性格内向中学生口语水平的发展策略.doc

AbstractDifferent students are different in personality, which influences their language learning. Personality is one of the effective factors that are equally important for explaining different success among second language learning. Generally speaking, personality can be divided into introversion and extroversion. The difference between introversion and extroversion is considered to be one of the main factors in determining learning outcomes in the field of second language acquisition. This article focuses on how to develop the introverted middle school students oral English. Firstly, the importance of oral English is discussed in this paper. Secondly, the relationship between extroversion, introversion and English learning is analyzed. Thirdly, the disadvantage of introverted middle students in oral English learning and teaching is analyzed. Fourthly, this paper also tries to demonstrate what teachers can do to improve the introverted middle school students speaking skills. At last, the conclusion is drawn that different students have different personalities and teachers should adopt proper teaching methods to improve language leaning efficiency accordingly.Key words: introversion; improve; oral English 摘 要不同的学生有不同性格，性格影响着语言的学习， 对于第二语言学习者来说性格是最重要的影响成功的因素之一。性格一般可以分为外向性格和内向性格，外向性格与内向性格的差异是影响学习效果的重要因素之一。这篇文章主要讨论的是如何提高性格内向中学生的口语。首先，文章讨论的是口语的重要性。然后分析了外向性格和内向性格与英语学习的关系。接着分析了性格内向中学生在口语学习中的不足。 然后重点阐述了作为英语教师应该如何提高性格内向中学生的英语口语水平。最后，总观全文得出的结论是：不同学生有不同的性格特征，不同性格又对英语学习有不同的影响。教师应该相应地使用行之有效的教学方法以提高语言学习效率。关键词：内向；提高；英语口语 Contents1. Introduction.12. The Importance of Oral English.13. Analysis of the Relationship between Introversion and English Learning.23.1 The Introduction of Extroverted and Introverted Characters.23.2 The Advantage of Introverted Students for Their English Learning33.3 The Disadvantage of Introverted Students for Their English Learning .44. Strategies of Improving Introverted Middle School Students Oral English.54.1 Building up a Harmonious Teacher-Students Relationship.54.2 Training Introverted Students Motivation.74.3 Building up Confidence.84.4 Reducing Introverted Middle Students Tension and Anxiety.95.Conclusion12Reference1. IntroductionIn the eyes of many language teachers, the personality of their students constitutes a major factor contributing to success or failure in language learning(Liu Runqing & Wen Xu 2006:80). What is personality? Eysenck (1964) identified two general traits extrovert/introvert and neurotic/stable. Dennis Child (1997) presents many types of theories to define personality. He suggests that “No matter how varied identifications there have been, personality study is largely concerned with attitudes, social behavior and emotional reactions. And among these, the most notable factors are extroversion and introversion.” There are some studies in the second language acquisition, which have offered support for the common understanding that extroversion and introversion are both important factors in the foreign language learning, especially for oral English.As we all know that English has become more and more important in the world and English is nearly the international language. So it is very important to study oral English well. If teachers understand the differences of students personality and take them into consideration in the classroom teaching, it will improve students learning and teachers teaching. In the following parts of this paper, I will discuss how extroversion and introversion influence oral English learning and how to develop introverted middle school students speaking skills. The purpose has two folds: first, to arouse English teachers awareness of the importance of introverted students oral English teaching; second, to provoke their thought on how to teach their students better.2. The Importance of Oral EnglishLanguage is a tool for communication, so is English. It is a fact that English is the most widely used language in the world. And it is increasingly used by people with different levels, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. People from different countries communicate with each other mainly in English. Obviously, English has become a universal language. No matter where one goes and what one does, oral English always plays an important role. Whats more, as we entered the 21st century, the globalization and integration of the worlds economy have been further enhanced. Under this condition, English, a universal language, is widely acknowledged as “a powerful tool for learning from the advanced countries in terms of science and technology. Consequently, English learning and teaching become increasingly popular and important in our countrys educational system, especially for oral English learning and teaching.It is very clearly that the purpose of English teaching in middle school is to improve the students skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. Students are taught to grasp the base of necessary phonetics, large vocabulary and good grammar. But this is not the final purpose. The final purpose is to let students speak in English, use English in daily life. As one of the basic skills in English learning, speaking is prior to the others. So strengthening the teaching of oral English in middle schools becomes an urgent demand of society. It is necessary for teachers to attach importance to the teaching of English speaking and use some useful methods to improve students ability of spoken English.3. Analysis of the Relationships between Introversion and English Learning3.1. The Introduction of Extroverted and Introverted CharactersA typical introvert is someone who is a quiet, retiring sort of person, introspective, fond of bookish rather than people. He is reserved and distant except to intimate friends. He tends to plan ahead, looks before he leaps, and distrusts