How to Improve Students’ Reading Ability More Effectively 英语本科论文

How to Improve Students’ Reading Ability More EffectivelyAbstractAs everyone knows, the classroom teaching is one of the most important ways that the students learn English. As far as the English teaching in the middle schools is concerned, teachers have to arouse the students' interests so that they can learn better. There are many ways to arouse the students' interests and help them to learn better, reading teaching is one of them. The article presents a detailed report of a project implemented to solve the problem that most of my students are interested in reading. I have adopted various teachings, such as group work、pair work、personal work、role play、retell the text and discussion in class.This hypothesis is verified by a four-week practice of well-organized English class. Among the methods of scientific investigation used are the analytic method, cause analysis and brainstorming activation.Key words:Reading, Design, Interest, Ability.Main Headings of the Project Report1.Introduction2.Summary of the Preliminary Research2.1 Problem2.2 Project objective2.3 Problem analysis2.4 Project hypothesis2.5 Project rationale3. Reading Teaching Design4. Control and Target Groups5.Project Implementation6.Data Analysis7.Project Evaluation8.ConclusionReferencesAppendixesA. Questionnaire on Reading PracticeB. The Timetable of the ProjectC. Teaching NotesD. Teaching DiariesE. Students’ HandoutsF. Audio-Recording1.IntroductionI am an English teacher in Nan‘an middle school in Wuwei. This middle school is located in a small town Shuangcheng and all my students are peasants children.When the students were in primary school, they mainly studied Chinese and Maths. So they had less chance to know more about other knowledge. It was almost the first time for them to touch English when they got into middle school. Most of them thought it is very difficult and boring for them to learn English well. So they don‘t like it and don‘t like reading better. Now my students are in their third year of studying English. They still don‘t like reading and can't realize the importance of English reading. In the past years, I have also paid more attention to arousing their interests in English and spent much too long time on reading teaching. But the effect is still very poor. The most difficult thing is how to improve their reading ability. Just I have such an opportunity to do the project. In order to make more effective I should adopt various communicative ways in different steps of reading teaching.I hope I can solve it better that how to improve students‘ reading ability through the action research so that I can apply my knowledge and theory into practice, which I learned from Gansu TV University.2. Summary of the Preliminary ResearchThis part of my study was conducted during March1,2010-May27, 2010.2.1 ProblemThe problem is based on my teaching experience. That is: Most of my students do not like reading teaching because they think it is difficult and boring.2.2 Project objectiveHow to improve students‘ reading ability more effectively.2.3 Problem analysisA. The analytic methodThere are more than 50 students in my class, and I can't give each student the opportunity to practice their reading ability. Therefore, it's in common that the students can not get high marks in reading exercises in exams, but the others can be done well. The problem made me thinks the other side of the issue: some of my students do well in reading. But most of other students are poor in reading practice, this situation make me think of these.Why some students do well in reading practice, while others don't?Who are the some that do well in reading practice? And who are the others that don't do well in reading practice.Moreover, my students are in contrast with my colleague's students. This inspired me to make a chain of refractions what about my colleague‘s students? Is it also the causes that are poor in reading practice? If on the other hand all of my colleagues‘ students like reading practice, then my problem is actually caused by myself, not by students. Probably that the style of reading practice. I asked my students ‗to do was poorly designed and the form was inflexible.So after problem analysis, I have reached this conclusion. The problem that my students don't like to do reading practice. So I designed the objective to research how to solve the problem.B.Cause analysisI think that it will be much better to use cause analysis to analyze my problem.In this situation, I asked myself a series of questions and tried to provide some answers to them.W hy did most of my students not do reading work？In order to know more about this issue, Idesigned a cause exploration Procedures like this:→The teacher's side→The students' side→The task design→The class size→The classroom management→Tentative conclusion1).The teachers’ side-that is my -self.△I wasn‘t enthusiastic myself.△I failed to give instructions clearly.