A Study On Status Quo And Countermeasure Of English Assignments In Primary Schools

Though the attention to homework is growing, the research on after-school English assignments in China is still inadequate. One possible reason is that ELT research usually focuses on classroom teaching. After-school assignments should be regarded as an important part or the extension of the classroom teaching. This paper narrows down the study on English assignments in primary schools and tries to seek the answers to the following questions:1. What are the problems in English assignments in primary schools?2. How can we put language learning theories into the designing of English assignments in primary schools?The paper reviews the following theories as the foundation and theoretical considerations for the efficiency of English assignments in primary schools. Behaviorists believe that knowledge and skills can be gained through persistent practice. Constructivism and Cognitivism regard learning as the initiative cognitive and construct of knowledge, which provides theoretical support for more creative activities other than the only monotonous forms of copying, recitation and dictation. Moreover, the insights from Krashen's Input Theory, Affective Filter Hypothesis and Independent Learning Theory and Task-based Language Learning Theory enable the practitioners to take various learning factors into consideration in English language teaching, including in after-school assignment designingThis research selects five primary schools in Shanghai to study the forms and process of English assignments in these schools, students'reactions to their teachers'assignments, and teachers'beliefs in assigning after-school tasks.Based on the theories reviewed in this paper, the writer suggests some of the working principles and the purposes for homework designing. Taking into the consideration the findings of the problems from the study, the writer discusses the assignments designing in reading, listening and writing for Grade 4-5 students by variety of examples or possible activities.