The synthetic defining style, a predominant way used to define verbs in many dictionaries, is the main factor that makes dictionary definitions vague and incomplete. The present paper argues that instead of the synthe...The synthetic defining style, a predominant way used to define verbs in many dictionaries, is the main factor that makes dictionary definitions vague and incomplete. The present paper argues that instead of the synthetic defining mode, an analytical meaning-explaining way should be used in dictionaries designed for SLA learners. The analytical meanings of verbs are viewed as mini-narratives and form event schemata comprised of three sub-schemata, namely, participant schema, action schema and scenario schema. The three sub-schemata should be clearly fore-grounded in verbs＇ definitions in learners＇ dictionaries.展开更多
Learning evaluation reform, an important part of the College English Teaching Reform, is not only a basis for teachers to reflect on their teaching method, to improve their teaching management, and to ensure the teach...Learning evaluation reform, an important part of the College English Teaching Reform, is not only a basis for teachers to reflect on their teaching method, to improve their teaching management, and to ensure the teaching quality, but also an effective means for students to enhance their learning efficiency and to gain sound learning effect as well. This research was intended to apply action research to the construction of multiple learning evaluation system with the aim of proving the effectiveness of the system on raising students＇ learning autonomy to find problems in the teaching, to testify the problems through questionnaire, then to design a feasible teaching strategy and carry out an experimental teaching, and finally to reflect on the whole teaching process from the perspective of how well the learner＇s learning autonomy was enhanced. The research result is valid, positively testifying the presupposition that the Multiple Evaluation System is a comprehensive one, which makes it possible to evaluate the students＇ progress in the whole learning process.展开更多
In this study, the author investigated insights of 15 college students majored in English as they explored their own use of annotation strategy and how they applied this strategy in effective reading process. As an ac...In this study, the author investigated insights of 15 college students majored in English as they explored their own use of annotation strategy and how they applied this strategy in effective reading process. As an action research, the report is an attempt to explore the role played by annotation in reading comprehension in English as a Foreign Language （EFL） classrooms. By means of learner diaries, the researcher found that annotation, as an efficient writing-to-learn strategy, is able to help EFL learners to research a deeper level of engagement and to encourage active reading. The findings also suggest that reading strategy training can be integrated with reading tasks in the EFL classrooms.展开更多
This action research explores the use of the flipped classroom approach in an English speaking class with 25 students at intermediate level in a vocational college in China's Mainland. It aims at motivating Englis...This action research explores the use of the flipped classroom approach in an English speaking class with 25 students at intermediate level in a vocational college in China's Mainland. It aims at motivating English learners and helping them develop communicative language skills more effectively and efficiently. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are adopted to analyze the data collected through interviews, teaching logs, as well as anonymous questionnaires and a summative assessment. Results show that the flipped classroom approach does stimulate students to invest more time and effort prior to instruction and during class learners do participate in communicative language exercises more enthusiastically. As a result, conceivable progress has been made in learners＇ performance. Possible recommendations of incorporating periodic rotation within the class, adding certain teacher-led instruction, and informal evaluation with group members, are raised at the end of the paper to help further improve the teaching/learning outcome of the flipped classroom approach.展开更多
Although vocational college students have already had many years of English education, their foundation of English study is not satisfactory. Many vocational college students are not very interested in English study. ...Although vocational college students have already had many years of English education, their foundation of English study is not satisfactory. Many vocational college students are not very interested in English study. There are many factors that cause this situation and some measures are taken to change This situation is also very important. Facts have proved that the introduction of flip classroom teaching mode can provide new ideas for improving higher vocational English teaching. This article is based on the topic of research, hoping to provide some methods for higher vocational English teaching reform.展开更多
This longitudinal study presents a full view of three rural high school EFL teachers＇ stories about learning to do action research through reflection. It takes a closer look at the contributions of reflection to acti...This longitudinal study presents a full view of three rural high school EFL teachers＇ stories about learning to do action research through reflection. It takes a closer look at the contributions of reflection to action research, the challenges the teachers faced, and the changes they achieved. Over a 22-week semester, the three teachers engaged in a series of interrelated learning activities including journal writing, individual dialogues, group meetings and action research. The findings show that learning to do action research was a time-consuming and arduous task, and such difficukies arose when they identified research topics, formed research questions, collected data and wrote their reports. However, reflection through writing, talking and discussing pushed the process forward. The teachers＇ professional development was mainly reflected in the changes in teaching practices and beliefs. A revisit held seven years later confirms that teachers＇ ability to identify problems and to take action improved, but none of them tried to do further action research. For the teachers living in an unsupportive research context, integrating action research into teaching practices may not be a priority.展开更多
文摘The synthetic defining style, a predominant way used to define verbs in many dictionaries, is the main factor that makes dictionary definitions vague and incomplete. The present paper argues that instead of the synthetic defining mode, an analytical meaning-explaining way should be used in dictionaries designed for SLA learners. The analytical meanings of verbs are viewed as mini-narratives and form event schemata comprised of three sub-schemata, namely, participant schema, action schema and scenario schema. The three sub-schemata should be clearly fore-grounded in verbs＇ definitions in learners＇ dictionaries.
