A Study Of The Application Of Narrative Approach In Junior High School Vocabulary Teaching

Vocabulary, as the most basic element of language, is of great importance in language learning. Mastering vocabulary well has been an important part of English teaching in China. However, the current situation of vocabulary teaching in present schools is not satisfactory. How to use an effective way to improve vocabulary teaching has been the major concern of language researchers.Narrative Approach, as a new teaching method advocating teaching knowledge points with the help of narrative in teaching process, has been highlighted in recent years. However, insufficient studies have been done on the effect of Narrative Approach on language teaching. This study is an attempt to find out its effect on vocabulary teaching in one of junior high schools in China. An experiment, which lasted for nearly four months, was carried out in one junior high school in Northeast China. An experimental class and a control class were chosen in Grade Eight, with fifty students in each class. The study aimed to answer two research questions, namely, the effect of Narrative Approach on the subjects’ English vocabulary teaching and the change of the subjects’ attitude towards vocabulary learning after using Narrative Approach. Tests(pre-test and post-test), questionnaire and interview were used as data collection instruments.Before the experiment, a pre-test was given for students in both classes in order to test the vocabulary abilities of students and ensure students in both classes were at the same level. In the next few months, the experimental class learned vocabulary by Narrative Approach while the control class was still taught in traditional way. After the experiment, both classes took a post-test. By comparing the results of the two classes, it testified if Narrative Approach was useful to develop the level of vocabulary. Moreover, the researcher gave the same questionnaire for the experimental class before and after the experiment for purpose of knowing the change of subjects’ attitude towards vocabulary learning. In addition, an interview was done for some students in the experimental class so as to know the understanding and feedback of students after learning vocabulary by Narrative Approach.The results of the study show that there is a significant difference in the vocabulary scores of the subjects in the experimental class in which Narrative Approach was employed in vocabulary teaching. Moreover, most students changed their previous negative attitude towards vocabulary learning to some extent.In conclusion, teaching vocabulary by Narrative Approach is an effective way to improve junior high school students’ vocabulary learning.