On The Application Of Problem-Based Learning In College English Teaching

Teaching and learning of English both at home and abroad have a long history. In China, many reforms have been conducted in College English course in order to make learners learn English more effectively and efficiently. However, affected by the test-orientated education, the current problem in college English teaching in China is to lay emphasis on language knowledge teaching rather than students'comprehensive abilities of using foreign language. With the rapid globalization of economy and culture, the traditional English teaching model and goals do not meet the learners'needs. Ever since the 1990s, problem-based learning (PBL) teaching method, which is learner-centered, has been applied in Western countries on a large scale and has been highly valued by language experts. Due to the fact that PBL is still fresh in College English teaching in China, this thesis intends to do a tentative research on the application of PBL in College English course with the anticipation of offering a scientific reference to the transformation of College English teaching system.This tentative research is based upon the theory of Second Language Acquisition and Constructivist Learning theory. The whole research work is fulfilled by means of experiment on the application of the PBL in College English teaching, including pre-experiment survey and post-experiment survey. The experiment is conducted among 78 first-year non-English major students of China JiLiang University. According to pre-experiment and post-experiment surveys and the feedback from students after applying PBL to College English teaching, the results show that: the majority of the students become more interested in English learning; most of the students begin to be aware of the importance of collaborative learning in their English learning; a large number of students think that they are offered many opportunities to practice and promote their problem solving skills, inquiry skills and critical thinking skills.According to the above results, it comes to a conclusion that PBL does work in College English teaching. It has some positive effects although the application of PBL in College English teaching is confronted with quite a number of challenges. Anyway, PBL is practicable and helpful in College English teaching.