△I failed to dig out students‘ interest in doing this or doing that.2).the students’ side.△Some students are not interested in English, so they don't like reading, too.△Some students are afraid of making mistakes and being laughed at by their partners.△They have the idea of ―losing face‖ if they have mistakes.△Some students are troubled for remembering new words and useful expressions, because of no strong will and desire.3).The task design△The task is poorly designed and the form was inflexible.4).The class size.△There are more than 50 students in my class, so I can't give each student the opportunity to practice their reading ability..5).The classroom management.△The classroom is perhaps getting too noisy.△Students may not be properly grouped.6). Tentative conclusion△If I change my teaching method of the reading activities. My students will have great interest to do reading activities. If I present clearly to my students and they know how to do it. They will like to do it.C.BrainstormingWhen I was engaged in the problem analysis, I often talked to my colleagues about all the problems I met. They gave me a lot of advice and help so that I pondered the problem more deeply and carefully.After a lengthy problem analysis, I determined to launch a project to overcome this problem.2.4 Project hypothesisIt is hypothesized that students will do reading activities by better-designed teaching, such as the group work、pair work、personal work、role play and discussion etc.2.5 Project rationaleAfter I‘ve read English Language Teaching Methodology (Part I and Part), I found it‘s very helpful. The unit on speaking is particularly useful. After some reading and thinking, I have worked out four reasons on which my project will be based. They are-----1)The role of reading in class and its purpose---- First, reading serves as a tool in teachingall language skills. It can be integrated with the teaching of listening comprehension, oral presentation, and writing skills. Second, reading may be a good in itself. Since reading is often required for passing a particular examination, from reading an simple article at anelementary level to composing essays at an advanced level. Third, reading has its practical value and can be used as stimulus in motivating students to learn the language. For example, students may stories or famous books they like in English. If they have access to Internet, they may be able to communicate with the world because most of webs are in English.2)The role of the students------ I would like the students to feel that learning is acollaborative endeavour and not a competitive one. They should come to realize that they can learn from each other and help each other, especially in speaking as it is not a skill they can practice on their own.3)The role of the teacher------Students should realize that the teacher has many roles in theclassroom, not just that of evaluator. I would like to demonstrate these different roles so that students realize when the teacher takes a major instructional role in class and when she takes only a minor helping role. I would like students to get used to being responsible for their own learning and not depend on the teacher all the time.4)The type of classroom tasks used------ I think all of the above can be dealt with bydesigning and using appropriate tasks in the lesson. If students have to do information-gap tasks, which require them to gain information from their partner by means of questioning and listening and to give information to their partner by listening and responding adequately to questions, then I feel they can be shown the value of communicating with their peers.3.Reading Teaching DesignOn the basis of the project rationale above, I need to design some reading activities that can prove my project hypothesis. (refer to Appendix C) In order to prove the hypothesis, I must fulfill one condition, that is reading activities must be better designed than the existing ones. The problem with the existing reading activities is that they have little information value, and that students have no real communicative purpose when doing them. So my new reading activities should have a real information gap, so that the students have a real purpose to communicate.I have designed four activities to be tried out in four weeks. And these activities are reported as follows.Week 1 Activity 1.For use with Learning English 5 Unit2 Lesson15For use with Learning English 5 Unit3 Lesson20For use with Learning English 5 Unit3 Lesson23For use with Learning English 5 Unit4 Lesson26I have finished designing the reading word activities. I should to select a control group anda target group. The advantage of setting up these two groups is obvious: after the project is carried out, I can compare the target group with the control group. The results obtained through the comparison will indicate whether the project is successful or not. And my initial hypothesis will be proved or disproved.I am currently teaching two parallel classes. I use Class 1 as my target group and Class 2 as my control