically analyzed, classified, and described modal vocabulary devices, including modal verbs, modal adverbs, modal particles, and modal particles. Eleven Vietnamese language textbooks for foreigners were included in the survey: five at the elementary level, four at the intermediate level, and two at the advanced level. Each type of device was examined in terms of: quantity, frequency of use in the textbooks, explanation of meaning, function, and usage instructions.

Based on the survey results, the thesis proposes explaining these literary devices in a simple, easy-to-understand, and concise manner to meet the teaching objectives for foreign learners. For simplicity and clarity, the thesis suggests not naming the devices during the explanation of their meaning, but focusing instead on their usage in the grammatical annotations. The most effective method of annotation is to explain their semantics and how they are used in specific contexts and situations.

This thesis proposes a method for distributing and processing modal expressions in Vietnamese language textbooks for foreigners. The thesis suggests categorizing modal expressions into levels and grades, increasing their number for greater completeness, from simple to complex, from more common to less common, while also considering the politeness and formality of the modal expressions.

An effective teaching method for instructing foreigners in modal expression is the communicative approach to grammar instruction. Based on the application of a well-structured teaching approach and effective methods for teaching these modal expression devices, this thesis develops several exercises to help learners easily memorize and proficiently use Vietnamese modal expression devices in communication.

12. Practical applications:

The research findings of this thesis will make a positive contribution to the teaching and compilation of Vietnamese language teaching materials for foreigners. At the same time, the results of this thesis can also serve as useful references for dictionary compilation, translation, interpretation, and comparative analysis of Vietnamese with other languages.

13. Future research directions:

This dissertation limits its research scope to lexical means of expressing modal meaning in Vietnamese language textbooks for foreigners, focusing on four groups of lexical means: modal verbs, modal adverbs, modal particles, and modal particles. Research and investigation of other means of expressing modal meaning, such as phonetics, grammar, and modal idioms, will open up new avenues of research in future studies.

14. Published scientific works related to the dissertation:

- Pham Thuy Chi (2013), “Some thoughts and experiences on teaching Vietnamese Reading Comprehension”,Proceedings of the Scientific Conference: Research and Training in Vietnamese Studies and the Vietnamese Language – Theoretical and Practical IssuesHanoi National University Publishing House, pp. 366-375. ISBN 978-604-934-482-4.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “The Semantics of 'Already'",Research and Teaching of Vietnamese Studies and the Vietnamese Language: Theoretical and Practical IssuesHanoi National University Publishing House, pp. 51-60. ISBN 978-604-62-8436-9.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “Some modal particles at the end of Vietnamese imperative sentences and politeness in communication”,Research and teaching of Vietnamese studies.Ho Chi Minh City National University Publishing House, pp. 92-101. ISBN 978-604-73-5445-0.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “Teaching and learning Vietnamese vocabulary means expressing modal meaning for foreign students”,Magazine Language & Life(10), pp. 71-77.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2018), “Means of expressing modal meaning in Vietnamese”,Teaching and Researching Vietnamese Studies and the Vietnamese Language 2018, Ho Chi Minh City National University Publishing House, pp. 39-49. ISBN: 978-604-73-6155-7.

INFORMATION ON DOCTORAL THESIS

1. Full name:Pham Thuy Chi2. Sex:Female

3. Date of birth: 14/03/1981                                    4. Place of birth:Hanoi

5. Admission decision number:Decision No. 2999/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH, dated December 30, 2013, by the Rector of USSH, VNU Hanoi.

6. Changes in academic process:

- Decision on extension from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017.

7. Official thesis title:The means of language expresses modality in Vietnamese textbooks for foreigners.

8. Major:Linguistics9. Code: 62 22 02 40

10. Supervisors:Associate Professor Vu Van Thi, PhD.

11. Summary of the new findings of the thesis:

The thesis has investigated, listed, categorized and described the means of vocabulary expressing modality, including modal verbs, modal adverbs, modal adjectives and modal particles. 11 Vietnamese textbooks for foreigners mentioned in the survey include 5 coursebooks at elementary level curriculums, 4 at intermediate and 2 at advanced. Each type of means was investigated in terms of: number, frequency of use in the coursebooks, interpretation of meaning, function and instruction.

From the results of the survey, the thesis proposes the explanation of these means in a simple, straightforward and concise manner to meet the criteria of teaching objectives for foreigners. As for these means, to gain simplicity and comprehensibility, the thesis has proposed not to name the means in the meaning interpretation process but to focus on the use of these means in the grammar clarification. The most effective way of explanation is the interpretation of the semantics, the means of using it in specific contexts and situations.

The thesis has suggested the direction of distribution and processing of modality means for the coursebooks being used to teach Vietnamese to foreigners. The thesis proposed to categorize the modality means into stages, levels in the direction of increasing the number to the full, from simple to complex, from the more popular to the less common At the same time, it should be based on the level of courtesy and ritual of the modality means.

The effective teaching method for teaching means of language expressing modality for foreigners is the method of teaching grammar in the direction of communication. Based on the rational distribution-orientation application as well as the effective teaching methods of modality means, the thesis builds some exercises to help students easily memorize and use fluently the means of language expressing the modality of Vietnamese in the communication process.

12. Practical applicability, if any:

The results of the thesis will contribute positively to the teaching as well as the development of Vietnamese teaching materials for foreigners. At the same time, the results of the thesis may also be useful references for dictionary compiling, translating, interpreting, comparing Vietnamese and other languages.

13. Further research direction, if any:

The thesis limits the scope of the study as means of vocabulary expresses modality in the coursebooks of Vietnamese language teaching to foreigners and results in four groups: modal verbs, modal adverbs, modal adjectives and modal particles. The study on other modal means, such as phonetics, grammar, idiomatic modal expressions, etc., will open new research directions in other researches.

14. Thesis-related publications:

- Pham Thuy Chi (2013), “Some thoughts and experiments on teaching Vietnamese reading comprehension”,Scientific conference proceedings: Research, Training Vietnamese studies and language – theory and practice,VNUH Publishing house, pp. 366-375. ISBN 978-604-934-482-4.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “The semantic meaning of Da”,Research – teaching Vietnamese studies and language – theory and practice,VNUH Publishing house, pp. 51-60. ISBN 978-604-62-8436-9.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “Some modal particles at the end of Vietnamese request and courtesy in communication”,Research and Teaching Vietnamese studies,VNU Ho Chi Minh Publishing House, pp. 92-101. ISBN 978-604-73-5445-0.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2017), “The teaching and learning practice of Vietnamese modality vocabulary means for foreign students”,Language and Life(10), pp. 71-77.

- Pham Thuy Chi (2018), “Means of vocabulary expressing modality in Vietnamese language”,Training and research in Vietnamese studies and language 2018,VNU Ho Chi Minh Publishing House, pp. 39-49. ISBN: 978-604-73-6155-7.