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A Comparative Study of the Effects in Using Target Language and Native Language in College English Grammar Teaching

Author: RenLiFei
Tutor: KongDeHui
School: Northeast Normal University
Course: Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
Keywords: target language native language effectiveness college English grammar teaching
CLC: H319
Type: Master's thesis
Year: 2011
Downloads: 26
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Abstract

Recently, some foreign theories of SLT (Second Language Teaching) have been introduced into the theoretical study of foreign language teaching in China. Consequently, it is increasingly advocatory to teach foreign language in the target language without grammar teaching. Although under the guidance of these theories China has made tremendous achievements in foreign language teaching, the author believes that we also need foreign language teaching theories with Chinese characteristics, such as grammar teaching that is conducted with the mother tongue of our students. In view of this, this article will preliminarily explore how to teach college English grammar effectively, in the target language or in our native language.Theoretically speaking, the theory of positive transfer of native language, Common Underlying Proficiency and Input Theory are the theoretical bases for this research. If the Chinese foreign language teachers make a clear distinction between“second language”and“foreign language”, teach foreign language in combination with the specific Chinese condition, and reasonably make use of the positive transfer of native language, they can more effectively guide students to learn the foreign language.Methodologically speaking, the study involves both quantitative and qualitative research methods to comparatively analyze the validity between target language and native language in college English grammar teaching. It is carried out in a common university and the data is collected through teachers’and students’audio-recordings, questionnaires and tests, etc. Through analysis of the data collected, it is discovered that the positive effect of native language cannot be ignored for the study of target language, especially in learning college English grammar. Most students prefer learning college English grammar in native language. A scientific use of Chinese can have positive effects in pedagogy, while undue dependence on the mother tongue will be counter-productive. This study is only a preliminary exploration for the best combination with the two, which needs other scholars to take a further study.The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter One mainly introduces the background for the research and its significance, as well as the different features of languages. Chapter Two presents the literature review. Firstly, the theoretical background is introduced. Secondly, the role of native language is reviewed elaborately. Foreign language grammar teaching is mentioned in the third part. Here the positive role of native language is studied in various fields and the observations is raised that the first language helps learners learn a foreign language. Besides, the author explains why an empirical study is conducted, i.e. to seek for highly-efficient practicable strategies on grammar teaching with the help of native language. Chapter Three presents the research questions and the experiment about the validity of native language in college English grammar teaching in details. Chapter Four analyzes the data collected and discusses implications of the results. Chapter Five draws the conclusion of the thesis, the limitation and the significance of the present study and some suggestions for further research.

A Comparative Study of the Effects in Using Target Language and Native Language in College English Grammar Teaching

Abstract

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