group.5.Project Implementation.It took me four weeks to implement my project. For each week I was scheduled to do these: △teaching notes (see Appendix C)△students‘ handouts‘ (see Appendix D△diary-keeping(refer to Appendix E)△Audio-recorder (see Appendix F)The tasks all occurred in target group of my class 1, Grade 9 of Middle School. And my control group is in class3 Grade 9 of Middle School. The target students showed their great interest in the designed group work and they enjoyed my practicing requirement.6.Data AnalysisAfter four weeks‘ action, I found that the target group is much better than the control group.I think the improvement is mainly due to these factors: Providing very tasks with peers, and checking their reading tasks every time.But I also found that a few students did not do their reading homework. This implies that I should find out some other reasons to account for this fact, and try to solve the problem more thoroughly.7. Project Evaluation△The problemMy problem is a researchable to me because I have the resources and the time.△The methods used in problem analysisD.I used the Analytic method、Cause analysis and Brainstorming. These are all acceptablemethods and suitable to my problem.△The project objectiveMy project ―To improve students‘reading ability more effectively to arouse students‘interest”is realistic.△The project hypothesisIs the project hypothesis provable? Yes. My hypothesis—Learners‘ interests in reading practice can be enhanced by well-designed exercises –is provable. I have found that my students‘ interests in reading practice has indeed been enhance after I used the exercises I designed.△The project rationaleDoes the project have a sound basis? Yes. My project was based on the theoretical assumptions which are valid and sound.△The project designI have defined my project objective and hypothesis. I have stated my project rationale. I have worked out the details for project implementing. I have also planned the stages for the project implementation.△The stages and details of project implementation.The stages are necessary and complete. The implementation details are properly maintained. In my case, I am assessed on the following items.Week 1Teaching notesDiary-keepingHomeworkWeek 2Teaching notesDiary-keeping Audio-recordingHomeworkWeek 3Teaching notesDiary-keeping Audio-recordingHomeworkWeek 4Teaching notesDiary-keeping Audio-recordingHomework△The methods used in project implementation.I set up control and target group, using the group work、pair work、personal work、and discussion methods.△The methods used to obtain the results.In what way has the investigator obtained the project results? Is it acceptable, suitable and properly used? I used observations, diary-keeping, to obtain the project results. They are all acceptable, suitable to the task and properly used.△The results obtained from the project implementation.My hypothesis has been proved to be correct.8．ConclusionThe present study is chiefly based on the project that I proceeded form March 2010 to May 2010, which aimed to enhance my students‘interests in doing reading practice. In my study I used the analytic method, Socratic dialogue. Cause analysis questionnaire, survey and brainstorming activation. I also formulated a specific research objective and a research hypothesis. And then I implemented my project. I did much improvement in four aspects when I designed my reading tasks and organized my students to do the reading tasks. After implementing my four-week project, I do the data analysis , From the data, I think the methods used in problem analysis are suitable, the problem objective is realistic, the hypothesis is provable, and the project has a sound basis now .I‘m happy to state that my problem has been successfully solved from the action research, I have got a lot of benefits . In the past , I was leading role and my students were only secondly role during the whole speaking practice now this appearance has already changed completely. When I asked my students to do speaking practice, they were very happy. I think it was caused by well-designed in speaking practice.In addition, I found out that although atmosphere in the reading task had been improved a lot through the implementation, there was still much that would need further improvement.Reference Books1.Gu Yueguo. 2002, Practical Project Design, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.2.Gu Yueguo. 1999 English Language Teaching Methodology, Foreign Language. Teaching and Research Press.3.Junior English for China-Teacher‘s Book 2B,People Education Press.4.Junior English for China-Students‘ Book2B People Education Press.Appendix A: Questionnaire on Reading PracticePlease tick the box next to the answer that expresses your opinion.1.What‘s your understanding about the importance of reading practice?