Application Of Phonics Method In Junior English Teaching.

English pronunciation and vocabulary teaching and learning is the basic and critical task for English teachers and learners.Mastery of them can also influence learners'further learning.It is elaborated in National English Curriculum Standard(2011)that students at level two are required to“pronounce simple words according to the spelling rule".However,current phonology teaching in public schools in China mainly focus on the teaching of International Phonetic Alphabet symbols(IPA symbols).Teachers force students to recite IPA symbols so that they can pronounce new words with the help of those symbols and mechanical repetition is the only way students can use to pronounce and spell English words.This way of teaching isolated the sound and form of the English vocabulary.As to English beginners,on the one hand,the learning of IPA symbols is an extra burden.On the other hand,those symbols may confuse students and cause mistakes in spelling and pronunciation.Based on the current situation in English class in China and the tendency of English teaching in the world,the author made a theoretical and empirical study on IPA method and Phonics method,discussed and analyzed the definition,development,teaching methods and theoretical basis.In the experiment,the author employed these two methods in two natural classes in junior one in order to compare these two methods in a empirical research to find a more suitable way of learning for Chinese students.This thesis aims to answer the following questions:(1)Which one is more efficient in improving students' pronunciation,IPA or Phonics method?(2)Which one is more efficient in improving students' spelling,IPA or Phonics method?(3)Which one can stimulate students' interests in English reading,IPA or Phonics method?The subjects of this experiment are 100 students from two natural classes(experimental class,N=50;controlled class,N=50)in Junior One,from Hong Mei Junior High School,Hong Mei Town,Dongguan City,Guangdong Province.Phonics method was employed in the experimental class to train students' awareness letter-sound correspondence so that they can pronounce or spell according to the form or sound.While IPA method was conducted in the controlled class to train students to master and use IPA symbols.The experiment went on for 18 weeks.Pre-questionnaires and pre-tests were conducted in the first week and post-tests and questionnaires were conducted in the 18th week.From the 2nd week to the 17th week the author trained students in both classes once a week and interviewed students and teachers at the end of the experiment.The data of the tests were analyzed by SPSS 19.0The result revealed that both methods can improve students' English pronunciation and spelling,but students in experimental class made more progress in the post-tests and they became more interested in English reading after the experiment.That is to say(1)Phonics method is more efficient in improving beginners' pronunciation.(2)Phonics method is more efficient in improving beginners' spelling.(3)Phonics method can stimulate beginners' interests in English reading.Therefore the current study verified that Phonics method can be used in English class in Junior One in China and this method can provide more help for students with their learning of phonology,vocabulary pronouncing and spelling,as well as English reading.