论文

How to Improve English Vocabulary Teaching in Middle School Abstract: English vocabulary is the basic assignment of English learning and it plays a very important role in English acquisiion. This paper first illustrates the significance of vocabulary instruction in middl e school in China. It then discusses problems arising from English vocabulary teaching in today’s middle school, such as sticking to traditional methods too much, neglecting its cultural meaning and so on. It finally explores some effective strategies to improve English vocabulary teaching according to some theories and practical skills of English vocabulary teaching.Key words: English V ocabulary teaching; problems; strategies如何改进中学课堂词汇教学摘要: 英语词汇的学习是学习英语的基本任务，在英语习得中发挥着重要的作用。

本文首先阐述了词汇教学的重要性，继而从当今我国中学课堂英语教学的现状出发，讨论了一些出现在英语词汇教学的典型问题，诸如，过于恪守传统的词汇教学方法和忽略词语所蕴含的文化含义。

这些都大大降低了英语词汇学习的效率。

这些问题的探讨旨在引起学生和老师的深思和重视，进而不断反省和改正。

最后一部分，本文根据一些相关的英语词汇教学理论和实践经验，提出了较为代表性的英语词汇教学策略。

关键词：英语词汇教学；问题；策略How to Improve English Vocabulary Teaching in Middle School如何改进中学课堂词汇教1. IntroductionIt is safe to say that there is no existence of language without vocabulary. V ocabulary acquisition should be the central assignment of the acquisition of a second language in that all of linguistic skills must be dependent on vocabulary acquisition. Hence, there is no doubt that English vocabulary instruction plays the extremely basic and important role in English learning. Only when students have a good command of English vocabulary, can it be possible to improve their other language skills.Nowadays, with the wide spread of English in the world and increasingly economic globalization, learning English not only is one of the vital parts of our diary work,study or other activities, but also becomes the tool of communication and knowing about more messages about this varied world as soon as possible. And all of these are established on the basis of the abundant English vocabulary we have. Although it is important, little attention is paid to the teaching of vocabulary in English teaching practice, which is criticized as a “time-consuming with low efficiency”activity. As a result, teacher can not teach English vocabulary effectively and students can not have a good command of English vocabulary. Thus, this paper aims to illustrate the significance of vocabulary instruction, discuss some problems in the process of vocabulary instruction and explore some effective ways of vocabulary learning in order to have a better command of English learning.2 The significance of English vocabulary teachingV ocabulary teaching is the basic element in English teaching. Just as Wilkins(1972:111) once put it, “Without grammar very little can be conveyed, without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed”. V ocabulary teaching is the precondition of language application. The scholar Lewis(1993) once said that vocabulary acquisition was the central assignment of the acquisition of a second language in that all linguistic skills must be dependent on vocabulary acquisition. Only when students have a good command of English vocabulary, can it be possible to improve their other language skills. Thus, there is no doubt that, usually,the larger vocabulary a student has, the better abilities of comprehension, listening and communication of English he will have.V ocabulary is the most important factor in foreign language learning. There is no doubt that we should not only attach great importance to vocabulary teaching but also adopteffective ways to teach and learn English words. Because effective methods of English vocabulary instruction can not only arouse student’s interest but also make it possible for them to grasp vocabulary efficiently.3. Problems arising from English vocabulary teaching in today’s middle schoolImportant as it is, little attention is paid to English vocabulary teaching in today’s middle school because of incorrect thoughts about English vocabulary teaching. For example, holding the commonly mistaken idea that the comprehension outweighs vocabulary in most examinations, more and more students wrongly think that it is unnecessary to spend more time on learning vocabulary. In addition, teachers can not adopt effective ways to teach and in turn students can not learn vocabulary in ineffective ways due to lack of enough knowledge and skills about English vocabulary instruction. As a result, many problems occur in English vocabulary teaching in today’s middle school. Here, this paper is discussing three typical kinds of problem.3.1 Sticking to traditional methods too muchTraditionally, vocabulary teaching is more emphasis on teaching the meaning. Teacher's role is to help students master the dictionary meaning of new words, and the students ' main task is to learn the new words.The traditional English vocabulary instruction attaches importance to vocabulary teaching by focusing on speech affixes and word class teaching. Although they can help students may lay a solid foundation, their teaching process are more boring and easy to increase the burden on students. As a result, students just only know the meaning of the word, but do not know specific usages of the word. And language using ability still cannot effectively be improvedGeneral performance in traditional English vocabulary teaching is