English Poetry In Developing English Majors'Reading Competence In China

This dissertation studies English poetry reading for English majors in Chinese universities. Since the 1970s, scholars from different fields of study (psychology, ELT, linguistics and literature) have been making profound research in literature and reading, from which English majors in China have benefited greatly. But comparatively speaking, students are still poor in reading because the theories do not fit in with Chinese reality. At the same time, the study on literature-based reading seems to be rather general without adequate attention to 'how' literature can facilitate reading, and how each genre (story, novel, drama and poetry) should be taught. This dissertation attempts to study English poetry reading, and inspire more study in a meticulous way.Based on the data collected by questionnaires, the teaching plans of various universities, the interviews with teachers and other materials, it is found that English poetry has received little attention in English departments in China. Difficulties in using English poetry are due to social needs, teachers and students. What's more, current English teaching system does not provide a scientific way for Chinese teachers and students to take up English poetry in reading.Actually, English poetry can be valuable to second language reading acquisition if properly presented. English poetry can help to improve learners' 'declarative knowledge' which means 'a considerable amount of knowledge at one's disposal', and 'procedural knowledge' which means knowing 'how to acquire knowledge, and how to apply this knowledge', which is crucial to promoting their reading competence. English poetry should be introduced into English reading classes to different degrees according to the English level of those English majors.In English poetry reading classes, different factors co-work to affect the quality of teaching: teaching material and learning environment that can be subdivided into external factors and internal factors. Teaching materials or the selection of poems should be graded with regard to learners' motivation, background knowledge and language level. External factors such as social expectation, physical setting, teaching aid and assessment that are usually neglected in Chinese classrooms can considerably facilitate the process of English poetry reading classes if well organized. Internal factors include teachers and students. Teachers should be proficient in English poetry, and be skillful at passing on their knowledge to students. In addition, teachers should regard themselves as students who needcontinuous learning so as to catch up with the world development and knowledge renewal. Students that are the center in modern classes should be cooperative with teachers in establishing effective learning environments, and try to keep harmony with each other, and to establish good peer relations.After careful examination of these factors, an interactive approach is proposed. The interactive approach emphasizes interaction between and among external and internal factors in learning environments through graded readers. Its aim is to enhance learners' declarative and procedural knowledge by integrating learners' intellectual, social and emotional processes. This approach insists on interactions between the teacher and students, between declarative knowledge and procedural knowledge, between teaching and assessment, between intensive and extensive reading courses. Under the principles of this approach, different methods can be helpful to English poetry reading classes in China, for example, the reciprocal teaching and scaffolded instruction that can be exceptionally effective in exploiting the significance of English poetry to learners' reading competence, and can be easily realized in most English departments in China.This study involves the knowledge on linguistics, psychology, stylistics, literature and philosophy, adheres to historical materialism and dialectical materialism, and combines theory and practice. By examining the study in reading from the 1970s, and an...