河南理工大学万方科技学院土木工程英语毕业设计

河南理工大学万方科技学院 2013 届本科毕业论文

Language Attrition of EFL Learners

in Chinese Context

汉语言环境下英语学习者的语言磨蚀研究

论文作者姓名：倪老子

所在院系：_ 人文与社会科学系_ 所学专业：英语

导师姓名职称：李爱琴

论文完成时间： 2013年6月

Language Attrition of EFL Learners in Chinese Context

Bai Yanyan

June 2013

Contents

Abstract in English ......................................................................................................................... i v Abstract in Chinese.. (v)

Ⅰ. Introduction (1)

Ⅱ. Language Attrition (2)

2.1 Definition of Language Attrition (2)

2.2 Theoretical Framework of Language Attrition (2)

2.2.1 Inverse Hypothesis (3)

2.2.2 Critical Threshold Hypothesis (3)

2.3 Present Research on Language Attrition (3)

2.3.1 Research Abroad (3)

2.3.2 Research at Home (4)

Ⅲ. Different Types of Language Attrition (6)

Ⅳ. Fac tors Affecting EFL Learners’ Attrition in Chinese Context (8)

4.1Students English Level is Different to Achieve the Anti-attrition “critical threshold ” (8)

4.2Insufficient Fol lowing up English education of students‟ leads to a more rapid attrition (9)

4.3Students' English learning progress is slow so that the coexistence of learning and attrition (9)

4.4Students English Acquisition is prone to attrition (10)

Ⅴ. Strategies to Prevent Foreign Language Attrition (11)

5.1 English Teaching (11)

5.1.1 Reforming EFL Teaching Mode (11)

5.1.2 Implementing Longlife English Education (11)

5.1.3 Improving EFL Learners‟ Learning Environment (12)

5.2 English Learning (12)

5.2.1 Cultivating Positive Emotion (12)

5.2.2 Improving Study Manner (13)

5.2.3 Reinforcing Cultural Accomplishment (13)

Ⅵ. Conclusion (14)

Bibliography (15)

Abstract in English

Language attrition was first formally recognized as a field of academic research at the conference on the Attrition of Language Skills at the University of Pennsylvania in 1980. The study of language attrition provides a new perspective for the study of language acquisition. The attrition research published in English has covered a wide spectrum of languages; these researches are mainly taken in European and American context. However, compared with its popularity abroad, language attrition receives little attention in China. Till now, few domestic scholars have reported the language attrition of EFL (English as Foreign Language) learners in Chinese context. In China, the phenomenon of high consuming and low efficiency in English teaching has been an indisputable fact. In Chinese context, how to effectively acquire English and how to retain them will yield benefits to language researchers, teachers and students. This paper mainly summarizes factors affecting EFL learners‟language attrition in six aspects, namely, time, motivations, environment, language type, acquisition way and English level before language attrition. Finally, this thesis states some suggestions on language proficiency maintenance. Having a deep knowledge of the general rule of language attrition can improve the efficiency of English learning.

Key words:language attrition; EFL learners; Chinese context