that teachers lead to reading words, then, go on to explain the usage of the word one by one as if talking dictionary. Then, teachers usually ask the students to copy words after class and recite. Finally, teachers check words of memory through dictation. According to teaching practice, the traditional vocabulary teaching is not ideal. Students can not achieve satisfactory learning effect by paying greater. As a result, many students cannot afford to the burden of learning English, even eventually completely give up learning English.3.2 Not providing student s with proper context of English vocabulary learningAs a foundation for language learning,the importance of vocabularyis self-evident. But sometimes vocabulary is not proportional to the competence of language. Because the traditional English vocabulary teaching pays little attention to providing proper context in the course of learning new words. That it is, the traditional vocabulary teaching only to teach word separately, neglecting of consolidating vocabulary by instructing students to learn words in real-world and putting words in certain contexts.Teachers just tell students pronun-ciation, common structure and different meanings and usages; students always recite words by rote, they will feel bored then losing interests. Although some students followed teachers’ order but they can’t be knowledgeable, because they have never understood the real meaning and usages of this particular word, which lead to imprecise understanding and in defect of coherent comprehension, all above will influence the reading efficiency, and block the cultivation of English integrated skill s. As a result, it bring a lot of problem, the most typical example is "dump English", meaning that some people have mastered enough vocabulary and grammar, but not saying complete English sentences in suitable situation. The lack of contextualized learning vocabulary must be placed in a context where learning. However, some teachers don’t teach words in a certain context so that many students feel that learning words is too dull, and gradually lost interest in learning words. All in all, the traditional English teaching doesn’t create a visual, hearing and speaking situation to help students learn words. It prevents students to learn words effectively and develop other linguistic skills. in practice teaching.3.3 Neglecting the teaching of cultural meaning of English vocabularyOur traditional methods of teaching English seem to determine that language systems only differ in the symbols, having no material difference between the English system of Western culture and Chinese system of Eastern culture. In vocabulary teaching, teachers are accustomed to neglecting a brief explanation of cultural background of new words. As a result, this brings about confusing meanings, sometimes even makes a fool. For example, in the translation of "timid as a mouse," we usually think that it was "as timid as a mouse" under the mother tongue of thinking. This is a wrong expression mainly due to lack of knowledge of cultural differences. Its correct saying should be "as timid as a rabbit". The example involving the surface of the meaning and connotation of the word meaning proves that language competence is relevant to culture issues. When students are aware of different cultural meaning of words between two languages,they would not misunderstand some expressions and use them effectively. However, many English teachers in the teaching of vocabulary ignore the infiltration of cultural awareness. Thus, students only know the dictionary meanings of words so that they can not use vocabulary appropriately.4. Effective strategies to improve English vocabulary teaching4.1 Making use of word formationAs we know, word-formation plays an important role in the expansion of in English vocabulary l earning. This teaching method treats vocabulary as the explicit task of English instruction. It includes the analysis, and explanation of the structure, meaning and usage of vocabulary. When analyzing the structure of vocabulary, teachers can apply some methods of word formation. This can do good to the students’ understanding of the words and can help them to keep the words in mind deeply. The most common word formation processes are: affixation, compounding, conversion, blendingand so on. Ifstudents can grasp word-formation, we can learn English vocabulary effectively. So how can we deal with word-formation? In word-formation, affixation, compounding, and converse are the most productive ways. This paper is going to take affixation for example, according to the positions of affixes, affixation constitutes two subcategories: prefixation and suffixation. Prefixes include: un-, non-, dis-, mis-, super-, and so on. Each prefix has its meaning. The words formed with these prefixes are: unable, non-smoker, disorder, misleading, superhuman and so on. Suffixes include: -er, -ment, -ation, -ful, -ly and so on.The words formed in this way are: worker, payment, addition, powerful, slowly and so on.When the students know the meaning of these affixes, they can figure out the meaning of the newly formed words.If the students master more knowledge about the word formation, their skill in learning vocabulary will be stronger. For examp le, if the students know