English newspapers and magazines and the teaching of College English

Reading English newspapers and magazines is an effective way to help the students get the latest information worldwide and improve English levels. The present article first analyzes the features of the English newspapers and magazines and then proposes making good use of them through such classroom activities as discussing the hot issue and role-playing to provide more authentic situations in which the students can have chances to practice four English skills, achieving the ideal teaching result.

An Empirical Research on Integrating Chinese Traditional Culture into College English Teaching

198 non-English freshmen students from Shandong Yingcai College were selected as research subjects.The subjects were divided into the experimental group(EG) and the control group(CG).The students in EG were taught English integrated Chinese traditional culture for three semesters,while the ones in CG were taught as usual.The results indicate that the integration of Chinese culture broadens the students' horizons and improves the students' ability to express Chinese culture in English and intercultural communicative competence.

The Construct of the Story Continuation Writing Task: Insights From the China’s Standards of English Language Ability

Although the story continuation writing task(SCWT) has attracted much research attention, few studies have investigated the construct of the task, particularly with respect to which language competence it focuses on. In addition, although some studies have demonstrated that China’s Standards of English Language Ability(CSE) provides comprehensive insights into the development of Chinese learners’ English language proficiency, little research has investigated the relationship between CSE and SCWT. This study drew upon the CSE to develop an SCWT language use inventory to address the above research gaps. A total of 358 high school students were asked to complete the questionnaire, of which 277 valid responses were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis(EFA) on the CSE-based questionnaire revealed the presence of six factors, namely language correctness, language variety, task planning, connecting-and-generating, selecting-andmining, and organizing. The strategy of connecting-and-generating was the only significant predictor of the learners’ SCWT scores. The paper also discusses the findings relating to the SCWT rating and other integrated writing tasks.

An Analysis of College Students＇ Autonomous English Learning Ability under the Network Environment

Referring to the questionnaire survey and literature materials, this paper describes the current situation of college students＇ insufficient autonomous English learning ability and thefactors that influence this ability; it also suggests feasible suggestions under the network environment. Students （N= 178） from different grades, majors, universities and areas responded to a questionnaire survey, and the collected data were analyzed. The results indicate that complex external environment and insufficient internal subject cognition influence college students＇ autonomous English learning ability. Finally, this paper suggests that a good network environment is necessary for autonomous learners to enhance insufficient autonomous English learning ability and interaction, continuous thinking and cultural introduction are also indispensable to develop this ability.

Effects of using a computer-lab on oral English fluency amongst all Chinese students at WOU

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of using a computer-lab on oral English fluency amongst all Chinese students at Western Oregon University （WOU）. The participants are oversea Chinese graduate students who take undergraduate courses at WOU, and some of them regard English as their Second Language. The study adopts the experimental design, There are total of 60 Chinese students participating in the study. The results indicate that the use of a Computer-Lab significantly improved students＇ English oral expression ability.

The Analysis of Deficiency in College-student English Oral Expression Ability and Strategies for Breaking Barriers

Referring to the questionnaire surveys and literature materials, this paper describes the current situation of college students＇ English oral expression ability, the reasons for lack of such ability and possible solutions. This research used a questionnaire survey to collect data from 146 college students from different grades, majors, universities and areas. The result shows that the deficiency in college students＇ English oral expression ability can be explained on two levels, spiritual level and oral level. Spiritual level shows that college students don＇t always have thoughts while others are communicating with them in English; oral level includes two aspects, one is that they always have no idea of how to express their thoughts well and the other is that they fail to always express themselves clearly and exactly. It is suggested that a good language environment is necessary for students to practice English pronunciation, understand culture from English speaking countries, and enhance listening skill to overcome language anxiety in communication.

Study of Effect of Teacher Expectation on Students English Learning Ability

With the more frequent international communication, to enhance students English learning ability is a very important target in modem English education, n this study ,to promote students＇ English learning ability as a point of penetration ,from the perspective of psychology ,sociology and pedagogy ,based on the teacher expectation effect theory researching methods to practice and exploring at the micro level of classroom teaching ,demonstrating the relationship of positive and inverse between teacher expectation and students＇ English learning ability and to explore the feasibility strategies to enhance students＇ English learning ability finally.

