Seminar on English Teaching

  • 2014-12-26
  • 5244

 

The seminar “New Concepts on English Learning and Teaching” given by Professor Tian Guisen from School of Foreign Languages and Literature, Beijing Normal University, in Room I (5) at the Humanities Building of GUCAS on April 10, 2012 reviewed classic theories on English teaching and put forward a new model on English teaching.

 

Firstly, Prof. Tian expounded the concept of foreign language learning and pointed out that foreign language learning was a complicated process, which involved in many factors such as emotion, cognition, and strategy. Therefore, foreign language teaching should consider these factors. Afterwards, he introduced the essence of classic theories on foreign language teaching including: the three teaching conditions put forward by Bernard Spolsky; the three research fields in English teaching by Larsen-Freeman; the four conditions of language learning by Jane Wills; the three links by Jeremy Harmer; and the five factors by Thomas Scovel. These discussions emphasized that English teaching should be combined with the characteristics of students.

 

Prof. Tian pointed out that the target of English teaching should be adjusted unceasingly as people’s understanding of English learning deepened. English is not only a tool for communication but also a reflection of cultural accomplishment. Students should have not only the language knowledge and skills, but also the motivation, learning strategy and cultural awareness of English learning.

 

Based on the classic theories on foreign language teaching, Prof. Tian explained six elements of English teaching: Active Classroom, Balanced Instruction, Content-based Teaching, Doing the Language, Encouraging environments, Formative Assessment. Finally, Prof. Tian brought forward eight suggestions for young teachers and answered questions on how to set up teaching curriculum and know more about students.