the prefix “re-” means “again”, they will know the word “replay” means “play again”; “rebuilt” means “build again”, and so on. Thus, the students can not only remember the new words soon, but also solidify the old words. Further more, they can change the limited vocabulary into limitless skill of producing the vocabulary.In teaching practice, teachers should them let students guess the meaning of words by explaining the word formation and grasp the spirit of the rules of them. Word formation can help students develop good sense of the word so that students learn better.4.2 Context teaching of English vocabularyWord is not isolated. The exact meaning of a word embodies in real context. Situational teaching in English teaching refers to teaching a language with a variety of teaching and auxiliary equipment to create a visual, hearing and speaking context for students. The same word can have various meanings in different contexts. To convey the meaning of a new word exactly, it is better to present the word in the sentence or in the text. Assessing the meaning of a word in context obliges the learner to develop strategies, such as anticipating and reasoning, which become increasingly profitable as learning progresses because they instill an attitude of self-reliance that is the hallmark of proficiency. Systematically meeting new words in context underlines the fact that words are indeed used in discourse for purposes of communication. In addition, context provides an indication of the way the words are used. All these factors may contribute to a learner’s autonomy to learn English and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge that accompanies it. “Mary is a very dili gent student. She gets up very early every morning. She read a lot of books and studies very hard. This year she gets the school prize. ”When teaching the word “diligent”, teacher can present the above context so that students can guess its meaning through the following information and set up a relationship between “diligent”, “early”, “read books”, “study hard”, and “school prize”. This method of teaching not only help the students to understand the exact meaning of a new word, but let them have an idea about the group of words that often appear simultaneously in harmony. All in all，the context makes the situation clear, and this in turn illuminates the meaning of the new word. This practice can save time and develop an intensive reading habit and better understanding.4.3 Making use of visual teaching aidsIf teachers illustrate words making use of visual teaching aids, students will remember words more easily and their memory can last longer. There are a lot of visual teaching aids, such as pictures, cards and multi-media, Visual teaching aids can make up for a lack of some vocabulary that can’t be presented with real objects.For example, pictures, cards and multi-media can present the names of buildings, traffic, mountains, rivers, animals, plants, furniture and so on. They can help the students know vocabulary exactly and accept all about them profoundly. They can also help to develop and train their ability of image thinking. The stronger the stimulation is, the more intense impression there is. Real objects and scenery are visual and common. Students are easily attracted naturally. If the students are interested in them, their attention will be focused and can last for a longer time. So if we show the students real objects and scenery, present vocabulary then listen and say at the same time,the students can feel and know the meanings directly.They will remember them more easily and their memory can last longer.Computer-assisted aids, the modern visual teaching aids, are attached great importance to This includes two parts, visual and audio. We can use flash to show a certain situation and tell students the meaning of some words which are difficult for us to explain by using languages. Using t he tape-recording together with computer-assisted aids may help to get rid of the learners' boredom with language learning, drive away the learners' nervousness and arouse the learners' motivations.4.4. Taking an integrated approach to vocabulary teachingCommonly, teachers tend to demonstrate the pronunciation and Chinese equivalent of a new word item when it first meets the learners, leaving the rest work which is more difficult for the learners themselves to cope with. However, such an attitude toward vocabulary teaching as this doesn’t necessarily l ead to learning results that teachers expect to achieve. There is indeed the necessity that learners have to be sure of the pronunciation and spelling of a word item because this is essential for further command of the word. But as far as appropriately using the word item to say what they would like to is concerned, it is far from enough. More efforts and work with the word item are needed.First of all, it is extremely crucial for teachers to assign sufficient reading tasks outside the classroom to consolidate the words they have learner in classrooms. This is so stressed because without large quantities of reading activities, it would be impossible for a foreign language learner to internalize the word items and structures. And reading is also the first that helps learners to recall and choose vocabulary automatically