In the domain of teaching reading of college English in China, to some extent, the words ＂teacher control＂ and ＂learner autonomy＂ have been miscomprehended by some teachers. This article argues that both teacher c...In the domain of teaching reading of college English in China, to some extent, the words ＂teacher control＂ and ＂learner autonomy＂ have been miscomprehended by some teachers. This article argues that both teacher control and learner autonomy play an important role in the process of foreign language learning. Too much or too little control may lead to the failure of learning effectively. Tasks can be accomplished effectively through teacher＇s balancing teacher control and learner autonomy. A teacher can play different roles in the process of teaching reading to balance teacher control and learner autonomy. In this way, teacher＇s proper control and learner freedom occur and language learning may be more effective.展开更多
This paper focuses on variables affecting L1 transfer in L2 acquisition, which, according to the author, are categorized into three groups： learner-related variables, language-based variables and socio-linguistic var...This paper focuses on variables affecting L1 transfer in L2 acquisition, which, according to the author, are categorized into three groups： learner-related variables, language-based variables and socio-linguistic variables, and each of them is clarified in more details.展开更多
This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter e...This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter explores the reasons for their current level with the aid of questionnaire based on a rating scale, together with observation and interviews. Some countermeasures are provided to call for teachers＇ attention in their teaching practice.展开更多
Applied to real-life teaching, Krashen＇s theory helps us to find the causes of top students＇ halt of acquisition in oral English class--that is, insufficient and inappropriate input in listening, speaking and reading.
Different from literary English which tends to give a subjective description, culinary English tends to give an objective one. In addition, culinary English has other unique features as shown in this paper.
From 1970 onwards, Halliday worked on the functional aspect of grammar. He mentioned the language as a form of ＂doing＂ rather than a form of ＂knowing＂. He believes that language is what it is because it has to ser...From 1970 onwards, Halliday worked on the functional aspect of grammar. He mentioned the language as a form of ＂doing＂ rather than a form of ＂knowing＂. He believes that language is what it is because it has to serve certain function. In other words, social demands on language have helped to shape its structure. This theory distinguishes linguistic behavior potential from actual linguistic behavior. That means the speaker can do many things in certain language： making an invitation, expressing hope, inquiry, agreement, refuse and etc. Therefore EFL teaching is to develop the abilities to communicate with others, that is, listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating. This paper wants to discuss Halliday＇s theory about the functional approach and how to make good use of it to the language leaming and teaching.展开更多
This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （gr...This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （group 2-17 informants）. The paper discusses different pedagogical methods, learning materials, and learners＇ status. The most important mission of schools is to increase public awareness about their linguistic environment which helps reassert minority identity through language acquisition and linguistic maintenance. Implementing an educational language curriculum for regional languages constitutes a main step towards the preservation of linguistic minorities. According to the informants interviewed during the fieldwork, both groups express positive reactions towards the presence of Gallo at school （group 1--80%; group 2--92.9%）. However, in follow-up discussions, a certain number of older speakers seem to be more reluctant, because the variety of Gallo taught at school is different from the one which was transmitted to them. In conclusion, bilingual and immersion programs are increasingly successful in Brittany and could lead to a wider recognition of Eastern Brittany＇s language and culture.展开更多
In modem society, advertising plays a very important role in people＇s daily life. We can not imagine the world without advertisements. Advertisers try every means to design persuasive advertisements for their product...In modem society, advertising plays a very important role in people＇s daily life. We can not imagine the world without advertisements. Advertisers try every means to design persuasive advertisements for their products by attractive patterns, photos and colors, as well as commonly shared resources of language. The use of presupposition in advertising language, which is an important topic in pragmaties, can serve the function fairly well. This paper first presents a general review of previous studies on presupposition phenomena in advertising language, then investigates the use of presuppositions in advertising language by both qualitative and quantitative analyses. By qualitative analysis, the author tries to explore the functions of each type of presuppositions in advertising texts; by quantitative analysis, 100 sentences selected from various advertisements for different products are examined.展开更多
