New Curriculum Standard And Students Communicative Competence Development

This thesis attempts at discussing the development of communicative competence in line with the new curriculum standard of middle school English. The reason for this study is that even after the publication of the new curriculum standard, people know little about concepts such as cooperative learning, learner autonomy, task-based learning and student-centered approach, and do not understand clearly whether communicative competence should still be developed and how to develop it.The thesis firstly analyzes the new curriculum standard, and then focuses on it in terms of communicative competence theory. Finally the thesis investigates the current research and practice in the development of communicative competence senior middle school reading.It was found that reading teaching at senior middle school stage, due to the influence of traditional bottom-up reading model, is still very much teacher--dominated. Students are very passive and lack of basic reading strategies and skills, slow in reading speed and poor in comprehension. They also lack of sufficient language input and practice of reading skills and strategies. Their reading styles and habits are utterly out of line with the student-centered acquisition principle advocated in the communicative competence theory, they are not fluent and independent in reading. The teachers should be most responsible for this for they themselves are weak in teaching aptitude ranging from professional knowledge to theoretical beliefs. Besides under the impact of test-oriented practice, teachers find it difficult to truly overcome the so—called"spoon feeding"teaching style. In addition, they are lack of necessary, not to say rich teaching resources and facility.Accordingly, it was proposed that the following be done to change the situation:1. First of all, help to change the learners'reading styles and habits, and train them to master basic reading strategies and skills.2. Secondly improve and develop the teachers'overall competence ranging from professional knowledge to theoretical beliefs, as well as their ability to use multimedia and informational technology.3. Thirdly reform the current management. Guidance and supervision in all aspects of teaching should be strengthened. Necessary teaching facility such as libraries, and multimedia should be in place to meet the teaching needs.