Research on Strategy of Career Oriented Higher Vocational English Teaching Reform

Higher vocational education is more special,pays more attention to the improvement of students＇ application ability in the teaching process,the same is true in English teaching.At present,higher vocational English teaching exists a great shortage on the cultivation of professional application ability, teaching contents,teaching methods,teachers strength and evaluation system all can not adapt to the career oriented basic requirements of vocational education,it is necessary for higher vocational colleges and all English teachers to carry out reforms constantly, to serve the improvement of students＇ English professional ability.

The Strategies of Cultivating High-School Students＇ Ability of English Thinking in the English Classes

The most important thing of English-learning is the ability of English thinking. And with the help of continuous language information processing and language accumulation, people cultivate their ability of English thinking, which is the goal of English-learning and English-teaching people. As a high-school English teacher, the author, combining her own class teaching experience in relate to English thinking, uses trial and error tests, investigations, interviews, and other research methods based on high-school students＇ study, to explore the strategies of how to cultivate high-school students＇ ability of English thinking in English classes, and then sum up to get the following article, which is hoped to provide some references to form the English thinking ability of senior high school students

English Dramas and English Listening & Speaking Ability

With the development and popularization of the Internet, dramas from English-speaking countries, i.e., English dramas, are becoming more and more popular in China. It has become a fashion to contact and learn English and British & American culture through English dramas. This paper analyzes the possibility of learning English with English dramas as the medium and how to make use of English dramas to learn English scientifically and effectively;this paper also expounds the important role played by English dramas in helping students improve their English proficiency in an all-round way, especially in listening and speaking.

Explaining the Private College Students＇ English Academic Ability by Social Cultural Perspective

From the perspective of the sociocultural theory （SCI）, this article examines Chinese students＇ present states of English academic achievements in some private colleges by investigating teacher-student interaction. It then analyzes underlying factors influencing learner＇s academic ability. Finally it investigates some efficient class teaching strategies to promote their academic development, using class interventions such as the know-want-learn strategy （KWL）, the object-explore-success-happy strategy （OESH）, the cooperative project between students and teacher＇s strategy （CPST） and so on. Theoretically, the paper aims to place the SCT perspectives in the foreground. Pedagogically, it attempts to raise teacher-practitioners＇ wisdom so as to enhance learners＇ English academic achievements from the affective perspective.

Exploration of the profession-oriemed education in college English teaching in independent colleges

With the economic and social development of our country, the demand of all walks of life in our society on the compound talents who both master the professional knowledge and have the higher skills of English is increasing gradually. But at present, the graduates that the traditional teaching systems of the independent colleges which cultivate the application-oriented specialists cannot completely meet the requirement of the society. Therefore, colleges and universities should take the professional English ability as the core, and make the major reform from the teaching concepts of the college English teaching, the teaching models, and the teaching evaluation and so on, and establish the new system of college English teaching.

Guidance on How English Recitation Improve English Learning

Unlike Chinese,English has its language features.For Chinese students living in a non-English environment,recitation,as an optimal way,matters to learners to accumulate language materials.In this connection,authentic English texts provide a way for them to understand western culture.This paper aims to discuss the significance of English recitation in cultivating students’English language ability and how to selectively recite English texts.

How to Improve the Ability of English Reading

Considering the present situation, the aim of English teaching in middle schools in our country, according to the teaching syllabus, is to train the students to listen, speak, read and write ; to lay particular emphasis on the students’ reading skill so as to pave the way for their further learning and using the language properly. How can the readers make improvements in reading? There are many skills to improve one’s ability of reading comprehension. I. The knowledge of words. One of the most important skills in reading is the knowledge of word. The number of the words you know determines the difficulty and complexity of the material you can read and understand. If you have an extremely limited reading vocabulary, you will be able to read only very simple material. Obviously, vocabulary forms a stumbling block for the poor reader. The more words you memorize, the faster you read the article. So, it is necessary to memorize words as much as you can.

Empirical Analysis of Evaluation of English Teachers＇ Educational Ability Under MOOC Environment

In order to improve the English teachers＇ education ability evaluation accuracy, promote the upgrading of the level of English teacher education, the evaluation model of English teacher education ability is proposed in MOOC environment. Data fusion model of English teacher education ability evaluation index is obtained based on big data analysis method, data clustering analysis of English teaching evaluation indicators is carried out, Characteristic data of English Teaching are extracted, and combining fuzzy C means algorithm to analyze the characteristics of English teachers＇ educational ability in MOOC environment, adaptive mining evaluation of English teachers＇ educational ability is realized. Then we develop and design the evaluation system of English teacher education ability under the MOOC environment. The empirical data analysis is taken, and results show that it has good accuracy by using this method for evaluation of English teacher＇s ability, it improves the comprehensive evaluation level of English teachers.

