A Qualitative Research Of The Application Of Peer-Assisted Learning In Reading Of Primary English Class

Peer-assisted learning is the acquisition of knowledge and skill through activehelping and supporting among status equals or matched companions. Research showsit is effective in improving the reading performance of native English-speakingstudents and second language learners of all levels, including students with disabilities.Reading teaching in China has a long history; it not only can be used as a way ofteaching, but also can be used as a way of learning. Currently, there are not so muchstudies which combined peer-assisted learning and English reading together, therefore,the present study will apply peer-assisted learning to English reading and verify theeffectiveness of peer-assisted learning in primary school English reading.The research completed in a primary school of Xining, Qinghai province andused a qualitative approach as orientation principally, simultaneously, took literature,observation, interview, document analysis and other research methods. Based onprimary English class observation as well as interview and discuss with teachersespecially Miss Z in English teaching and Research group, the research analyzed theapplication of peer-assisted learning in primary English reading, tentatively exploredthe effective strategy of applying peer-assisted learning in primary English reading.Results show that peer-assisted learning has positive effects in primary Englishreading. The strategies of applying peer-assisted learning in primary reading include:the content of peer-assisted learning should be associated with real life; peer-assistedlearning require elaborate designed content; pay close attention to students’ emotionalexperiences; peer-assisted learning should combine with other learning methods; theteacher’s leading role in peer-assisted learning.The thesis can be divided into six parts: The first part mainly about the origin,objective, significance, theoretical foundation and defining critical concepts; Thesecond part is literature review of the research, which retrospect history of theresearch and discuss the research questions, research trends as well as the contribution and deficiency to the study; The third part elaborates the selection of the researchmethods and reliability, validity and ethical issues; On the basis of them, the forth partdescribes the applications process of peer-assisted learning in the primary Englishclass reading; The fifth parts is the conclusion and discuss, which refines thestrategies of peer-assisted learning in primary English reading through analyzingteacher, students, interaction between teacher and students as well as classroommanagement; The sixth part is research prospect, include the summary and thelimitation of the study as well as the suggestion for the further research.