On The Application Of Multimodal Theory To English Listening Teaching In Rural Junior High Schools

Listening ability is the vital competence for language learners.However,it is difficult for the students to improve their interest in English listening due to the traditional listening teaching method in rural junior high schools.With the development of science and technology,Computer-Aided Teaching has been introduced into English listening classes.The traditional listening method cannot meet the needs of students during their English listening learning.This thesis aims to apply Multimodal Theory to English listening teaching and in order to explore a new suitable method for English listening teaching in rural junior high schools.This thesis is based on Systemic-Functional Grammar and the Grammar of Visual Design Theory,it aims to study the two questions: 1)What is the influence of Multimodal Theory on rural junior high school students’ interest in English listening teaching? 2)Can Multimodal Theory improve the students’ level of listening in rural junior high Schools? To answer the above questions,the thesis is based on the listening materials which are from the student book 1（GO FOR IT）,and 86 experimental participants were chosen from two classes of grade 7 in a rural junior high school in Suxian District,Chenzhou City,Hunan Province.They were selected as experimental class students and control class students,and the English proficiency of the two classes is similar.In the experimental class,we use Multimodal Theory in English listening teaching,while in the control class we use traditional method which depends on one single auditory mode,that is,"listen to the recorder,then check the answers and listen again".The research lasted four months.The methods of data analysis,questionnaire survey and interview are used.Through the English listening teaching cases,the teacher assigns different multimodal learning tasks for different students before,during and after classes according to the students’ personalities,and uses audio,visual,image and other modes that are connected suitably in listening teaching classes.And students can get access to listening processing,input and output effectively.After the research,the data shows that Multimodal Teaching Method in English listening is more direct in presenting listening materials and lowers the difficulty.Students’ multi-sensory participation and multi-channel access to information have stimulated their interest and enthusiasm for English learning,and the overall level of English listening is improved.Hence,the application of Multimodal Theory has great influence in English listening teaching and it also can improve the students’ listening interest and listening level in rural junior high schools.Based on the research results,the following enlightening suggestions are put forward in this study,the application of Multimodal Theory can be widely used in listening class and teachers should improve students’ self-study ability and enrich their emotional experience.Hope these enlightening suggestions can be helpful for English listening teaching and provide reference and help for English teachers who work in rural high schools.