Study On The Application Of Phonics To English Low Achievers' Vocabulary Teaching In Junior High School

In the process of language learning,vocabulary is the basic elements for learning.The efficiency of vocabulary learning is directly concerned to learners' language level.A considerable amount of research has been conducted on vocabulary learning.During the teaching process,the author explores the learning situation of low achievers and figures out the main problems that existed in their vocabulary learning.Low achievers are less interested in English learning,especially in vocabulary learning.Their average scores of vocabulary tests are lower than other students.It is generally known that vocabulary is the basic part of English learning.For low achievers,the limited vocabulary amount has been the bottle-neck of English learning.Vocabulary will be the first hurdle that low achievers should face.However,traditional vocabulary teaching method is not meet the low achievers' learning needs.Therefore,the author introduces phonics instruction into their vocabulary learning.The article tries to apply the phonics instruction into English low achievers vocabulary teaching of grade one in junior high school.The purpose is to investigate the efficiency of phonics instruction for improving low achievers' reading,spelling and comprehensive using ability.This paper will briefly answer the following questions:1.What's the situation of low achievers' vocabulary learning in the junior high students?And what's the main problem in low achievers' vocabulary learning?2.How does phonics improve low achievers' vocabulary learning of junior high school?To what extent does phonics improve their reading,spelling and vocabulary using ability?And to what extent does phonics improve their learning interests?The participants are low achievers from junior grade one of Gan Li school in Shen Zhen city.Research data were collected by questionnaire,interview and experiment.The author sends out 80 questionnaires and conducts a pre-test to know the situation of low achievers' vocabulary learning.80 low achievers are divided into two classes.One class were instructed by phonics.The other class were trained by regular vocabulary teaching method.After one semester instruction,the author conducts a post-test and interviews four low achievers to acquire the feedback of phonics training.All data collected were analyzed by SPSS.19.0.Results indicate that there was great influence of phonics instruction on low achievers' vocabulary learning.The main findings are as following:1.Findings responding to the first question are as follows.The average scores of low achievers are lower than 50 points in the two English tests.In the vocabulary parts,the means of low achievers is about 5 within 15 points level.The data indicate low achievers' vocabulary learning should be improved urgently.Besides,the main problems that cause their low achievement can be analyzed through two aspects.(1)It mainly includes their unscientific and ineffective vocabulary learning strategy.And their negative attitude and low interests show in vocabulary learning.(2)Their teachers haven't provided solutions to transform low achievers to top students timely.And their parents cannot provide effective help for their learning.2.The response to the second question is that phonics can help facilitate low achievers' vocabulary learning through the improvement of vocabulary reading,spelling,using ability and their learning interests.There was great influence of phonics instruction on low achievers' vocabulary reading and spelling ability.But there was no significant influence on low achievers' comprehensive vocabulary using achievements.Results of interview demonstrate that phonics instruction improves low achievers'vocabulary learning interests and cultivates their learning motivation.In conclusion,phonics instruction effectively solves the problems of low achievers'vocabulary learning.It not only improves low achievers'vocabulary achievement,but also makes a positive transfer on their English learning.Phonics draws the learning interests back to their vocabulary learning;changing their negative attitude to positive attitude toward English learning;providing a scientific and effective learning method,and laying a good foundation for low achievers becoming top students in their future learning.It is recommended that phonics instruction can be used in low achievers'vocabulary teaching.