□ A It‘s very important □ B General□ C It‘s unimportant □ D It‘s very unimportant2. What do you think of reading practice?A It‘s very un interest ing .B It‘s not interest ingC It‘s interest ingD It‘s veryinteresting3. Do you like or dislike doing reading practice?A I like it very much.B I like it a little.C I don‘t like it at all.D I hate it .4. Do you like what kind of reading practice?A from the textbookB Make up yourself.C from the everyday lifeD Can‘t be con sidered as it5. How would you like your teacher to give you instructions about how to do readingpractice?A In plain EnglishB In ChineseC First in English, then in ChineseD Needn‘t instructions6. How would you like your teacher to help you before reading practice?A give you some instructionsB give some promptingsC give you the first stepD give you a model.7. How would you like your teacher correct your errors when you doing reading practice?A Correcting at onceB Correcting after done .C hinting with her eyesD point errors directly8. Do you like what kind of practicing way?A Work in pairsB work in groups.C Work freelyD Both can.Appendix B : The Timetable of the Project.Appendix C Teaching NotesWeek 1:Date: Thursday Mar.8.2010 8:25-9:10 am class2Teaching Aims:1.Review and learn more words and expressions about he commercial world.2.Practice some important grammars.Teaching Important Points: Improve the students‘ reading ability.Teaching Difficult Points: Grasp the adverbial clauses.Teaching methods: talking, asking and answering, discussionTeaching Procedure:Step1. Practice the ads.Take out something that students are interested in. Let them write advertising for them.If it is a pen, what can students say about it? If you want to help them make the advertising better, what can you do?Step2.Let some students introduce their favorite advertising to the class. Tell the others why you like it best.Do you think what advertising you dislike? Why?The teacher tells the students what advertising he likes best. Why?Step3.Read the text and let the students answer the following questions:What is the news about?Who will bake something good to eat?Step 4. Read the text again and do with the content in details. Let the students find more questions about this part. If they find any questions, they can stand up and ask any student.If they can‘t do it well at once, you can give them examples. Such as: How much does a player need?What will Brian do in order to make money? (To bake something good to eat.)What‘s the price o f the cookies? (Four for a dollar.)Step 5. Listen to the tape. Ask the students to listen carefully and imitate after it.Ask who can read fast enough to follow the tape. Encourage them to read as fast as they can.At the same time, the students walk ar ound to see the students‘ pronunciation and intonation.After finish listening, the teacher can repeat some words and expressions on the blackboard.Step 6. HomeworkFinish off the exercises in activity book.Week 2:Date: Tuesday Mar.13 2010 8:25-9:10 am class 2Teaching Aims:1. Know more about shopping.2. Grasp more phrases for shopping and signs for business hours.Teaching Important Points: Improve the students‘ reading ability.Teaching Difficult Points: The adverbial clauseTeaching methods: practicing, talking, asking and answering, discussionTeaching Procedure:Step 1. Come to “THINK ABOUT IT”.Discuss the questions in groups, talk about the feeling that you must wait. Where must you wait? Give examples.S1: When I am ill, I must go to see a doctor. I must wait my turn.S2. When I buy my breakfast, I must wait in queue because everyone is in a hurry. They all want to go to school or work earlier.S3: When I buy something in shops I must wait. Because the shop near my home is so good that many people buy things there, I must wait.The teacher sums what the students say.:We live in a big world. We must be polite when we buy something. That‘s a good manner. We can‘t jump the queue. We should think more about the others.Step 2. Look at the picture of Danny. What is he doing? Do you know his feeling now?Talk about the picture in pairs. Then let some students demonstrate their ideas in front of the class.Step 3. Listen to the tape and answer the following questions:When does Danny get up very early?What does the sign say?Does Danny buy the supplies he wants?If some students can‘t answer the questions well, don't lose your temper. We can go on the next step.Step 4. Read the text and check the answers to the listening part. Ask the students to find more questions about Danny. If they find any, they can ask any student. If one can‘t give the right answer, others can help him or her.The questions can be like this:Does he take money to buy things?How long does Danny wait?Where does Danny sit?Step 5.Do with some language points.Make sentences with the following words: build, sign, hearHe wants to build a bridge when he is older.What signs can you see near the school?I hear a baby crying loudly.Encourage them to make more sentences.Step 6. Come to “LET’S DO IT”.Divide the class into several groups. We can describe the same shop. Then let some students present their report to the class. The others try to add the report and make it perfect.We can put up the report on the wall