The Experimental Study Of Applying Problem-based Learning Teaching Method In Reading Teaching In Junior High School

Since reading is pretty essential part in all English examinations, more and more English teachers have been realized that English reading is of great importance in Chinese junior high schools recently. Unluckily, the current situation of students in junior high school cannot satisfy to both teachers and patriarch although teachers and students have focused on the reading for a long time. According to the report of the analysis of students’ examination, we find out the fact that students lack reading abilities particular in the aspect of inferring intentions, opinions and attitudes of the author. The reason results the present reading situations of students maybe the traditional teaching method that English teachers prefer to apply in class. With the conduction of the new curriculum reform, students are required to have comprehensive abilities in reading, which cannot be achieved with traditional teaching method. However, although the teachers aware that it’s time for them to try another new teaching method, they do not know which teaching method should be selected now. And before the teachers have a decision, they have to continue to adapt the old teaching method. So the improvement of students’ reading has became a hard problem which needs to be solves right now for most English teachers. Thus, there is a need to take measures to make it different. And the PBL teaching method is proposed to face the recent situation.PBL teaching method gives much more attentions to develop students’ ability of communication, comprehension, expression, cohesion and critical thinking, which fits the requirement of the time. Applying the PBL into teaching practice, it is possible for students to learn reading in a helpful, harmonious and positive atmosphere with the help of learning groups. Furthermore, students are required to prepare a lot before class and learn relative knowledge independently so as to ideas come to them when they discuss and show in class. In the beginning of class, teacher creates real life situations to lead students in the reading. Then, students analyze problem and explore solution in the cooperative learning atmosphere. Next, it’s time for them to integrate and show the conclusions. Finally, they are given chance to make comprehensive evaluation and refection.The research employs the method of quasi-experiment in which 130 subjects from two parallel classes in Xinglong junior high school are involves in it. The subjects are taught by the same teacher who is also the researcher. One class is seen as experimental class which applies PBL teaching method and another one is regard as control class that is taught by the traditional one. There are the two research questions in the following.(1)Can PBL teaching method improve students’ ability of inferring intentions, opinions and attitudes of author in reading?)Can PBL teaching method bring more or less progress or influence to the students of different levels(high-score group, middle-score group and low-score group divided by their pre-test scores of reading) in reading?The result of this research proves that with PBL teaching method, students do improve their ability of inferring intentions, opinions and attitudes of the author. What’s more, students of different levels(high-score group, middle-score group and low-score group) make different extent of progress in reading indeed. And PBL teaching method is particularly suitable for students of high-score group.Taking the results of this research into consideration, several suggestions have been made for future English teaching research: It is of great importance for teachers to control the limited time and discipline both in the discussion and in show time. Furthermore, simplifying procedure of PBL teaching method appropriately can not only improve students’ explorative spirit and good learning habit, but also it can increase their abilities of expression and critical thinking. What’s more, teachers prepare lessons adequately, which makes for reasonably dealing with students’ problems existing in class. And giving attentions to the relation between and students is also crucial. Finally, PBL model can be applied to English reading teaching so as to improve students’ reading abilities.