On Teaching English Reading to Junior Middle School Students.doc

On Teaching English Reading to Junior Middle School StudentsAbstractEnglish is more and more popular and important as an international language. People begin to pay more attention to it. Therefore, it is very necessary for everyone to grasp it. However, most of learners will meet the same problem in English study: Although they spend a lot of time and energy in learning English, they do not get a great progress. As a matter of fact,，if they pay more attention to English reading and mater some methods and have the ability of reading. They will make a great progress in a quite short time. So this paper will focus on the importance of English reading for English learners and make a discussion.Key wordsEnglish reading English learners Importance摘要英语作为一门国际语言，越来越受到人们的重视，也起着越来越重要的作用。所以，掌握英语是必须的，但是，在英语学习中，很多人都会遇到同样的问题，学习者投入了大量的时间和精力但未取得很大的进步！实际上，只要学习者重视了英语阅读，并对阅读的一些方法和技巧加以重视，就会在很短的时间内取得很大的进步。在本文中，将聚集于阅读对英语学习者的重要性来展开讨论。关键词英语阅读 英语学习者 重要性 Outline 1 Introduction 611 Whats English reading? 812 The importance and status of English reading 92 The importance of reading 921 There is a great relationship with other aspects of English Learning for English learners 10211 Enlarging vocabulary by reading 10212 Enhancing the language sense by reading 10213 Reading can broaden English learners range of knowledge 11214 Enriching learners lives and cultivating their positive attitudes towards their lives 1122 Helping English learners improve their English levels by reading 12 23 The status of reading English reading takes up a great part in different exams 123 The effective ways to improve students' reading 1331 Skimming 1432 Scanning 143.3 Set aside a regular time to read to students every day 153. 4 Surround students with reading material 153.5 Have a school reading time 153.6 Encourage a wide variety of reading activities163. 7 Develop the library habit 163.8 Be knowledgeable about students progress 163.9 Look for reading problems 163.10 Get help promptly for reading problems 173.11 Use a variety of aids to help students 173.12 Show enthusiasm for the students reading. 174 Conclusion 175. Notes 186. Reference 201 IntroductionAs everyone knows, English study process includes reading、speaking、listening and writing at the same time, but also has the stress process. And the most important thing is to breakthrough one by one, but taking reading as a sally point then breaking it one by one is the effective method. Reading is very important for an English learners life, work and study. Reading is a complex process; meanwhile, the comprehension is the same. With the appearance of writing, reading comes into being. What is more, reading begins with the acquisition of visual symbols through eyes activity; next, with the understanding of writing symbols, readers resonate with writers, or doubt what they read, or get quite a little information; and even, reading ends with the pure acquisition of the psychological process of mental happiness. At first, it is believed that reading is the process: the identification of phones, the pronunciation of words, phrases, sentences and last, the whole text. Actually, the above is the superficial phenomenon, and what readers read is the first stage of reading, that is, the physiological course through the coordinated action of eyes, mouth and tongue. Later, some psychologists find that reading is decoding and identifying. A famous linguist, Christine Nuttall (2002), thought that writers encode what is in their heads; form texts and then readers decode the texts to gain information. In other words, it is decoding. According to Durkin(1993), he defines reading comprehension as: “international thinking during which meaning is constructed through interactions between texts and readers.” In light of Harris and Hodge(1995), reading comprehension is the construction of the meaning of a written text through a reciprocal interchange of ideas between the readers and the message in a particular text.From all the above , the essence of reading is comprehension, which resides in the intentional, problem-solving, thinking processes of the reader which occur during an interchange with a text. The content of comprehension is influenced by the text and by the readers prior knowledge and an experience. Without comprehension, no matter how fluently students read aloud with natural pronunciation and intonation, it is not reading; without comprehension, we cannot say this reading.English teaching divides into two aspects: spoken English and written English. However, written English plays a greater role in secondary English teaching. In light of the recent college entrance examinations, reading comprehension accounts for 40 points of the full mark of 150 points. Secondly, according to the quantity, it increases from four pieces to five. What is more, what is most time-consuming and quite flexible is the part of reading comprehension. Fourthly, questions are so complicated that readers cannot find the answers just from texts, but from the spiritual essence. Next, for the purpose of gaining kinds of knowledge, reading is an important linguistic communicative activity. Due to English Course Standard, reading, as an indispensable ability, is paid attention to, to make studies of students reading approaches or strategies, to develop their independence in obtaining information, to enlarge linguistic input, to strengthen an instinctive feel for the language and at last, in order to understand the English-speaking culture. With these backgrounds, reading gives us a hand to analyze and solve problems. Above all, care should be taken to emphasize reading. Here is some evidence from following several points:11 Whats English reading? Generally speaking, “Reading is an active process during which the reader tries to understand the meaning of a given text for learning and getting information, which means that English reading can help you extend your general knowledge of the world.” But what is English reading? “English reading has always been considered one of the most important parts of foreign language learning. Without reading, nothing can be done in the development of the competence in listening、speaking 、writing and translating. Which success in every other academic area is based.” English reading is not just the ability to recognize words、articulate words and pronounce words. English reading is a communication with different authors. Its a benefit weapon to rich your brain. Also English reading is the key to strive for success in English learning.12 The importance and status of English reading 2 The importance of reading Einstein has stated “Reading is the most complex task that man has never devised for himself.” No longer can reading be considered the mere pronunciation of words, nor even the simple understanding of the meaning of the words. To function effectively in our complex society,the read must be able to appreciate to implications of the meanings gained from the printed word. With the tremendous variety of knowledge that is being discovered and accumulated, we are literally “burning up” reading skills faster than we can develop them . Each body of knowledge has its own kind of vocabulary, its different organizational thought patterns, and its specialized reading devices, such as maps, graphs, and chats. It would appear preposterous to assume that an eleven-year-old child could develop all the reading skills necessary to assimilate the vast amount of knowledge taught at the high school. “Reading in English, as the most frequently used way for non-native speaker to get access to original English material, plays a crucial role in learners English study. It facilitates learners expansion of lexical items, enhancement of grammar, accumulation of the knowledge about English speaking, countries society and culture and therefore help the development of other three language skills.” English reading is the foundation of English learning. Its a preparation for speaking 、listening and writing. Please check the following points:1. 