English is widely taught and learned in China nowadays. Wherever you go, you may find English language is taught and learned as a compulsory course from the third year of primary school onwards from 2001. In addition,...English is widely taught and learned in China nowadays. Wherever you go, you may find English language is taught and learned as a compulsory course from the third year of primary school onwards from 2001. In addition, adults who have not had any education in English before are now encouraged to take up English lessons in formal teaching or take English courses in self-taught ways. Why English is so widely learned in China？ This research will help us to find the factors encouraging this phenomenon either from the historical background, or from our education policies and people＇s learning motivation.展开更多
Language acquisition is a system with four components： language development, academic development, cognitive development and sociocultural development. Based on this theory, Chinese students in the United States are ...Language acquisition is a system with four components： language development, academic development, cognitive development and sociocultural development. Based on this theory, Chinese students in the United States are studied from three perspectives： linguistically, culturally, and social psychologically. It indicated that, to help Chinese students develop their English performance and cultural appreciation in this diverse world, the profession of English teaching in China should cover a variety of domains, including linguistic, cultural and psychological input. Both American and Chinese education can benefit from this special group of Chinese students if they can be better understood, and used as a bridge between China and U. S. cultural and academic exchange. In the meantime, the mirror held up to the Chinese students in these perspectives reflects not only who they are but also who they can become.展开更多
In pronunciation teaching, learners may have difficulty when there is a ＂gap＂ in the phonemic system between L1 （the first or native language） and L2 （the second or foreign language）. In such a case, they tend t...In pronunciation teaching, learners may have difficulty when there is a ＂gap＂ in the phonemic system between L1 （the first or native language） and L2 （the second or foreign language）. In such a case, they tend to use their native language sounds in speaking the foreign language. Since some Chinese and English vowel sounds are easy to be confused, applying IPA cardinal vowels in the teaching of English pronunciation will help Chinese learners identify the difference between an English vowel sound and a Chinese vowel sound and thus enables them to make intelligible English speech sounds.展开更多
With the increasing of communicating with the world, spoken English for non-English majors is becoming more and more important. So although therc＇re problems existing in English classes for teachers to cope with, i t...With the increasing of communicating with the world, spoken English for non-English majors is becoming more and more important. So although therc＇re problems existing in English classes for teachers to cope with, i think it＇s necessary and possible to improve our students＇ speaking ability if only we do spare our efforts and make the most of the classes. Here in this article, I try to discuss the necessity and advantages of improving students＇ speaking ability, and also suggest approaches of getting our students to start talking, improving their spoken English, and discuss some problems as well.展开更多
In the current debates over Saussure＇s principle of arbitrariness, there have occurred some confusions and misunderstandings, especially in the equation of Saussure＇s notion of arbitrariness with the classical notio...In the current debates over Saussure＇s principle of arbitrariness, there have occurred some confusions and misunderstandings, especially in the equation of Saussure＇s notion of arbitrariness with the classical notion of arbitrariness. In this article, the uniqueness of Saussure＇s arbitrariness is illustrated in, relation to the classical arbitrariness.展开更多
文摘In the domain of teaching reading of college English in China, to some extent, the words ＂teacher control＂ and ＂learner autonomy＂ have been miscomprehended by some teachers. This article argues that both teacher control and learner autonomy play an important role in the process of foreign language learning. Too much or too little control may lead to the failure of learning effectively. Tasks can be accomplished effectively through teacher＇s balancing teacher control and learner autonomy. A teacher can play different roles in the process of teaching reading to balance teacher control and learner autonomy. In this way, teacher＇s proper control and learner freedom occur and language learning may be more effective.
文摘This paper focuses on variables affecting L1 transfer in L2 acquisition, which, according to the author, are categorized into three groups： learner-related variables, language-based variables and socio-linguistic variables, and each of them is clarified in more details.
文摘This article makes an investigation of 114 English majors＇ level of a particular communicative performance and the general ability to perform in small-group conversations in their conversation class, and thereafter explores the reasons for their current level with the aid of questionnaire based on a rating scale, together with observation and interviews. Some countermeasures are provided to call for teachers＇ attention in their teaching practice.
文摘Applied to real-life teaching, Krashen＇s theory helps us to find the causes of top students＇ halt of acquisition in oral English class--that is, insufficient and inappropriate input in listening, speaking and reading.
文摘Different from literary English which tends to give a subjective description, culinary English tends to give an objective one. In addition, culinary English has other unique features as shown in this paper.
