Study On The Improvement Of Lower-grade Pupils' Reading Efficiency Through English Picture Books

Reading is not only an important skill in the process of language learning but the major part of language teaching as well. With the popularization of English course in primary schools, the teaching of English reading is being given more and more attention. However, due to the fixed thinking mode of traditional teaching ideas and actual teaching conditions, the teaching in lower grades (Grades 1& 2) is still facing some predicaments, which includes the selection of reading materials.This dissertation mainly aims to explore the possibility of using English picture books in the reading process, then check its positive effects on arousing students'interest in reading and improving their reading efficiency. Meanwhile, the dissertation will focus on the following problems as well: the orientation of selecting English picture books for the teaching of lower grades; the effective integration of English picture books and the textbook; the adoption of those effective strategies which are suitable for English picture book reading. Based on the data collected, this dissertation has attempted to provide solutions to the problems in the discussion and suggestions for the teachers'further study.The methodology adopted in this study includes the experimental research method, the questionnaire research method, the literature review method and so on. 116 students from two classes taught by the author are taken as the subjects and divided into two groups:the experimental group and the control group. During the study, the author brings up the experiment questions on different aspects which includes the presentation of the reading material, the teaching time arrangement, the processing mode of vocabulary and the penetrating of reading strategy. After comparing and analyzing the data acquired in different experimental condition, the dissertation comes to the following conclusions:1. English picture books are adapted to the traits of the lower-grade students. Once they are used in the reading process, they could help to improve the pupils'reading comprehension significantly. This improvement mainly shows in the following aspects: the stimulation of pupils'reading interest, the expansion of vocabulary, the adoption of accurate strategy during reading, and the process that pupils of different levels can experience success by fulfilling different tasks.2. English Picture books are available curriculum resources which can be used as a part or the extension of the textbook, and the maximum of teaching efficiency can be realized by integrating these two books effectively.3. To make sure that the reading process can be carried out smoothly, and won't impose extra workload on pupils, the selection of the English picture books must follow a basic rule which can be described as the following: Pictures books which are adopted must be in accord with the cognitive characteristics of the lower-grade students, and they must be available to arouse pupils'reading interest and integrate with the textbooks.4. Suitable strategies, which are adopted in the reading process, are helpful to improve the pupils'reading comprehension .