after class.Step 7. Homework: Finish off the activity book.Week 3:Date: Tuesday Mar.20 2010 8:25-9:10 am class2Teaching Aims: Learn and review some words and expressions in interesting information about real and attempted products.Teaching Important Points: Improve the students‘ reading ability.Teaching Difficult Points: Some words and expressions about the illness and seeing a doctor.Teaching Methods: talking, discussion, asking and answering,Teaching Procedure:Step 1 Ask the students to discuss the topic in groups.Step2 Ask the students to check their reading work in their model text paper first individually then in pairs.Step 3 Ask several volunteers to come to the blackboard and ask some questions about the text.Step4 the teacher and the students analyze the problem together. The teacher ask some good students to give more examples of the right form.Step 5 Summarizing the lessonHomework: 1) Retell the reading work.2) Do some additional exercises.Week 4:Date: Tuesday Mar.27 2010 8:25-9:10 am class2Teaching Aims:1. We must eat healthy and keep healthy.2. Know about the balanced diet.Teaching Important Points: Improve the students’ reading abilityTeaching Difficult Points: What is a balanced diet?Teaching Methods: talking, asking and answering, discussionTeaching Procedure:Step1.warming up:Talk about the question: what do you eat in your daily life? Do you think what the foods you eat contain? Some words are too difficult for them to answer, so the teacher shows some new words to them with the flash.Some words are too difficult to learn. Let the students read after the audiotape for several times to have correct pronunciation.Step2.Read the text and answer the following questions:What do bread, noodles and rice come from?Is fruit different from vegetables?Answer the questions in class in oral. If they can‘t answer them correctly, let them read the text. Help them find the correct answer.Step3. Read the text in details and finish the exercises.Read the text and fill in the blanks:1.Bread, noodles and rice are made from _______.2 ______and _______are very good source of ________, _______ and _______.3. ______ ______ are made from potatoes.4.Salad is made of _______ ________.5.Many people think that only meat and chicken have _______.______ makes your bones and teeth strong.Step4.Listen to the tape and let the students follow it for two time. Let them have the correct pronunciation and intonation.Step5. Ask some students to read the text in the class. Don‘t read the whole text, read only the important words, expressions and sentences.Step6. Come to “LET’S DO IT”.Fill in the chart to compare the eating habits of your classmates.Interview four or more students to fill in the chart. They can design more questions to ask the others.Step7.Homework: Finish off the activity book.Appendix D: Teaching DiariesWeek 1Date: Thursday Mar.8 2010.As usual when I said we were going to speak something to the students. Put up their hands. As if they are going to have a reading test I noticed a little girl in the front. She found it was Zhang Li . She is below average I told them the four steps of doing this reading work. I speak the main idea of the passage. They became understanded and began. After they finished the reading task. They looked at the passage on the blackboard . They did what I said carefully. I think our students likes to ask some questions each other and their reading work has been improved. So I am very excited.Week 2Date: Tuesday Mar.13 2010.I‘m very glad that my students become more active in my reading class and the learner‘s interests class. Especially when I ask them to discuss in groups check in pairs. They like what I have done for them the whole class went smoothly. I found Zhang Li was smiling. She spoke English with her partner quite well. I was surprised to see them.Week 3:Date: Tuesday. Mar.20 2010.This period of time. Deal with the reading work like the steps of the last two weeks. First, I ask them to reading and asking some questions by themselves .Then I ask them ask to each others. Third, act them in front the class. To my surprise, they are more active then I expected .I will go on the good ways to improve the students‘ reading ability.Week 4:Date: Tuesday. Mar.27 2010.Before that, English reading is a weakness in my class. Through the four weeks of objective training, the target group has great changes.We all have been ill. Sometimes illness can‘t be avoided. But talking bout the disease is not so easy. We have so many things that we can‘t describe correctly. So we must research more words and expressions about the disease. The teacher must help them immediately if possible. Remember to discuss how to keep healthy in details.In the course of teaching, I guide students to participate and cooperate, through personal experience and finding. It stimulates their interest of learning English, and enhances their self-confidence.The effect of reading ability has improved a lot of in my class.Appendix E. Students’ HandoutsAppendix F. Audio-Recording。