Study of the Influence of the Chunking on Improving Speaking Ability Among Senior High Students

English speaking skill is one of the most important skills that senior high students need to obtain in learning English.However,there are still many problems existing in students’speaking practice.As a teaching and learning strategy,Chunking is now gradually used in English classroom and has received a positive feedback.Therefore,in this paper,the influence of Chunking on improving English speaking skill among senior high school students will be investigated and analyzed through the methods of questionnaire and the follow-up interview to answer four questions:(1)What effect does Chunking have on the oral fluency of high school students?(2)What effect does Chunking have on the oral accuracy of high school students?(3)What effect does Chunking have on the vocabulary?And(4)Does the English speaking performance relate to genders?After analyzing the results of questionnaire by the SPSS and summing up the interview record,we found that most of them agree the fact that the strategy of Chunking does benefit their oral fluency,oral accuracy,and vocabulary.Also,female students have higher scores than male students.

Language Ability or Personality Works?:The Return to Possessing a Global English Test Certificate for College Graduates in China

Purpose-English language skills have great influence on labors’earnings from the global perspective.To reveal the economic returns to English language ability in Chinese labor market,we investigate how the global English test certificate affects college graduates’wage.Design/Approach/Methods-We adopt the ordinary least squares(OLS)and propensity score matching(PSM)methods,using data from Chinese Education Panel Survey(CEPS).Findings-The results indicate that with English test scores controlled,possessing global English test certificates have an additional positive effect on wage premiums whereas domestic English test certificates do not.Therefore for college graduates in China,the act of chasing certificates represents proactivity and is rewarded at the initial employment stage.Originality/Value-Our findings imply that global English test has great comprehensive value in labor market:the certificate is not only the important signal to students’English language,but the crucial indicator to one’s productivity personality which is rewarded at the initial employment stage.

Application of Learning by Design Into the Cultivation of Multiliteracies:A Case Study of College English Teaching Practice at Soochow University

Multiliteracies are an indispensable component of language abilities in the modern age of information technology.First proposed by the New London Group in 1996, multiliteracies refer to the abilities needed to obtain the learning resources that are transmitted through different media and modals, and to apply different modes and means to communicate with others to create meanings.The cultivation of multiliteracies is not only a systematic process of constructing knowledge but also a dynamic cycle of designing learning activities.In undertaking an international multiliteracies project, the New London Group adopted a mode of learning by design to cultivate multiliteracies.Learning by design includes three progressive components of available design, designing, and redesigned, with available design referring to the learning resources available, designing being the work to be done to make use of the learning resources obtained, and redesigned meaning the regenerated and transformed learning resources that are to become the new learning resources for available design.When it comes to the stage of redesigned, the mode of learning by design enters a new cycle.Ever since learning by design was adopted, it became the main theoretical framework used to cultivate multiliteracies.The college English teaching subsequently developed at Soochow University followed and specified the general principles of learning by design while constructing its own specific mode, trying to integrate available design and designing into a dynamic whole geared toward cultivating multiliteracies(one of the three abilities needed to use English, together with language expression abilities and intercultural communication competences).With regard to available design, efforts were made toward building and expanding various learning resources, facilities, settings, environments, and other learning support systems at Soochow University.This was done to provide easy and selectable accesses to the Net^+ based multimedia forms of different learning resources and specific course contents.In designing, different task-based and project-driven classroom and extracurricular/term explorative learning activities, particularly those revolving around the two courses of Film English and Media English Reading, were created for students to actively undertake cooperative and interactive learning, facilitating their language application.The teaching of available design and designing was interdependently progressed and students' language acquisition and application were systematically integrated to promote the effective cultivation of multiliteracies.

GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND EFL WRITING

Although a limited number of studies have been undertaken to support the argument that group discussion facilitates EFL writing, few studies have provided statistical proof for this. The present study was designed to compare the written work of two groups of Chinese students, in order to identify the differences in writing outcomes achieved with different teaching methods: conducting group discussions with the Experimental Group (EG) and teacher-dominance with the Control Group (CG). By comparing the two groups' written products and analyzing the sample writings and questionnaire results, the study suggests that group discussion facilitates students' writing better than traditional classes, in terms of content, readership and thinking patterns. [HJ][WTH3]