An Applied Study Of "Four-step Lead-in Process" Based On Schema Theory In Teaching Junior English Reading

Given the importance of reading in English teaching,and the importance of lead-in in teaching reading,the design of appropriate and effective lead-in becomes a key factor for a successful reading class.A questionnaire survey conducted by the author finds that lead-in in Junior English reading classroom,if practiced at all,tend to be inappropriate or irrelevant.Guided by schema theory,this study explores how to design effective lead-in for junior English reading class so that it pays the way for effective teaching of the reading text.The study is based on the author's four-month teaching practice in Class Four Grade Two of X Middle school in Xiangtan,and assessed through classroom observation and after-class interview.The study intends to solve two problems.One is how to use schema theory to establish the relationship between new and old knowledge in the lead-in process.The other is how to design effective lead-in for different types of reading texts.Informed by schema theory and relevant scholarship,the author proposes “Four-step Lead-in Process”(FLP)for effective design.FLP involves four steps that come one after another in preparing the students schema-wise for the new reading material.Step One is for the teacher to present the relevant lead-in materials appealing to known schema and may be called the Presentation Step.Step Two is for the teacher to try all means to activate the schema on the students' mind,and may be called Activation Step.Step Three is for the teacher to help students establish new schema with the help of the lead-in materials,and may be called Establishment Step.Step Four is for the teacher to introduce the new reading material in the textbook,and may be called Introduction Step.Before putting FLP into practice,the author is based on the characteristics of the textbooks of People's education press,which used by the students.And author divides the reading texts into three types: biographical,scientific and narrative.Then,according to the “Four-step Lead-in Process”,which is a step by step process from “Presentation” to “ Introduction”,as well as the teaching material analysis,the study situation analysis,student characteristic and so on,the author given particular teaching design for different types of articles and put them into practice,then carry out application analysis on time.Feedback from classroom observation and after-class interviews show that FLP is feasible and effective in preparing the reading class for new challenges.