Vocabulary Learning Investigation And Teaching Strategy For English Underachievers In Senior Middle Schools

Learning difficulties are ubiquitous which universally affect adolescents. There is a large population of students with learning difficulties in all subjects, especially in English. This paper investigates and analyzes English underachievers from vocabulary learning. Based on the literature of underachievers and vocabulary teaching, this paper first expounds the definition, reasons and the forms of English underachievers. It also summarizes the history and the theory of English vocabulary teaching. Second, it carries out a survey on the vocabulary learning strategy in underachievers by questionnaire to pinpoint some problems about the underachievers' vocabulary learning. Based on the findings of the survey, the present researcher makes some experiments on vocabulary teaching in a middle school with a variety of principles, such as communicative principle, emotional principle and system principle.The experiment was conducted in two classes. The subjects in both classes were considered of the same language proficiency according to the statistical analysis of the pretest. One of the classes was selected as the experimental group, where the vocabulary-centered approach was employed, and the other as the control group, where traditional teaching was in use. The experiment lasted about one semester, from 2008 to 2009. Data analysis shows that the vocabulary-centered approach does improve learners' ability of English learning. The experiment also shows that it would be more effective to use different teaching techniques in various situations. Some suggestions are put forward on English vocabulary teaching in underachievers at the end of the paper.The thesis consists of the following parts:The first part is the introduction, describing the reasons and methods of this paper. The arrangement of the thesis is also introduced.Chapter one discusses major theories related to the definition, history, reasons and behavior traits of the underachievers.Chapter two states the knowledge of vocabulary learning. The classification and specific description of vocabulary learning strategy are discussed in detail.Chapter three states the current situation of English vocabulary teaching in middle school.Chapter four gives the investigation and analysis of underachieves' English learning strategy.Chapter five discusses vocabulary teaching strategies and methods.Chapter six is teaching experiment.Chapter seven draws conclusions and gives suggestions.