The Teaching Reform in Oral English for Non-English Majors Based on FIF

Nowadays the oral English levels of non-English majors in colleges do not live up to the expectations from the all walks of life. Due to the rapid development of the communication technology, many cell phone apps about the English learning have appeared. So this paper tries to put forward some effective ways to reform the oral English teaching for non-English majors based on FIF--a cell phone app about oral English learning after analyzing the status quo of current oral English teaching and learning and the advantages of FIF.

Error Analysis of English Pronunciation Acquisition by Chinese Non-English Majors

Chinese non-English majors are a large group of English learners.In the process of English pronunciation acquisition,issues such as incomplete phonological knowledge,transfer of mother tongue,and overgeneralization,lead to confusion of phonemes and stress,misunderstanding of syllable structure,and errors of assimilation,drop,and epenthesis.The accuracy of English pronunciation can only be improved by knowing both English and Chinese phonological systems,strengthening the teaching of English phonological knowledge,and adopting various phonological training activities.

To Develop, Keep and Promote Non-English Majors＇ Interest in Oral English

Interest is one type of motivation and it is a vital factor in oral English learning. This paper concerns how to develop, keep and promote non-English majors＇ interests in oral English. It suggests combine interests with teaching contents, teaching activities and other factors.

The Role of Cultural Factors in Chinese non-English Majors' EFL Learning and Teaching

This article aims at the discussion of cultural interferences in foreign language teaching and learning for Chinese non-English majors. It also calls for more attention from teachers, textbook compilers, and students themselves.

College English Grammar Teaching for Non-English Majors

Grammar is very important in language learning. The mastery of English grammar is the basic English skill. However,most non-English majors are relatively poor in English and English grammar. They think grammar learning is boring and have a negative attitude towards grammar. So,it's necessary and urgent to teach them grammar.

A Study on Attitude to Western Culture of English Majors and Non-English Majors

With different learning purposes and environment, the attitude to western culture of English majors and non-English majors is hypothetically different. But after the study conducted with the method of questionnaire, the hypothesis is proved to be wrong. Thus, the writer analyses the reasons for the problem and suggests the pedagogic practice.

A Study of Cultivating Autonomous Listening Ability of Non-English Majors

Based on the literature review of learner autonomy,this paper analyses the necessity and importance of cultivating autonomous listening ability for non-English majors.Then,it presents some practical ways of cultivating autonomous listening ability of non-English majors.

A Probe into the Reasons for Less Frequent Use of Memory Strategies by Chinese Non-English Majors

Based on the results of the questionnaire survey,supplemented with the classroom observation and individual interview,the author probes into the reasons why Chinese non-English majors use memory strategies infrequently.On the one hand,the students do not know about memory techniques and on the other hand,they seldom receive memory strategy training in class.Therefore,it is strongly suggested that teachers be encouraged to become familiar with recent learner strategy research findings,and integrate the teaching of language learning strategies with classroom instruction plans.Only in this way can they offer their students a great deal of guidance in experimenting with new different strategies to enhance their learning.

An Analysis of the Foreign Language Anxiety among Chinese Non-English Majors

In college English learning, many learning variables are considered to influence the proficiency of studying, among which, anxiety is one of the most important affective variables. There is a negative correlation between anxiety and foreign language learning. The present study explores the correlation between foreign language anxiety and language performance. It put forward two suggestions concerning what language teachers can do to help Non-English Major students lower their foreign language anxiety.

Oral English Autonomous Learning Ability of English Majors Under the Background of the Internet and Its Improvement

The Internet is an important means of communication for contemporary college students,especially those majoring in English,to acquire knowledge about information and improve their oral proficiency.However,research on the relevant oral English autonomous learning ability of English majors shows that the overall learning situation is not satisfying.Based on the development of the concept of autonomous learning,this article explores the current situation and existing problems in oral English autonomous learning of English majors under the context of the Internet,and proposes corresponding autonomous learning strategies for improving their oral English skill.

Discourse Comprehension and Reading Strategies for Freshmen of Non-English Majors

This paper firstly discusses the nature of discourse comprehesion,and then analyzes the importance of reading strategy instructionon reading comprehension. Finally,it presents some useful approaches to help freshmen of non-English majors read effectively.

An Experimental Study on the Development of Self-access Language Learning by Non-English Majors

Self-access language learning has attracted much attention in second language teaching and researching. This paper aims to do some researches on developing self-access language learning in the self-access center and test its effect on developing learner autonomy. Data,collected in the form of questionnaires and interview,were analyzed. Results show the development of self-access language learning by non-English majors.

Study on English Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Non-English Majors

This research investigated English learning strategy use by Non-English majors in Guangxi.Students’self-reports and questionnaires are conducted to collect data.The analysis finds that students have difficulty with long-term memory and internalization of words.The most frequently used strategies are some determination,memory and cognitive strategies.Social and metacognitive strategies are used less.The findings indicate that there are no great differences in the use of most strategies between groups of different proficient levels.Suggestions are provided to teachers based on the findings.

