An Applied Study On The"Student-centered" Thought Of Education

Over the last two decades, some western scholars have put forwards "student-centered" as a pedagogical principle for language teaching. The "student-centered teaching" puts students at the center of the teaching process and attaches great importance to students’ needs. Different from traditional English teaching mode, which is teacher-centered, examination-oriented and text-based, student-centered teaching encourages students’ learning autonomy. An autonomous student can be defined as an active participant in the learning process. The teacher’s role, therefore, should be shifted from traditional teaching, in which knowledge is transmitted through the teacher who acts as an authority and a knowledge-giver. The teacher’s function becomes less dominant than before but not less important, and the role of the teacher should be emphasized instead of being neglected. The teacher acts as the facilitator of the language learning and pays attention to students’ learning autonomy. He should be aware of students’ needs and skilled in using various methods and techniques to help the students to achieve their learning goals.In view of attention paid to the learning purpose of English and the current situation and problems of vocational English teaching, the empirical study organically combines the two together and applies theories into practice. The present thesis chose Jiangxi Solar Energy Vocational School as the experimental subjects. Through the pre-questionnaire, From both students and teachers, the author found that there are many problems between students and teachers on English teaching at Jiangxi Solar Vocational School, for instance: as for students, they have a weak foundation in English, and they have not a clear learning motivation and be lack of interests in English, meanwhile, they are lack of learning motivation. As for teachers, the character in class doesn’t shift enough, their teaching concept are exam-oriented; the content of teaching is single and boring, and the method is also simple; The optional textbooks is too difficult, and the characteristics of vocational education is not obvious. On this basis, author adopts some methods to apply to "learner-centered" educational mode. Firstly, shift the role of teacher, establish the center of student. Secondly, Cultivate study interest and create language environment. Thirdly, advocate autonomous learning and set study goals. Fourthly, clear professional features and select appropriate teaching materials. Finally, Understand the students’ situation and implement scientific evaluation.In the post-questionnaire,85%of the students are for the learner-centered approach, in the meanwhile, which is adapt to the call for teachers to pay more serious attention to treating students as whole persons rather than receptacles in English Language Teaching for the ultimate goal of the education is to train independent learners.