Initial ideas on a handbook for students at the Faculty of English - Hanoi University of Education

This study was carried out to identify the needs the students regarding their study at the university and to provide a source of information they’d find helpful in their study process in the form of a student handbook. | JOURNAL OF SCIENCE OF HNUE 2013 Vol. 58 No. 6B pp. 27-32 This paper is available online at http INITIAL IDEAS ON A HANDBOOK FOR STUDENTS AT THE FACULTY OF ENGLISH HANOI UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION Nguyen Thi Hoang My and Nguyen Thi Minh Thanh Faculty of English Hanoi National University of Education Abstract. When students begin to study at the university level they quickly discover that the teaching and learning methods at the tertiary level are different from those at high schools. Therefore they need orientation as well as guidance in order to get in step with the new environment. Mindful of the needs of new students of the Faculty of English Hanoi National University of Education this study was carried out to identify the needs the students regarding their study at the university and to provide a source of information they d find helpful in their study process in the form of a student handbook. Surveys were presented to 135 freshmen amp sophomores in order to ascertain what study skills they felt were necessary as well as what information they d like to see included in a student handbook. Based on the results of this survey an initial handbook was designed which covers five academic issues. Keywords Faculty of English Hanoi National University of Education handbook. 1. Introduction Diana 2009 wrote that few university students received any advice from lecturers tutors or counselors on what they could expect when making the transition from high school to university study. Students had learned how to cope with their previous academic environment and had adopted skills appropriate to the setting. However to succeed at the university level new tactics are needed. HNUE issues a free handbook to each freshman at the beginning of the year and the information provided is quite useful. However when it comes to classroom study students oftentimes feel disoriented and do not quickly discover a suitable study strategy to improve their performance.