The Appucation Of Inquiry-based Teaching To English Reading Class In Senior High School

In the context of current English education in China, especially in the schools where the People’s Education Press edition of New Senior English is used as textbook, the English reading class in senior high schools is the main class by which students can practise their language skills. On account of the fact that the English teachers are unable to completely reform the language teaching system in China, the priority of English education in secondary schools is to apply the teaching methods which can make the fullest use of the reading class to improve and strengthen students’ integrative language skills.Inquiry-based teaching (IBT) is a new teaching and learning strategy, whose theory source dates back to cooperative learning, constructivism and task-based approach. Inquiry-based learning requires a shift from teacher-centered classroom to student-centered and a change of their roles. In IBT, group cooperation and discussion are the main learning methods used in the inquiry learning process. Students cooperate within the group and compete among other groups, which not only increase their collaborative consciousness, but also make them appreciate the value of cooperation while competing with others. In inquiry-based class, every inquiry activity is a task. By finishing the task together with other members, students develop a sense of completeness and achievement. During the inquiry process, students actively construct the new knowledge and become an active learner.Based on the background and reasons mentioned above, this thesis reports a case study on the application of inquiry-based teaching to English reading class in senior high schools, with the purpose of analyzing the essential features and elements which a successful inquiry-based English reading class has and then providing some more efficient advice on designing an effective inquiry-based English class for English teachers. This thesis first uses literature research method to summarize the definition, history and application models of inquiry-based teaching, and then reviews the current situation of English reading class and its importance in China. Literature research found that the application of inquiry-based teaching to secondary schools in China has begun to take shape. Some secondary schools, such as Shanghai Jianqing Experiment School and Xi’an Tie Yi High School, Binhe branch which are famous for curriculum reform, even take inquiry-based teaching as their school philosophy and have achieved remarkable results in recent years. As a whole, this thesis uses case study method, along with classroom observation method and interview, analyzing a successful inquiry-based English reading class from Xi’an Tie Yi HighSchool, Binhe branch from five aspects, including its instructional design, computer assisted teaching methods, the teacher and the students, the classroom learning environment and the evaluation of the class.Major conclusions drew from this study are as follows:first, the prerequisite of a successful inquiry-based class is to have a well-prepared instructional design. The instructional design of this inquiry-based English reading class gives prominence to the key points, and has a suitable design of inquiry activities which trains students’ various language skills and is equipped with all needed elements. Secondly, this inquiry-based class makes use of the computer assisted teaching method PowerPoint designed by Microsoft which provides audio-visual support of sound, pictures and video for students’ inquiry learning. Thirdly, the success of an inquiry-based class cannot be separated from the teacher and the students. The teacher of this inquiry-based English reading class is quite capable of implementing inquiry-based teaching and good at guiding students take part in the inquiry activities and only providing help when necessary. The students, at the same time, are actively involved in the inquiry activities; a good classroom learning environment is also an essential element to guarantee the success of the inquiry-based class. Last but not the least, the successful implementation of this inquiry-based English reading class is greatly correlated with the layout of the classroom, the seating arrangement of the students and the culture construction of the class.This thesis also proposes some principles and advice on how to produce an efficient instructional design, how to use computer-assisted teaching methods, how to engage students, how to manage the classroom learning environment and how to evaluate the effectiveness of an inquiry-based English Reading Class.