中国大学生英语口语水平研究

An empirical study of oral English proficiency of Chinese college students

本研究通过分析一项英语口语考试成绩,探讨目前中国大学生英语口语水平,以对中国高校英语口语教学提供较为详尽的反馈信息。参加该口试的180名受试来自六类高校(分别是重点院校英语专业、文科、理科和地方院校英语专业、文科、理科)的学生,覆盖各层面的中国大学生。从语言能力(语音、语法、语篇、言外语用能力、社会语用能力)和策略能力(灵活交流能力、体势语、副语言)两方面共八个小项上的得分分析来看,相当一部分受试的英语口头交际能力薄弱,具体表现为,未达到本族语者语音语调水平,交际手段不丰富,以及非言语交际能力匮乏。这些方面的问题亟待在教学中引起重视。

This paper analyses and discusses the results of an oral English test with a view to assessing the oral English proficiency of Chinese college students and informing English teaching practice at the universities in China. The test was administered to 180 Chinese college students that were sampled from six different types of universities. Test takers’ responses were rated according to an analytic evaluation system that encompassed both language competence (e.g. pronunciation, grammar, textual coherence, illocutionary pragmatic competence, sociolinguistic pragmatic competence) and strategic competence (e.g. flexible interaction, body language, paralanguage). An analysis of the test results shows that a fairly high percentage of test takers failed to attain a satisfactory level of oral English proficiency as manifested in poor pronunciation and intonation, inadequate communicative skills and lack of nonverbal communicative abilities. It is suggested that due attention should be given to these problems in classroom instruction.