The Application Of Activity Approach In English Teaching

The English curriculum reform is taking the leading role in the far-reaching influence of nation-wide reform. The activity approach has enjoyed increasing popularity among teachers and learners. This thesis aims to explore activities applying in English teaching by documental method, comparative method, experimental method and method cited. In reviewing the literature, some relevant theoretical points of view as well as characteristics in the activity approach are elaborated. Then principles for designing activities are offered, that is, goal, real world, heterogeneity, sequence, creativity, interest and motivation. After an analysis of the situation in China, great efforts have been made to employ an effective activity approach with Chinese characteristics i.e. lead-in→ elicitation→ input→ practice → output. I suggest that creative use of the textbook and harmonious classroom interaction should keep high concern in the use of the approach. In the activity-based classroom the students are encouraged to learn by doing. This paper focuses on the application of the activity approach in four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Later a series of experiments are carried out. To get more direct impression about the fact that some aspects of teaching concept and teaching behaviors have been changed greatly, the author makes a comparison between the activity approach and the traditional one by a teaching case, which analyses the classroom structure - the teaching content and class participation. Finally, conclusion and some suggestions are given. It seems clear that activity-based approach shows great superiority in student-centered learning, creative spirit, cooperative will and ability to communicate, and has an important impact on how students use language and what they ultimately learn. In order to use activities more efficiently, the author suggests creating communicative environment and designing various and heterogeneous activities.