文摘Learning evaluation reform, an important part of the College English Teaching Reform, is not only a basis for teachers to reflect on their teaching method, to improve their teaching management, and to ensure the teaching quality, but also an effective means for students to enhance their learning efficiency and to gain sound learning effect as well. This research was intended to apply action research to the construction of multiple learning evaluation system with the aim of proving the effectiveness of the system on raising students＇ learning autonomy to find problems in the teaching, to testify the problems through questionnaire, then to design a feasible teaching strategy and carry out an experimental teaching, and finally to reflect on the whole teaching process from the perspective of how well the learner＇s learning autonomy was enhanced. The research result is valid, positively testifying the presupposition that the Multiple Evaluation System is a comprehensive one, which makes it possible to evaluate the students＇ progress in the whole learning process.
文摘In this study, the author investigated insights of 15 college students majored in English as they explored their own use of annotation strategy and how they applied this strategy in effective reading process. As an action research, the report is an attempt to explore the role played by annotation in reading comprehension in English as a Foreign Language （EFL） classrooms. By means of learner diaries, the researcher found that annotation, as an efficient writing-to-learn strategy, is able to help EFL learners to research a deeper level of engagement and to encourage active reading. The findings also suggest that reading strategy training can be integrated with reading tasks in the EFL classrooms.
文摘This action research explores the use of the flipped classroom approach in an English speaking class with 25 students at intermediate level in a vocational college in China's Mainland. It aims at motivating English learners and helping them develop communicative language skills more effectively and efficiently. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are adopted to analyze the data collected through interviews, teaching logs, as well as anonymous questionnaires and a summative assessment. Results show that the flipped classroom approach does stimulate students to invest more time and effort prior to instruction and during class learners do participate in communicative language exercises more enthusiastically. As a result, conceivable progress has been made in learners＇ performance. Possible recommendations of incorporating periodic rotation within the class, adding certain teacher-led instruction, and informal evaluation with group members, are raised at the end of the paper to help further improve the teaching/learning outcome of the flipped classroom approach.
文摘Although vocational college students have already had many years of English education, their foundation of English study is not satisfactory. Many vocational college students are not very interested in English study. There are many factors that cause this situation and some measures are taken to change This situation is also very important. Facts have proved that the introduction of flip classroom teaching mode can provide new ideas for improving higher vocational English teaching. This article is based on the topic of research, hoping to provide some methods for higher vocational English teaching reform.
基金funded by the Postgraduate Scientific Research and Innovation Project of Jiangsu Province(CXZZ13_0379)the Jiangsu Government Scholarship for Oversea Studies
文摘This longitudinal study presents a full view of three rural high school EFL teachers＇ stories about learning to do action research through reflection. It takes a closer look at the contributions of reflection to action research, the challenges the teachers faced, and the changes they achieved. Over a 22-week semester, the three teachers engaged in a series of interrelated learning activities including journal writing, individual dialogues, group meetings and action research. The findings show that learning to do action research was a time-consuming and arduous task, and such difficukies arose when they identified research topics, formed research questions, collected data and wrote their reports. However, reflection through writing, talking and discussing pushed the process forward. The teachers＇ professional development was mainly reflected in the changes in teaching practices and beliefs. A revisit held seven years later confirms that teachers＇ ability to identify problems and to take action improved, but none of them tried to do further action research. For the teachers living in an unsupportive research context, integrating action research into teaching practices may not be a priority.
