A Survey Of Transition Of English Teaching From Primary School To Junior Middle School And Related Suggestions

At present, most of the pupils in cities have learnt English before they entered Junior Middle School, theoretically speaking, they have laid a good foundation for study. Thus, they are expected to go on learning with little obstacles in Middle School. Yet it is found in researches that a period appears that most students become less interested in English than when in Primary School. They are less confident. They are retrograde in English learning. It seems that there is a big gap of the English teaching between Primary School and Junior Middle School.How to help the students to get through the stage as soon as possible is the linchpin upon which anti-polarization and the development of the teaching quality depend. This is also a question that every English teacher in Junior Middle School must think.There are a few studies on the transition from Primary School to Junior Middle School so far. Here are two representatives. One is Xiahou Fusheng with his article Questions And Countermeasures On Transition Of Teaching From Primary School to Junior Middle School In China, the other is Xie Yongqin whose research is Studies On Transition Of Teaching From Primary School to Junior Middle School. They stressed that we should have comprehensive understanding of curriculum; we should follow the principles of step-by-step and consistency; we should pay much attention to the transition of teaching materials and methods, to the transition of interest and habit, to the transition of the knowledge and skills.To comprehend the situation of the transition of English teaching from Primary School to Junior Middle School in Dongguan, an investigation and analysis was made on the problems that exist in the transition by means of questionnaires.From the investigation, something was found, 1. When the students enter Junior Middle School, their characteristics of psychology begin to change along with the age and the environment. They want to be independent, but they are strongly teacher- oriented. So it's very important to build up a good relationship between the teachers and students. 2. The students encounter maladjustment and confusion because their motivation is at the crossing and their learning methods are at the stage of transition. So teaching methods works a lot on their learning. Teachers should pay more attention to the transition of teaching so as to ensure them a smooth transition.According to the investigation, the following solutions are suggested from teachers', students'and educational administrators'perspective based on the Theory of Constructivism,Affective Filter Hypothesis,Learning Theory of Humanism and English Course Standard.1. The teachers are the linchpins. During the transition, the teachers should make some adaptation on psychology, teaching aims and teaching methods. By which the students'interest can be cultivated and a good relationship between teachers-students can be built up.2. According to the Junior One students'characteristics of psychology and their English levels, something must be done to help them adapt their attitude and to help them get used to the life and study so as to form a good study habit as soon as they can.3. The educational administrators should offer more opportunities to promote English teachers' qualifications. Special training for transition teaching is urgent. Besides these, a new assessment system is expected to be built up to promote the teachers'enthusiasm and creativity.