文摘From 1970 onwards, Halliday worked on the functional aspect of grammar. He mentioned the language as a form of ＂doing＂ rather than a form of ＂knowing＂. He believes that language is what it is because it has to serve certain function. In other words, social demands on language have helped to shape its structure. This theory distinguishes linguistic behavior potential from actual linguistic behavior. That means the speaker can do many things in certain language： making an invitation, expressing hope, inquiry, agreement, refuse and etc. Therefore EFL teaching is to develop the abilities to communicate with others, that is, listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating. This paper wants to discuss Halliday＇s theory about the functional approach and how to make good use of it to the language leaming and teaching.
文摘This study explores the origins and current status of the Gallo language at school--a minority language spoken in the eastern part of Brittany--among older speakers （group 1-41 informants） and students of Gallo （group 2-17 informants）. The paper discusses different pedagogical methods, learning materials, and learners＇ status. The most important mission of schools is to increase public awareness about their linguistic environment which helps reassert minority identity through language acquisition and linguistic maintenance. Implementing an educational language curriculum for regional languages constitutes a main step towards the preservation of linguistic minorities. According to the informants interviewed during the fieldwork, both groups express positive reactions towards the presence of Gallo at school （group 1--80%; group 2--92.9%）. However, in follow-up discussions, a certain number of older speakers seem to be more reluctant, because the variety of Gallo taught at school is different from the one which was transmitted to them. In conclusion, bilingual and immersion programs are increasingly successful in Brittany and could lead to a wider recognition of Eastern Brittany＇s language and culture.
文摘In modem society, advertising plays a very important role in people＇s daily life. We can not imagine the world without advertisements. Advertisers try every means to design persuasive advertisements for their products by attractive patterns, photos and colors, as well as commonly shared resources of language. The use of presupposition in advertising language, which is an important topic in pragmaties, can serve the function fairly well. This paper first presents a general review of previous studies on presupposition phenomena in advertising language, then investigates the use of presuppositions in advertising language by both qualitative and quantitative analyses. By qualitative analysis, the author tries to explore the functions of each type of presuppositions in advertising texts; by quantitative analysis, 100 sentences selected from various advertisements for different products are examined.
文摘English is widely taught and learned in China nowadays. Wherever you go, you may find English language is taught and learned as a compulsory course from the third year of primary school onwards from 2001. In addition, adults who have not had any education in English before are now encouraged to take up English lessons in formal teaching or take English courses in self-taught ways. Why English is so widely learned in China？ This research will help us to find the factors encouraging this phenomenon either from the historical background, or from our education policies and people＇s learning motivation.
文摘Language acquisition is a system with four components： language development, academic development, cognitive development and sociocultural development. Based on this theory, Chinese students in the United States are studied from three perspectives： linguistically, culturally, and social psychologically. It indicated that, to help Chinese students develop their English performance and cultural appreciation in this diverse world, the profession of English teaching in China should cover a variety of domains, including linguistic, cultural and psychological input. Both American and Chinese education can benefit from this special group of Chinese students if they can be better understood, and used as a bridge between China and U. S. cultural and academic exchange. In the meantime, the mirror held up to the Chinese students in these perspectives reflects not only who they are but also who they can become.
文摘In pronunciation teaching, learners may have difficulty when there is a ＂gap＂ in the phonemic system between L1 （the first or native language） and L2 （the second or foreign language）. In such a case, they tend to use their native language sounds in speaking the foreign language. Since some Chinese and English vowel sounds are easy to be confused, applying IPA cardinal vowels in the teaching of English pronunciation will help Chinese learners identify the difference between an English vowel sound and a Chinese vowel sound and thus enables them to make intelligible English speech sounds.
文摘With the increasing of communicating with the world, spoken English for non-English majors is becoming more and more important. So although therc＇re problems existing in English classes for teachers to cope with, i think it＇s necessary and possible to improve our students＇ speaking ability if only we do spare our efforts and make the most of the classes. Here in this article, I try to discuss the necessity and advantages of improving students＇ speaking ability, and also suggest approaches of getting our students to start talking, improving their spoken English, and discuss some problems as well.
文摘In the current debates over Saussure＇s principle of arbitrariness, there have occurred some confusions and misunderstandings, especially in the equation of Saussure＇s notion of arbitrariness with the classical notion of arbitrariness. In this article, the uniqueness of Saussure＇s arbitrariness is illustrated in, relation to the classical arbitrariness.
