The Application Of Discourse Analysis In High-School English Reading Class

This paper argues that the traditional approach to teaching high-school Englishreading should be replaced by a new, discourse analytical approach (DAA). Such a background gave rise to DAA. The traditional method of English text-teaching has its inherent limitations. Based on the reflection on the traditional reading classes, this paper tries to do some research on how discourse analysis can be applied to the teaching of reading and how it can make up for the weaknesses of the traditional way of text-teaching, for the purpose of combining advantages of both methods to optimize the English text-teaching in High Schools. After briefly discussing the flaws of the traditional approach and the origin, its process of historical development and the significance of the theories of discourse analysis, this paper elaborates on the definitions of some key terms that are of great importance for our present study for which these terms serve as theoretical underpinnings, such as "text," "discourse analysis," and "discourse analytical approach." Then it moves on to analyze and explore in a detail reasons for introducing DAA into English text-teaching in High Schools and also the content and major characteristics of DAA. A sample textual analysis is offered to show the basic procedure for this approach and to prove its feasibility and to discuss how texts should be analyzed in high school English reading classes, and proposes some strategies for text-teaching in a discourse analytical manner. On the basis of the abovementioned examination and exploration, our present study has finally come to a few conclusions: DAA is a method of theoretical maturity, high manageability and timely synchronism, which has been proved to be a quite successful, applicable and effective teaching method for English reading classes in High Schools and meets the relevant requirements of the Syllabus for the New English Curricula Standard. But DA text-teaching also has its inherent limitations and shortcomings, so it is necessary for High School English teachers to continuously improve it while they are practicing it.