in both receptive and productive language practice.Second, it is profitable for teachers to give learners some language production tasks to do in which they are required to use the target word items, such as, speaking, retelling thepassage, writing a summary of the reading passage, writing a similar passage, translation of sentences, making sentences and the less difficult one like gap filling with the word items required.Only by integrating vocabulary with other language activities, especially the productive ones, can words be internalized and be used correctly.4.5. Combining words with sentence grammarsAlthough teachers and learners tend to separate vocabulary with grammar in language teaching and learning practice, in some ways it is a false distinction( Michael Lewis ＆Jimmie Hill,2002). This is so because language consists of grammatical structures where you can put words to say what you mean. In fact, thought is predominantly lexical. And the ability to use the language lies in the ability to bring grammar and vocabulary together. An example would be the word “connection” (Activity one, Listening and vocabulary, Module 2, Book 2, NSE). If we talk about the word, the words we need are those that frequently co-occur with the word “connection” in the same sentence. Typically, they will be adjectives and more importantly, verbs and prepositions. This indicates that when teachers teach the word “connection” it would be useful to teach the verbs, adjectives and prepositions with which it is usually used together.4.6 Grasping English vocabulary by large applicationTeachers should provide students with different kinds of vocabulary exercises and give more chances for students to practice after teahing words. This will strengthen students’ vocabulary acquisition and abilities of process of new words. These are some useful ways as follow:A. Blank Filling. This is an efficient way of practice.Filling blanks for word practice which are related to the context. Teachers should make good use of them.B. Translation exercises. This kind of practice not only consolidates the new words but also present students with different kinds of context.C. Writing. Writing is not mechanically copy. It demands students to write a summary according to the material in textbooks using key words. For example, we have just learned the lesson Captain Cook and give students some key words to write a summary. Also, teachers can get a similar topic out of the materials. Let students express their thoughts freely. In addition, teachers should ask students to think of the reality and try to write an article about a disabled man around them. Thus students will try to use the words or phrases to express their thoughts and describe their daily lives. The most important thing is students can master the real usage of words in practice.5. ConclusionEnglish vocabulary is basic and important in English Learning. Many language skills are dependent on the learning of English vocabulary.Teaching vocabulary is one of the most important and difficult fields in the teaching process. Teachers should learn how to handle this field properly and let their learners handle words and be involved with them. If teachers tea ch vocabulary in a more efficient way and help learners to develop good vocabulary learning strategies, language learning will surely be more enjoyable and less painstaking, which is all of us teachers’ aim. Hence, teachers not only should attach great importance to the teaching of English vocabulary, but also can adopt effective methods to teach words in teaching practice. All in all, the purpose of the paper is emphasizing the importance of English vocabulary and exploring effective methods of English vocabulary instruction so that teachers can teach words effectively and students can have a good command of English.7References[1]大学英语教学大纲修订本）[Z]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，1999.[2] 汪榕培卢晓娟.英语词汇学教程[M].上海：上海外语教育出版社，1997.[3] 文秋芳. 英语学习策略论[M]. 上海: 上海外语教育出版社, 1996.[4] 章振邦. 新编英语语法教程[M]. 上海外语教育出版社，2003[5] Cohen, L. Research Methods in Education [M]. London: Routledge, 1994.[6] Firth，J.R. Papers in Linguistics [M]. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1957.[7] Hatch,E.and Brown,C. Vocabulary, Semantics and Language Education [M]. New York: Cambridge University Press,1995.[8] Lewis M. The Lexical Approach: The State of ELT and A Way Forward[M] England:Language Teaching Publications, 1993[9] Pimsleur P. A memory schedule [J]. Modern Language Journal, 1967,(51)：167－173.[10] Wilkins D. Linguistics in Language Teaching[M]. London: Edward Arnold, 1978AcknowledgementsI want to express my sincere thanks to my supervisor, Professor Ms Ding, for her valuable suggestions to and patient correction and polishing of my paper. Without her support, this paper will not come into being. Thanks are also due to other teachers in the English Department who not only taught me English but also broadened my ken and helped me embark on the road of life. My friend, Xiaoyi, should also be on the list of people whom I want to express my gratitude. They really did me a favor in helping me collect the materials and typing the paper. Finally, I want to thank my parents who gave me unselfish support during the four years' study and whose debt will never be paid.。