Innovation in Language Learning

Adverbials play a pivotal role in conveying information about the circumstances surrounding the actions or events described in a sentence. Unfortunately, their importance is often underestimated in the realm of English language education, particularly for Vietnamese learners. This research project sets out to investigate the specific challenges encountered by second-year ESL students at Haiphong University when it comes to mastering adverbials. Furthermore, it aims to propose practical solutions for enhancing their comprehension and utilization of this grammatical aspect in English. Our study is anchored in data collected from a sample of 100 Vietnamese learners who participated in an online survey and 12 individuals who were engaged in semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and one-on-one interviews. The findings unveiled in this exploration underscore that a majority of learners require assistance in identifying and accurately deploying various types of adverbials, which can result in miscommunications and inaccuracies in both their written and spoken language. In response to these challenges, our research puts forward an array of practical solutions. These solutions encompass the integration of adverbial instruction into the ESL curriculum, leveraging authentic materials to augment learners' exposure to adverbials within relevant contexts, and providing ample opportunities for students to practice incorporating adverbials into their written and oral assignments. Ultimately, this study serves to illuminate the crucial role of adverbials in the language learning process and offers actionable insights for English language educators and course designers at Haiphong University.

Keywords: Adverbials, second-year ESL students, Haiphong University, challenges, solutions.