On the Application of Students’ Dominant Status in English Classroom Teaching

    【Abstract】With the continuous advancement of English teaching reform， higher and higher requirements are put forward for English teaching. Teachers should give full play to students dominant role， constantly improve teaching methods， teaching efficiency and teaching quality so as to enhance students English ability.

    【Key words】English teaching; Dominant status; Teaching methods; Teaching quality

    【作者簡介】刘玉红，江苏海事职业技术学院。

    There are various factors in English classroom teaching， however， students dominant status is considered as the most important factor in English teaching.

    1. The theoretical basis of “students dominant status”

    The theoretical basis of the teaching mode of “students dominant status” is constructivism theory， social interaction theory and humanism theory.? All three theories emphasize that learners are the main body of learning.

    1.1? Constructivism theory

    Constructivism theory holds that knowledge is acquired by learners under the guidance of teachers. Students are the center of the learning body. The characteristic of constructivism teaching mode is “student-centered”. Teachers play the role of organizer， helper and promoter in the whole teaching process.

    1.2 Social interaction theory

    Social interaction theory holds that English learning activities are the interactions among personal factors， behavioral factors and environmental factors. Teachers should influence students through language communication with students in a natural language environment， so that students will further understand the world and continuously change their world outlook.

    1.3 Humanism theory

    Humanism emphasizes the importance of the inner world of human beings and puts human thoughts， feelings and emotions at the forefront of the whole psychological development of human beings. Humanism holds that truly meaningful learning occurs when the content learned is of personal relevance and the learner can take the initiative to participate.

    2. The basic models of “students dominant status”

    The activity of “students dominant status” can involve all language skills such as listening， speaking， reading， writing and translating. In many years of English teaching， the author has summed up five effective and easy-to-operate teaching modes of “students dominant status”.

    2.1? One-person speech

    This activity can be carried out before the new class or after the text is finished. This kind of speech requires students to use the main vocabulary， structure and knowledge points of this lesson to string the whole text together in their own words.

    2.2? Pairing

    Pairing refers to two students carrying out foreign language learning activities. There are two forms of pairing： fixed and unfixed. For the fixed form， the members are usually two students at the same table. For the latter form， the two students are determined according to the teaching needs.

    2.3? Report of the three-member group

    After each English class starts， students in groups of three will give a report about 5 minutes. In this activity， there is one main speaker and two other students who make supplementary speeches. At the end of the report， the group members ask questions or answer questions from the audience.

    2.4? Four-person group discussion

    It has been found that if the number of group members is less than four， a lively discussion atmosphere will not be created， and if the number of group members is more than four， communication will not be facilitated smoothly. This form of group discussion can not only enable each student to exchange opinions openly and heartily in class， but also improve students language skills.

    2.5 Five people performing

    A group of 5 students can be arranged to perform in English class， so that each student will have at least one chance to participate in the performance each semester. Through the performance， the students not only master the knowledge points and language points， improve their oral and performance abilities， but also enhance their mutual understanding and deepen their friendship.

    3. Conclusion

    There are many forms of “students dominant status”. Each form of interaction has its own advantages and limitations. Different forms of interaction require different numbers of students， and they play different roles in the activity to master various English knowledge and abilities.