大学新生英语词汇水平调查及其对ESP教学的启示

Investigation into English Vocabulary Proficiency of College Freshmen:Implications on Setting ESP Courses in Ordinary Universities

本文以某地方本科高校2011级1037名新生为被试,从接受与产出两个维度,对我国当前非英语专业大学新生入学词汇水平进行了调查与分析,旨在从词汇视角探讨普通本科院校由基础/共核英语向专门用途英语转移的必要性、可行性。研究发现:普通本科院校新生已基本具备了由基础英语教学向专门用途英语教学转移的必要词汇基础,但词汇量虽略有不足;其词汇量与重点大学新生之间存在一定的差距;且不同专业,学生个体之间存在较大差异。因此从词汇的角度考虑,目前普通本科院校不可盲目照搬重点大学的做法,完全取消EGP,直接开设ESP课程,应根据学生的需要以及本校的实际情况,通过继续开设EGP课程,提升学生的英语共核词汇及语言技能,在学生达到大学英语《课程要求》规定一般要求的水平后,逐步过渡到ESP。

The purpose of this paper is to explore the feasibility for ordinary universities to shift their focus from EGP to ESP based on an investigation into the vocabulary entry-level of 1037 non-English major college freshmen of grade 2011 at an ordinary university from both receptive and productive vocabulary perspectives. Results reveal that the entry-level of their freshmen＇s vocabulary proficiency is a little low though it is basically high enough to make the necessary vocabulary basis for shifting from EGP to ESP courses; besides, the findings also show that the students at ordinary universities do not perform as well as those students at key universities in vocabulary proficiency, and students from different majors differ greatly. This indicates that it is advisable for ordinary universities to continue to teach EGP courses to improve students＇ basic vocabulary and language skills according to their students＇ needs and actual situations and then make the transition to ESP courses when their students reach the general stand- ard of vocabulary and language skills required by national college English curriculum, rather than blindly follow key universities to completely quit EGP courses and turn to ESP courses at the very beginning of college study.