A Study Of Genre-and Text-Based Literature Courses For English Majors In The Chinese Context

As a content and language integrated approach to language teaching, CBI (Content-Based Instruction) has generated much attention in recent years. Because of its potential in improving learners'language proficiency and expanding learners' disciplinary knowledge, the studies on CBI have developed rapidly in China. Dalian University of Foreign Languages took the lead in the reform of CBI courses for English majors in their lower division in2007. Based on its success, a systematic reform of GTB (Genre-and Text-Based) literature courses has been carried out for English majors in the higher division. This is an exploration in the reform of literature courses for English majors and it is of great significance in the reform of curriculum and the teaching of literature for English majors.This research focused on the effects of applying GTB literature courses to the English majors in the higher division, probed the problems in the teaching of the GTB literature courses, and attempted to put forward coping strategies for the problems so as to improve the instruction of the GTB literature courses. A mixed method of quantitative and qualitative research was employed. Observations, interviews, and tests were used as instruments for data collection. Triangulation was conducted to increase the reliability and validity of the research. Data were collected from the participants in the four experimental group which were learning GTB literature courses and the four control group which were learning Literary Knowledge-Based (LKB) literature courses. The data from tests were analyzed through SPSS. The data analysis indicated that the existing GTB literature courses did have advantages. The content of the GTB literature courses covered a wide range of systematic knowledge. It facilitated the development of the students' comprehensive language skills, critical thinking, innovative thinking, and academic skills, and it broadened the students'horizon as well. However, existing problems of the GTB literature courses were also discovered in this research. Therefore, some constructive suggestions for improvement of the course were provided to raise the efficiency of teaching the GTB literature courses.