A Case Study Of English Vocabulary Teaching In Middle School Based On Context Theory

It is universally recognized that vocabulary teaching has been a significant part in language teaching. The size and the mastership of vocabulary will greatly influence the effect of language learning. The development of language, including the growth of four language skills, can not live without vocabulary. The famous linguist David Wilkins(1972) once said that:"Without grammar very little can be conveyed; without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed." As the basic component of language, vocabulary should be importantly addressed in language acquisition.The term "context" was initially advocated by a Polish anthropology Malinowski in20th century, and then gradually become maturity. In recent years, with the great number of research on context theory, vocabulary teaching in China has significantly improved, and the application of context theory in vocabulary teaching is widely used in English teaching. Based on the context theory, the essay will explore how context theories apply to vocabulary teaching and let students get a deeper understanding about the word.Firstly, this essay reviewed the process of development and maturation of the lexical theory and contextual theory. It presented the research achievements in contextual theory gained by domestic and overseas scholars. It also categorized different types of context, and expounded their interdependent relationship with lexical meaning. Based on this theory, this essay then inquired into the specific application of linguistic context and non-linguistic context, and summarized their fundamental principles and modes of operation in English lexical teaching. This essay was also supplemented with real cases of English classroom teaching in order to analyze teaching methods. The author expects that this essay may help teachers realize the significance and necessity of context in English lexical teaching, and ameliorate their traditional English lexical teaching method, so that the students are able to improve their comprehension and understanding of English language, thus further enhancing their communicative competence. The author also hopes this essay can function as a reference for the researches in high school English lexical teaching.