the impulse of the moment. He does not like excitement (Eysenck, 1964:8). Introverts are easy to become nervous and anxious. And their feelings are very sensitive and frail. They often pay too much attention about their face-saving. And introverts can have a great inner strength of character and may show high degrees of empathy. So although they are quiet, shy, close, they have great self-esteem. They are more concerned with the inner world of ideas and more likely to be involved with solitary activities. Besides there are more and more researches show that most of introverted people are lack of confidence. On the other hand, a typical extrovert is someone who tends to be sociable and needs to have many people to talk to. Extroverts have many friends. They crave excitement and take chances. They are confident, brave.3.2 The Advantages of Introverted Middle School Students and Extroverted Middle School Students for Their English LearningIn an English as a foreign language, if the second language learners are more bookish and reserved ,they might be willing to spend more time studying and practicing the forms of the form of the language, and thus develop a fuller and more accurate understanding of the language structure than the extroverts（Liu Runqing & Wen Xu, 2006:281). It is also widely accepted that introversion has its own advantages. They may be good at taking advantage of their introverted character and can do a further and deeper analysis from their language input. Or these learners may be more skillful in grammar, translation, and reading comprehension since they spend much more time on these tasks (Littlewood, 1984). To sum up, introverted students have fuller and more accurate understanding of the language structure, deeper analysis from their language input. They are more skillful in grammar, translation, and reading comprehension.Extroverts tend to be sociable, are more likely to join groups, and more inclined to engage in conversations both inside (Cook, 1991) and outside the classroom (Swain, 1985). Many second language acquisition theorists also have claimed that extroverted learners will find it much easier to make contact with other users of the second language, therefore they will have more opportunities to practice listening and speaking. “We usually tend to think of an extroverted student as a gregarious, outgoing person, and an introverted student, conversely, as a quiet and reserved person. It is often the case that our society values the extrovert.”(Shu Dingfang，2002:144). This is easily seen that in the language classroom where the teacher likes talkative, outgoing students who take part freely in class discussion. Most teachers often pay more attention to extroverted students.3.3The Disadvantages of Introverted Students for Their Oral EnglishIn English class, introverted students often keep quiet and lower their heads. They never answer teachers questions actively. Even if they are called to answer questions, they usually feel nervous and cant give right answer. And they cant make good use of opportunities to speak English. They are more concerned with the inner world of ideas, and pay too much attention about their face-saving, so they are afraid of losing face when speaking English before others. It is inevitable to make mistake. It seems that the more mistakes they make, the more frightened they become. Gradually they lose confidence and then finally give up. Whats worse, most of introverted students overlook the oral English learning. They always do not make use of the opportunities to speak English. Because they have common opinion that speaking is not so important, and they believe the most important thing is to get a higher score than others in the examination. So every thing will be changed.4. Strategies of Improving Introverted Students Oral English.Above, we have known that introverted students have advantage for their English learning and disadvantages for their oral English. How to solve the problems and improve introverted middle students oral English? Some strategies are given in the following.4.1Building up a Harmonious Teacher-Student RelationshipTeacher-student relationship affects junior English teaching and learning. As the teacher and the student are two main sides of contradiction, their relationship is important during teaching and learning. A beneficial student-teacher relationship should be honesty, sincerity, mutual consideration and respect, independence, reliance, and accommodation of the others needs. Students and teachers should respect each other and collaborate as equals. In this kind of relationship, the student-teacher interactions are harmonious and happy.Teachers play an important role in building up a harmonious teacher-student relationship. First of all, teachers should change their concepts for introverted students. They can not have any prejudice for the introverted students. And they should see that extroverts have advantages in the basic skills of communication and introverts may be more skillful in reading comprehension, translation, and writing. Teachers should pay much more attention to introverted students. And they shouldnt make introverts feel that teachers do not pay attention to them and do not love and respect, treat them properly. We advocate that teachers and students should respect each other. Their statuses are fair. So no matter what the teacher or student he is, he should possess more democracy and equality, studying to respect and trust others. They should possess more toleration, studying to comprehend and be kind to others. Teaches should get to know their introverted students individually, to probe the innermost depths of their hearts as well as examining the outer details of their lives. Teachers should try to understand the inner world of introverted students, feel their feelings, imagine