| Recently researchers pay more and more attention to the importance of storytelling in learning and teaching a second language. However, there are not many researches of this kind in China. Moreover, most researches have been done in universities, high schools, and junior schools. Additionally, although the theory of CPE (Critical Period Effect) has been proposed for years, few show concern about the English learning and teaching in primary schools for a variety of reasons in China.Storytelling as a way of experiencing the world and as what contain everything second language acquisition theorists would like to see in language learning would arouse more and more teachers' interest and be regarded as one of the most effective ways to be applied into English teaching in the primary schools. Furthermore, motivated by personal interest and observations in the schools from kindergarten to college and on the learners from students to workers, I'd like to address questions in this study whether storytelling, together with course books, will benefit students, especially young learners in primary schools to shape positive attitudes towards learning English and to improve learning outcomes. This paper is intended to explore the effectiveness and feasibilities of adopting storytelling in primary school English class. Specifically, hypotheses are as follows:1. What are students' perceptions regarding storytelling?2. Can students enhance their ability in terms of speaking and listening?3. Is there any significant improvement in enthusiasm, attitudes, and scores for students in experimental group (being applied storytelling) compared with those in control group (being instructed as usual)?The subjects in this positivist study were 50 primary school students from two classes- 25 students in Class 31,13 boys and 12 girls and 25 students in Class 38, 14 boys and 11 girls. All of the students in the two classes are around 9-10. They are studying CYLE in the Training School of Huairou, Beijing. The study lasted for one semester of 6 months. During and at the end of the study, questionnaires and in-depth group interviews... |
