Application Of Activity Approach To The Teaching Of English Listening Comprehension In Senior High Schools

As an important part of the integrated language skills, listening not only helps improve the learner's ability in speaking, reading and writing, but also serves as a critical channel of obtaining information. With the rapid development of globalization, information, science and technology, multimedia and the Internet have come into every corner of people's life. It is natural that people exchange information by English. They gain diversified information through sound materials. In such a situation, improving students' listening abilities seems to be urgent.Under the guidance of the Activity Approach and other relevant educational theories, this research attempts to change the present situation of teaching listening in senior high schools, which is considered inefficient. In this dissertation, the author focuses on the effects of "activities" in teaching listening, discusses the specific patterns and processes of the Activity Approach, and tries to explore useful means of promoting the efficient teaching. By applying the Activity Approach to listening teaching practice, the paper suggests a new concept "Activity Flow", thus developing the theory of the Activity Approach.This empirical comparative study was conducted in Wuxi No.1 High School of Jiangsu Province and lasted one term. Two natural groups from two classes of Senior High 1 were involved. The Activity Flow Model was adopted in teaching listening in the experimental class, in order to test the results of the application of the Activity Approach and the Activity Flow Model in teaching listening in senior high schools.After the one-term experiment, based on the analysis of statistics, it can be concluded that the Activity Approach is applicable in teaching listening in senior high schools of China because the approach reflects the basic law of listening teaching. Students have not only made some progress in listening, but also in speaking, reading and writing. It is worth mentioning that students' inherent qualities of attitudes and emotions in listening study have been improved. In order to conduct the Activity Approach effectively, the author advances five principles and several suggestions in teaching listening.