themselves to be in a students position, and have a share in their sentiment. At the same time, teachers are expected to exchange ideas with introverted students and make them understand teachers.Secondly, teachers should love their students. Love here refers to love for educational undertaking, for English education, and for their students. Many educationists regard such as virtue of a teacher. The love that teachers give and teacher express is a key for teacher to get to know students psychology. It is also an important source of teachers wisdom and teaching art. If teachers put more love on introverted students, they will feel that teachers do pay attention to them. It is the affection that dissolves the students natural tendency to resist being told what to do. Thus, the advice can penetrate more deeply and effectively. The measure of a teachers affection is reflected in his concern and introverted students personalities can be balanced and well proportioned. If the teachers instructions come from such a place of loving endearment, then he will save introverted students much wasted effort in their journey toward self-fulfillment. In contrast, the advice of a teacher who lacks such particularized concern will be less potent.Thirdly, teachers should take time to reflect upon introverted students progress, to refine and adjust his vision to influence them toward positive change. This is an ongoing requirement because introverted students quickly outgrow old advice, and the categories of what is beautiful and what is ugly change with each new stage of growth.Fourthly, teacher should correct introverted students errors indirectly sometimes. For example, when students say, “I go fishing tomorrow.” teacher ought to say, “oh, yes, I know you will go fishing tomorrow.”, instead of saying that “you are wrong, you are stupid, you should As we know introverted students have strong self-esteem. In this way, teacher will not hurt students pride and correct students as well. Moreover, teachers cannot break in introverted students talking, but teacher must guide introverted students to correct themselves pronunciation and expression and ask them to give ear to hear teachers or others students feedback4.2Training Introverted Students MotivationMotivation is the impetus that directly drives individual activities.When translated into motives, peoples needs, interests, hobbies, and values all take on the function of driving force for an activity (LI Zheng&Yao Benxian, 2001:50). Motivation concerns the direction and importance of human behavior. Motivation is often used to explain success or failure of language learning. It is easy to claim that a motivated learner will do better in language learning. Countless studies and experiments have shown that motivation is an important factor in the success of language learning.As we all know that many students, particularly many introverted middle school students have been influenced by their traditional concepts. They usually think that grammar, writing, and reading are more important than speaking. And the most important thing is to get a higher score than others in the examination. As a teacher, the aim is to train introverted students to set up correct oral English learning motivations. The followings are some suggestions.Firstly, teacher should make the introverted students know that the purpose of foreign language study is for communicating and expressing. Teachers should inform introverted students clearly of the importance of oral English. Since English is used widely in science and technology, they will undoubtedly encounter the language whatever they will do in the future. Therefore, mastery of the language is not only used for passing the examination. In the course of implementing in the classroom, teachers should encourage introverted students to express their own opinions actively and should give support and praise to the students who can stand up to express their opinions. Then teachers make them understand that the purpose of argument is not the victory or defeat, but to practise the spoken language and improve their own ability to express. The purpose of learning speaking is to get the ability to use English. It is also one way to self-improve. If introverted students realize the real purpose of learning speaking, they will spontaneously engage in speaking activities.Secondly, teachers should try to arouse their introverted students interest in learning the language and make each classroom task meaningful and interesting. When a student performs a task or answers a question successfully, teachers should give positive feedback and praise him in time to extrinsically motivate him.4.3.Building up ConfidenceConfidence is about knowing oneself, who one is, why one is here, and what one wants to do. At its very core, confidence is all about self-trust. Confidence makes people happy, brave and courageous. A confident person can perform what he hopes and expects. One of most serious problems that introverted middle school students arent good at oral English is that they are lack of confidence. In order to help introverted middle school students build up confidence, teachers should encourage and appreciate introverted middle school students during their speaking, and help them build up their confidence.The first way to build confidence is to set goals. There is an old saying that a person without goals is like a ship without a rudder. If one has no goals, he is like a ship with no ability to steer. If the tide changes in his life, he just changes with it. But with clear goals in place, he can set his “rudder” towards them and even the worst storms will not push him too far off course. This is probably the easiest thing that introverted middle school students can do to help themselves. Introverted middle school students can