A functional approach to improving non-English majors＇ writing proficiency

Problems in generating and organizing ideas, in coherence and language competence are common in non-English majors＇ writings. To improve their writing proficiency, the writing course should have real-life purposes, balance between real and display writing, between product and process approaches, vary writing activities, train strategies in improving coherence, balance the content of feedback and use various forms of feedback.

What Makes Non-English Majors Less Enthusiastic about English Learning: A Case Study of a Southwest University

Demotivation can be defined as"specific external forces that reduce or diminish the motivational basis of a behavioral intention or an ongoing action".The purpose of the present study is to identify what factors demotivated non-English majors in a southeast university in China.Questionnaire and semi-interview were developed to collect data.82 Participants responded to the questionnaire,three of whom shared their perception and experience of English learning in the interview.Consequently,this study identified four salient demotivating factors which made non-English majors less enthusiastic about English learning:(1)unhappy and unsuccessful experience of English learning in the elementary and high school;(2)low language proficiency;(3)difficulties of language learning contents at university and(4)utilitarian ideas.It is hoped that administration and English teachers will match the course,teaching content and course book with students’need,interest and proficiency.

Vocabulary Strategies Used by Non-English Majors

Many Chinese non-English Majors often feel confused and discouraged in remembering so many English words and using them properly. The article is based on the author’s teaching experience, investigation and interview. Result findings display that the methods the learners adopt are mechanic, dull and inappropriate. At last five pieces of advice are put forward for learners such as: teachers’ guiding, how to overcome learning by rote, developing students’ interest, learning about background and using English-English dictionary.

Socio-pragmatic Failure of Chinese Non-English Majors in Intercultural Communication

Chinese non-English majors often make many socio-pragmatic mistakes due to their ignorance of English-Chinese cultural backgrounds and pragmatic customs, which exerts a negative impact on their intercultural communications. This paper studies the social pragmatic failure that non-English majors usually make in requests, compliments, apologies, etc., aiming to explore the causes of social pragmatic failure from the aspects of economic background, thinking mode, negative pragmatic transfer, and so on. In addition, a series of corresponding methods are also suggested to reduce social pragmatic failures for non-English majors, so that they can improve their intercultural communication abilities.

Improving college non-English majors＇ nonverbal communication competence

Under the widespread view that verbal competence is essential in foreign language acquisition. nonverbal communication has not been given sufficient attention and importance in foreign language teaching in China. In most cases in intercultural interaction, people focus on verbal cues while neglecting those nonverbal messages produced by the bodies and the environment. Such neglect often results in misunderstandings and conflicts because nonverbal communication reveals basic cultural traits from which people are able to gather clues about underlying attitudes and values. So the study of nonverbal communication is an important component to the study of intercultural communication. It deserves due attention in foreign language acquisition. Grounded on the model of cultural learning put forward by Hanvey, the study puts forward a set of feasible suggestions on how to improve intercultural nonverbal communication competence of college non-English majors.

Corpus-based Study on the Use of Delexicalized Word“Thing”by Non-English Majors in L2 Writing

Recent years,interdisciplinary studies on English writing have become more and more prevalent,which is especially indicated by corpus-based studies,springing up.As the theoretical foundation,the Delexicalization Theory,which is a reasonably common language phenomenon,provides a more extensive perspective for English writing.According to the real linguistic data of EFL learners(The CET4 essays of four different classes),it can be easily found that students tend to use the word“thing”—considered to be one of the frequently-used delexcialized words,to express their opinions by means of the analysis of AntConc.However,the results indicate that Chinese non-English majors are inclined to overuse the word.Meanwhile,there are a large amount of inappropriate use of the word“thing”such as redundancy,substitution,collocation and semantic errors.Moreover,the study attempts to summarize the cause that the overuse may be attributed to improper writing strategies,and the effect of fossilization of interlanguage in order to provide some implications for English teaching promotion.

A Study on the Teaching of Lexical Phrases in Non-English Majors＇ Argumentative Writing

Compared structural approach with communicative approach, the former puts too much emphasis on linguistic knowledge and neglects the language application, while the latter lays too much emphasis on the communicative classroom activities and neglects the systematic study of linguistic knowledge. Both of them cannot meet the requirements of improving the non-English major students＇ argumentative writing scores. So based on the Lexical Approach theory, taking the College English Integrated Course 4 （LI, 2003） as the main teaching material and lexical phrases as teaching and learning units, this study explores the effectiveness of the Lexical Approach in improving non-English major students＇ argumentative writing through classroom activities of input, absorption, and output of lexical phrases. The results show that lexical phrases have more effects on students＇ English competence than single words. They can help to improve the argumentative writing scores and cultivate an interest in learning English independently.