A Study On The Application Of Problem-based Learning(PBL) Method In English Reading Of A Senior High School

Reading,as one of the major basic skills of English learning,accounts for the biggest proportion,one third of marks in college entrance English examination papers in China.However,only some of the students can score high on reading tests,which obviously is not satisfactory compared with their efforts and expectations.This research aims to explore an effective teaching method in support of English reading teaching.Problem-based Learning(PBL),a learner-centered teaching method,uses problems as the context for students to acquire knowledge and problem-solving skills through joint problem solving activities conducted by learner groups,which emphasizes bringing students? initiative and enthusiasm into full play.Based on these advantages of PBL,this research combines this method with English reading teaching.During this teaching process,the researcher attempts to deal with the following three research questions:1.What effects does Problem-based Learning have on senior high school students? critical thinking of English reading?2.What is the influence of Problem-based Learning on senior high school students? English reading autonomy?3.To what extent does Problem-based Learning improve students? proficiency in English reading?This empirical research was conducted in No.1 Senior High School,Chaoyang City,Liaoning Province,lasting for 12 weeks from 1st September to 1st December,2017.Seventy-four students were selected from two parallel classes in Grade one as the participants.Class One was designated as the experimental class(EC)and Class Eleven as the control class(CC).The PBL method was examined in the experimental class while traditional reading teaching method was adopted in the control class.Research methods included questionnaires,pre-test and post-test as well as the follow-up interview,of which all the data collected was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods with the help of SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)19.0.The research results demonstrate that PBL significantly promotes critical thinking ability and enhances learner autonomy to a high level.Additionally,the students made noticeable achievements in terms of reading teaching process within a very short period(12 weeks)by the effective use of Problem-based Learning method.