1. There is a great relationship with other aspects of English learning for English learners.211 Enlarging vocabulary by reading There is no any impression by seeing once for a new word. However, if it comes up twice or three times or even more and then with combining the meaning of sentence, we might remember it very quickly .Of course .when we meet this word in fifth or sixth times, we can know its meaning, pronunciation without thinking. For example, when we meet a new word in reading, we dont know its meaning, but we have a little impression when next time it reappears in listening course. After doing the listening homework, we see the word in reading、listening、writing again and again. Thus we have a stronger impression of the meaning each time. Soon, the new word will be familiar and its meaning becomes clear. Thereby English learners can enlarge their vocabulary by reading.212 Enhancing the language sense by reading The language sense is extremely important to study a foreign language, especially non-native speaker. Because the “language sense is deciding the language what you said it takes the form or is an excellent likeness”. So English learners should take more time to read. While reading, learners will meet the different language situation. Hence, they can get more practice and study from different reading materials. Just reading makes English learners find a real “atmosphere of language”.213 Reading can broaden English learners range of knowledge Learners can get different gains by reading various essays. For example, English learners will get to know the system of society、cultural features and different customs and so on in different countries by reading. These help them get more knowledge and make their lives more colorful .In addition to learners will understand something about astronomy geography and horoscope (aspect astrology) through reading the science articles. Thus, not only does reading extend learners fields of knowledge but also makes their knowledge useful, which relates to the short passage of examinations.214 Enriching learners lives and cultivating their positive attitudes towards their lives Learners will understand many scientists stories of growing-up and the funny lives by reading some humorous and funny stories. Thereby, learners have good rules of their habits and study way for them. For example, when we are reading this text-book that “An Appreciation of English and American Literature”, we know something about character life and study way or the attitude of life from Mark Twain and Franklins writing.22 Helping English learners improve their English levels by reading Most of the domestic and external experts have the same idea that reading can help learners improve their English level “Famous Linguist Krasken pointed out (1989): The gain of vocabulary and spelling main comes from reading. Also Harmer pointed out (2000): Good articles supply an example for English learners, and improve their writing ability, also offers an opportunity to study grammar、 words and sentences structure. Wuguhua (Professor of QingHua University) said: Reading is the basic way to improve the learners spoken English. Because plenty of reading influenced on an English learners English level more or less.” From their opinions, it can be easily proved that reading has an extremely important role in improving the learners English level.2.3 The status of reading English reading takes up a great part in different exams The percentage of English reading is increasing gradually in different exams. For most of learners, the main purpose in learning English is to read-to get information. In the past, reading was though to be the main or even the only purpose for learning English. Now this is not necessary the case, it should be more. So reading still takes the greater part of in different examinations.For example: “Reading comprehension has taken a percentage up to 40% in some of national level exams, such as CET4, CET6, Postgraduate entrance exam, MPA、MBA etc. Another show is: Reading takes up 1/3 in some overseas exam like TOEFT and GRE.” “According to the purpose and requirement of the English teaching rules by the middle schools teaching outline. We can see it clearly that the goal of teaching focuses on reading. From the common exam and college entrance examination, the most difficult part is reading, and the part which has the highest point and quantity is the reading, too”.Thereby, English reading reflects learners English level and the ability of using language. It has an important position in exams.3The effective ways to improve students' reading Extensive reading is different from intensive reading. Intensive reading is to understand the content completely and make notes of the new words and phrases and good sentences. But extensive reading is to train the ability of scanning, skipping and reading fast, namely, the ability to catch the key words, the topic sentences and the drift of the articles. There are two ways of English extensive reading for English learners. It can help learners read more quickly and decide if the English text is interesting and whether the reader should read it in more details.3.1 Skimming Skimming is reading a text quickly to get a general idea of meaning. It requires that readers selectively omit some parts of the reading materials. Skimming often is confused with scanning “Remember that skimming is in order to find specific information.” e. g: figures or names.For example: “A learner taking a reading exam decides to approach text by looking at the title, introductions and any diagrams and sub-headings, then skin reading to get a clear general idea of what the text is about. Skimming is very important that learners understand that there is no need to read word for word when reading.”3.2 Scanning Scanning is used to obtain specific information from a piece of English text. Through scanning, learners can get a good idea about the material by taking a few moments right off to read the title, chapter headings, section ti