A Survey On The Implementation Of Register-based Approach To Teaching Private College English Writing

Register theory,an essential part of systemic-functional grammar,was first proposed by Reid in 1956 and Halliday developed it by defining it as a variety of language distinguished according to use.However,nowadays more researchers focus on the application of register theory to teaching oral English,translation and English reading,while writing is relatively neglected in the application of the register theory.The author spends a semester on an empirical study and applies the register-based approach to teaching writing for non-English majors with the purpose of exploring the proper model of College English teaching writing in Eurasia University.The present study adopts the quantitative and qualitative studies.The research question is whether the register-based approach implemented in English writing is effective in improving students’ writing proficiency in Eurasia University and whether the new approach can increase their interest and confidence.The 105 subjects are selected from Finance Department in Eurasia University who registered in the year of 2012 and they are divided into the experimental group and the control group.The quantitative study involves pretest,mid-test and posttest.With pretest revealing no significant differences between the two groups,register-based approach to the subjects is adopted.The results from the quantitative study show that there is first no significant difference between the two groups in mid-test and in posttest the significant difference comes out,which means that the register-based approach to teaching writing has more efficient and effective effect on the learner’s writing proficiency.The qualitative study refers to the questionnaire and the interview conducted after the experiment.The results from the questionnaire manifest that the subjects hold the positive attitudes towards the register-based approach to teaching writing and they feel that their writing proficiency is promoted.The results from the interview reveal that the learners’ interests in writing are aroused.