An Empirical Research On The Effect Of Using English Picture Books On Primary Pupil's Reading Literacy

Reading is not only an important skill in the process of language learning but the major part of language teaching as well.There is a clear requirement on Primary English Reading by New Curriculum,stating that students should read the simple story and the short written text according to the meaning word groups.English picture book is a powerful complement to the textbook.Using picture books can not only improve students' interest in English learning and reading comprehension,enlarge their vocabulary but also help students form certain learning strategies in reading stories.Many scholars conducted researches and gave suggestions to primary school teachers in using picture books.They provide rich evidences of the effects of applying picture books and share skills and criteria in teaching and selecting picture books.However,previous studies on picture book teaching did not relate to its role in improving students' English reading literacy.This research mainly verified the influence of picture books on improving primary students' English reading literacy.Based on the Cognitive Development Theory and Schema Theory,the researcher of this thesis attempts to improve their reading literacy include reading ability and reading character of primary school students by using of picture books to assist English reading teaching.It ishypothesized that the reading literacy of the students in experimental class can be improved by picture books teaching.Based on the data collected,the author found some problems:In the process of teaching English reading,teachers seldom pay attention to the cultivation of students' reading ability and reading strategies.At the same time,they neither optimize the stability of the teaching mode or curriculum setting.Students have little interest in English learning and reading so that they do not have good reading habit.This dissertation has attempted to provide solutions to the problems in the discussion and suggestions for the teachers' further study.The research subjects are 60 students from Grade 5 of Inner Mongolia HangTian Primary School.Class 1 is experimental class and class 2 is control class.The author conducted English picture book assistant reading teaching experiment for two months.The experiment is divided into three stages: the pre-test,the implementation of the English picture book reading teaching and the post-test.Data were collected through a variety of instruments: reading test,classroom observation and questionnaires.The data were analyzed by SPSS20.0 and Excel.Based on the data,the study comes to the following conclusions:1.English picture books can improve students' reading ability in the process of reading teaching.After this experiment,the reading ability of the experimental class is higher than that of the control class whichindicates that picture books are more conducive to students' comprehensive reading ability and long-term English learning development.There exists difference in reading proficiency improvement among students with different English proficiency.2.The English picture book can improve students' reading literacy.After the experiment,the reading literacy level(ability and character)of the experimental class is higher than that of the control class which indicate that the students can indeed benefit from the teaching of picture books.The experiment reveals the meaning of the picture book.During the process of reading,the new way of reading teaching is also being put forward.3.In the process of using picture books to assist the process of English reading teaching,the students have always maintained a positive reading character.They are not only formed a good reading habit of reading but also improve their reading frequency and interest in English reading.They also maintained a better reading logic and strategies in English reading.Good reading habits and positive reading experience are conducive to the healthy development of students' decoding ability and reading comprehension ability.The development of these two aspects will promote the further improvement of reading character and form a virtuous circle conducive to the development of reading literacy.Finally,the author discusses the enlightenment of English picturebook assisted reading teaching to primary school students,the limitations of the study and suggestions for future research.