On Training English Reading Strategies For Improving Independent Reading Abilities

People should read English effectually. It is an important channel for people to understand and achieve information. English reading is not only an important goal of learning English, but also an important means of improving English achievements. Teaching students how to study and how to use effective reading strategies is regarded the effective measure which lightens students' load and improves the quality of reading by the current educational circles. More and more people have already noticed the importance of encouraging the middle school students to know and use English reading strategies . However, most researches aim at the university student and high-school student's age. The survey involved the students in two different grades.(one is Grade7,the other is Grade 9) in Danyang. I have investigated the middle school students' English reading strategies applications, using quantitative approach to analyze and discuss the results of the investigation in order to find out the use of English reading strategies among Chinese middle school students, the decisive factors and the existing issues to identify with the new curriculum reform .These finding and issues can be used for the reference in the future teaching and learning.We've done the following study: 1) The use of English reading strategies among Chinese middle school students and the decisive factors.2) The problems of using the English reading strategies. 3) How to train the students to use effective reading strategies to improve independent reading abilities.Junior high school students have many problems with using English reading strategies. These problems include: lacking knowledge of English reading strategies and having little choice of English reading strategies, lacking active learning and being passive to accept knowledge from others, having single cognitive means, lacking the environment of input and output of English..For Junior high school students, the main influential factors that exist in using reading strategies are: the notion of learning is not perfect, simple cognitive styles, poor motivation to learn and rigid classroom teaching models.The survey shows that: (1) The subjects use every strategy mentioned in the questionnaire: but the frequency at which they use these strategies are low. However, they have interest in some topics and learn them more actively (2) They seldom use Reading strategies .It can not meet the actual needs. They lack independent reading abilities. The studies on English reading strategies find that the students are far from being passive. They are also unable to achieve the joy of independent reading. (3) Secondary school teachers lack correct guiding to the students during the teaching-learning process. (4)The English reading strategies of Chinese middle school students have much to do with their English scores. The using levels of English reading strategies influence the students' scores directly. (5)The differences of using English reading strategies exist in different grades. Grade 9 is less than Grade 7.