Abstract:Language is the important instrument in communication, while vocabulary is the smallest semantic unit in language. Just as Wilkins,David A. claims that without grammar very little can be conveyed; without vocabulary nothing can be conveyed (195). If we have no enough vocabulary, we cannot understand text well. Therefore vocabulary teaching is a very important step during reading comprehension. However, in modern education situation, there are some misunderstanding in vocabulary teaching in senior high English reading and some problems in teaching method which go against effective students’ vocabulary learning in reading. We should pay much attention to this issue, and draw lessons from others’ experience, and sum up some useful teaching method to help students keep words in mind. What’s more, we should cultivate students’ communicative ability in actual life. We can put forward some opinions about vocabulary teaching and explore innovative vocabulary teaching method to improve the effect in vocabulary teaching.

Owing to the above reasons, the writer analyzes the current situations of vocabulary teaching by questionnaires and experimentation on the basis of the New Curriculum Standards in a high school. With corresponding results through experimental comparison, the writer hopes that teachers and students can get practical pedagogic advice from this thesis.

Key Words: vocabulary teaching; English reading; English teaching in senior high schools

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1 Introduction-5

2 Status quo and main problems in senior high English reading-6

2.1 Questionnaires about vocabulary teaching and learning in senior high English reading-6

2.2 Problems on Students’ Vocabulary Learning in Senior High English Reading-6

2.2.1 Learning without interest or enthusiasm-6

2.2.2 The poor ability of using vocabulary-7

2.2.3 The inefficient method of memory-8

2.3 Problems on Teachers’ Vocabulary Teaching in Senior High English Reading-8

2.3.1 The improper treatment with vocabulary before reading-8

2.3.2 The shortage of communicative interaction in vocabulary teaching-9

2.3.3 Indifference to vocabulary teaching in reading-10

2.3.4 The teaching method of spoon-feeding after reading-10

2.4 The necessity of English teaching reformation-10

3 Some ways to better vocabulary teaching in senior high English reading-11

3.1 Reading tasks adopted in Vocabulary Teaching-11

3.2 Pre-reading task: brainstorming ideas for learning-12

3.3 While-reading-12

3.3.1 Guessing the meaning of new words according to word-building and context-13

3.3.2 Selective analysis of important words in reading materials-14

3.4 Post-reading-15

3.4.1 Consolidating words by exercises after reading-15

3.4.2 Cultivating students’ ability to use dictionary rationally-16

3.4.3 Extensive reading for vocabulary expansion-17

4 An Experiment on the Effectiveness of Better Vocabulary Teaching in Senior High English Reading-18

4.1  the process of the experiment-18

4.2 The analysis of the experimental results-19

5 Conclusion-20

Appendix-21

Bibliography-36

Acknowledgements-37