Transformation Of Classroom Learning Activities For High School English

In a traditional High Spchool English classroom, the English teacher either conducts no classroom learning activity, or arranges some simple written practice for the students, or indulges the students with the freedom or pace they want, which doesn’t meet the requirements of New English Curriculum Standards of High School (NECS) or follow the general rules of Second Language Acquisition (SLA). Since NECS has set a clear objective to develop students’ abilities for both independent study and cooperative study, a student-centered and teacher-leading high school English classroom should be built. High school English teachers should bear in mind that students have to be the protagonists of all the classroom learning activities. The traditional teacher-centered English classroom gave the teachers a priority to teach and ignored the students’ practical experience and participation. As a Second Language, the communication function of English should be emphasized and practiced. Therefore, a natural, abundant and energetic language environment has to be created to help students better cope with learning stress and language difficulties. If English teachers were able to motivate the students to the greatest extend, students would participate well in classroom activities. With such an environment, a concerted effort from both the teachers and students would be formed, with which classroom efficiency would definitely be improved. This essay was written in an Activity Theory (AT) generated framework, under the guidance of which, transformation of classroom learning activities for high school English has been conducted. The whole transformation has been divided into3periods according author’s real English teaching experience. Problems and confusions are summarized by both Chinese and foreign English teachers while they try to design and conduct classroom learning activities. Possible solutions has been proposed and tested continuously. Five concrete case studies have been presented to elaborate the essential elements and strategies for the transformation of classroom learning activities.