Exploring the Improvement of Chinese Junior High School Students' English Capacities in Oral Speaking

Research Article
Open access

Exploring the Improvement of Chinese Junior High School Students' English Capacities in Oral Speaking

Xinran Zhang 1*
  • 1 Chengdu University of Technology    
  • *corresponding author chigga.zhang@outlook.com
Published on 19 April 2024 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/45/20230234
LNEP Vol.45
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-359-3
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-360-9

Abstract

In today's globalized world, English language proficiency has gained significant importance. However, the emphasis on exam-oriented education in Chinese junior high schools has led to a neglect of students' comprehensive English communication skills, particularly oral speaking abilities. In this research paper, I investigate effective strategies and interventions to enhance English-speaking proficiency among Chinese junior high school students. Through synthesizing existing research, the study aims to identify successful approaches while highlighting gaps for future research. My literature review highlights the critical role of pronunciation in oral English learning. Despite its importance, English pronunciation is often neglected in Chinese education due to the prevailing focus on written test scores. Existing research has explored numerous ways to improve English pronunciation, including incorporating music and utilizing Computer-Assisted Pronunciation Training (CAPT) systems. Moreover, my paper addresses the challenges junior high school students face in developing English speaking skills, such as limited oral English classes and a lack of appropriate teaching materials. Students' lack of interest and anxiety toward verbal English learning further contribute to the problem. To address these issues, this study proposes two main interventions: utilizing music as an auxiliary method in teaching spoken English and employing dubbing apps in English teaching and after-class assignments. Additionally, role-playing activities are suggested to enhance students' enthusiasm for oral English learning. Through interviews with English teachers, this research aims to shed light on effective approaches to improve oral English proficiency among Chinese junior high school students and provide practical insights for language educators.

Keywords:

spoken English, junior high school students, China, improvement

Zhang,X. (2024). Exploring the Improvement of Chinese Junior High School Students' English Capacities in Oral Speaking. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,45,37-41.
Export citation

References

[1]. Abdullaev, Z., & Isanova, V. (2022). Teaching of Spoken English in Non-Native Context [Preprint]. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4291660

[2]. Morley, J. (1991). The Pronunciation Component in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25(3), 481. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586981

[3]. Pennington, M. C., & Richards, J. C. (1986). Pronunciation Revisited. TESOL Quarterly, 20(2), 207. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586541

[4]. Wei, M. (n.d.). A Literature Review on Strategies for Teaching Pronunciation.

[5]. Agarwal, C., & Chakraborty, P. (2019). A review of tools and techniques for computer aided pronunciation training (CAPT) in English. Education and Information Technologies, 24(6), 3731–3743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09955-7

[6]. Du, H., & Guan, H. (2016). Hindrances to the new teaching goals of College English in China: Being contextually blind and linguistically groundless, current tertiary ELT policy needs to be redefined. English Today, 32(1), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266078415000462

[7]. Zhang, F., & Liu, Y. (2014). A study of secondary school English teachers’ beliefs in the context of curriculum reform in China. Language Teaching Research, 18(2), 187–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168813505940

[8]. Woodrow, L. (2006). Anxiety and Speaking English as a Second Language. RELC Journal, 37(3), 308–328. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688206071315

[9]. Juniper Stokes. (2008). The Effects of Music on Language Acquisition.

[10]. Rais, B., Pranowo, D. D., & Sari, Rr. P. I. P. (2020). The Use of Song in Teaching English Pronunciation. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Language, Literature, and Arts Education (ICLLAE 2019). 1st International Conference on Language, Literature, and Arts Education (ICLLAE 2019), Yogyakarta, Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200804.025

[11]. Zhang, S. (2016). Mobile English Learning: An Empirical Study on an APP, English Fun Dubbing. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (IJET), 11(12), 4. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v11i12.6314

[12]. Böttger, H., & Költzsch, D. (2020). The fear factor: Xenoglossophobia or how to overcome the anxiety of speaking foreign languages. Training, Language and Culture, 4(2), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.22363/2521-442X-2020-4-2-43-55

[13]. Liu, X. (2010). Arousing the College Students' Motivation in Speaking English through Role-Play. International Education Studies, 3(1), p136. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v3n1p136

Cite this article

Zhang,X. (2024). Exploring the Improvement of Chinese Junior High School Students' English Capacities in Oral Speaking. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,45,37-41.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

Disclaimer/Publisher's Note

The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s). EWA Publishing and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities

ISBN：978-1-83558-359-3(Print) / 978-1-83558-360-9(Online)
Editor：Enrique Mallen, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Conference website: https://www.icgpsh.org/
Conference date: 13 October 2023
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.45
ISSN：2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

© 2024 by the author(s). Licensee EWA Publishing, Oxford, UK. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. Authors who publish this series agree to the following terms:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the series right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this series.
2. Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the series's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this series.
3. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See Open access policy for details).

References

[1]. Abdullaev, Z., & Isanova, V. (2022). Teaching of Spoken English in Non-Native Context [Preprint]. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4291660

[2]. Morley, J. (1991). The Pronunciation Component in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. TESOL Quarterly, 25(3), 481. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586981

[3]. Pennington, M. C., & Richards, J. C. (1986). Pronunciation Revisited. TESOL Quarterly, 20(2), 207. https://doi.org/10.2307/3586541

[4]. Wei, M. (n.d.). A Literature Review on Strategies for Teaching Pronunciation.

[5]. Agarwal, C., & Chakraborty, P. (2019). A review of tools and techniques for computer aided pronunciation training (CAPT) in English. Education and Information Technologies, 24(6), 3731–3743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09955-7

[6]. Du, H., & Guan, H. (2016). Hindrances to the new teaching goals of College English in China: Being contextually blind and linguistically groundless, current tertiary ELT policy needs to be redefined. English Today, 32(1), 12–17. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266078415000462

[7]. Zhang, F., & Liu, Y. (2014). A study of secondary school English teachers’ beliefs in the context of curriculum reform in China. Language Teaching Research, 18(2), 187–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168813505940

[8]. Woodrow, L. (2006). Anxiety and Speaking English as a Second Language. RELC Journal, 37(3), 308–328. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033688206071315

[9]. Juniper Stokes. (2008). The Effects of Music on Language Acquisition.

[10]. Rais, B., Pranowo, D. D., & Sari, Rr. P. I. P. (2020). The Use of Song in Teaching English Pronunciation. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Language, Literature, and Arts Education (ICLLAE 2019). 1st International Conference on Language, Literature, and Arts Education (ICLLAE 2019), Yogyakarta, Indonesia. https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.200804.025

[11]. Zhang, S. (2016). Mobile English Learning: An Empirical Study on an APP, English Fun Dubbing. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (IJET), 11(12), 4. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v11i12.6314

[12]. Böttger, H., & Költzsch, D. (2020). The fear factor: Xenoglossophobia or how to overcome the anxiety of speaking foreign languages. Training, Language and Culture, 4(2), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.22363/2521-442X-2020-4-2-43-55

[13]. Liu, X. (2010). Arousing the College Students' Motivation in Speaking English through Role-Play. International Education Studies, 3(1), p136. https://doi.org/10.5539/ies.v3n1p136

For authors
Guide for authors Policies for authors Aims and scope Subscription Open access policy
For editors
Policies for editors Editorial board
For reviewers
Policies for reviewers Privacy policy

Cookies are used by this site.
Copyright © 2024 EWA Publishing, its licensors, and contributors. All rights reserved, including text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.