A Study On Strategies Of English Vocabulary Teaching In Middle School

Vocabulary is one of the three major components that constitute the English language knowledge (the other two are phonetics and grammar ) . It is also the foundation of the formation and development in students' listening, speaking, reading and writing. So vocabulary plays a crucial part in English study. No matter how good one's grammar is and how beautiful one's pronunciation is, if one has no adequate vocabulary to express one's own feelings or to understand other's opinions, one still can't communicate with others in this language. If we compare language structure as the sketch of language, vocabulary is the thing that provides important organs as well as blood and flesh.Though the importance of vocabulary is emphasized in the reforms of English textbooks again and again, the vast majority of English teachers and learners know that they can't learn English well until they master vocabulary. But the efficiency of English teaching in China is not as good as people expect. The vice premier Li Lanqing mentioned the problem in the conference of foreign language teaching in Zhongnanhai. Upon the situation, the thesis aims to carry out an investigation on the vocabulary teaching and learning in Yancheng Jiangsu, analyze the existing problem and make some pedagogical suggestions on vocabulary learning and teaching.The thesis consists of the following seven chapters:Chapter One introduces the general description of the research. It discusses the importance of vocabulary in foreign language teaching. In order to improve the efficiency of English teaching, we must better students' memorizing vocabulary and their ability of using the words in their mind. It also introduces the intention of the research, the research questions and the overall structure of the thesis as well.Chapter Two briefly reviews the development of vocabulary instruction and the problems in vocabulary instruction. We can see the strong points and the weak points of different vocabulary teaching methods by reviewing vocabulary teaching in history. And we can find the existing knowledge in vocabulary teaching by analysing the present vocabulary teaching.Chapter Three introduces the theory background of vocabulary instruction. It focuses on the cognitive theory about study, the models of vocabulary stored in mind and the application of vocabulary, the principle of memory, and the strategies of vocabulary learning. Chapter Four introduces the methodology and procedures of the research , including the objects, the subjects and the tool of the research.Chapter Five presents the results and analysis of the research. It discusses the results of three core questionnaires and the problems they reflect.Chapter Six suggests some effective methods of promoting the students' learning strategies.Chapter Seven draws the conclusions of the whole research. It summaries the study and gives answers to research questions. Meanwhile it points out the limitations and suggestions for further research.