Curriculum Theories Of Selective Courses For Advanced English Teaching In Engineering Colleges And Universities

This thesis is intended to identify and formulate, in the light of curriculum development theory, the theoretical and practical underpinnings of the design of the selective courses in the stage of advanced college English in engineering universities and colleges. First, a comprehensive review of the theories of curriculum design and development is conducted, from which the theoretical framework is formulated for the analysis and research of the selective courses in advanced college English in view of current situation of college English teaching in China. Second, theories of social need analysis are applied to analyze the discrepancy between the actual college English teaching and what the society expects of college English. 476 learners and 83 teachers from four universities at different levels are surveyed with a questionnaire, and the analysis of the collected data leads to a better understanding of the teachers'and students'needs for selective courses in college English at engineering universities and colleges. Finally, a theoretical framework for the construction of selective course module for advanced college English has been established, based upon theories of curriculum development and the needs analysis of the society, the teachers and the learners.