The Application Of Content-based Instruction Theory In EFL Learning Environment

With the development of research in the field of second language acquisition, more and more attention is focused on cultivating language learners' academic cognitive language proficiency to prepare them with a strong academic basis for further study. For a long time, emphasis of ESL/EFL teaching has been solely put on "social style" language proficiency. However, "Language is not just a medium of communication but a medium of learning across the curriculum." (Mohan, 1986, p. 8) The present study intends to present the Content-based ESL Instruction approach which lacks in research in China and investigate the impact of Content-based ESL Instruction on English teaching in Chinese English classrooms.In the introduction, the background and significance of the research, the procedures as well as the framework of the thesis are introduced.Chapter Two offers a literature review on Content-based Instruction (CBI) from differentaspects such as the definitions of CBI, the necessity of implementing CBI, the programmodels and ways to implement CBI and etc.The following chapters specify the experiment concerning CBI with Chinese second languagelearners in primary school.Findings and limitations are included in the coming chapter.Finally, the thesis concludes that appropriate application of CBI can greatly enhance ESL/EFLstudents' English learning.It is the writer's hope that the present thesis will contribute to research in Content-BasedInstruction in China, benefit learners in class, and especially, arouse the attention of languageinstructors on CBI and encourage their implementation of CBI in their daily teaching.