A Study Of The Effects Of The Holistic Approach On The Cultivation Of English Reading Literacy Of Junior High School Students

In recent years,English reading teaching methods have been continuously improved.The teaching theories are constantly updated.And more and more researchers are focusing on the development of students’ reading literacy.Effective teaching methods are one of the ways to improve students’ reading literacy.The holistic approach towards foreign language teaching(FLT)is a valuable teaching theory worthy of exploration.It emphasizes discourse-based language learning through context-complete input,interaction,and output.This is consistent with the ideas of the English Curriculum Standard for Compulsory Education(2022).The holistic approach towards FLT has a positive effect on the promotion of English learning,but there is little existing research on its specific role in English learning.This study aims to investigate the effects of the holistic approach on the English reading literacy of junior high school students and to provide feasible ideas for cultivating students’ reading literacy.The research tries to answer the following two questions:(1)What are the effects of the holistic approach on the development of English reading comprehension abilities of junior high school students?(2)What are the effects of the holistic approach on the development of their English reading character?The study sample consists of 90 students from two parallel classes in a junior high school in Guangzhou.The EC and CC have 44 and 46 students respectively.In the experiment,the EC was taught using the holistic approach,while the CC received traditional reading instruction(PWP).The experiment lasted 14 weeks.Both classes took reading comprehension tests and filled in the questionnaires before and after the experiment.Several EC students were selected for interviews.The main findings are as follows.(1)The holistic approach is more likely to promote students’ reading comprehension abilities.The English reading comprehension and language use of the students in the EC are improved during the teaching process.The holistic approach can help students internalize language knowledge and promote language use.(2)The holistic approach is more conducive to the development of students’ reading character.The students’ reading experience and reading habits improved significantly in the EC.This is reflected in the students’ more positive reading behavior,significantly higher reading interest,and more active reading attitude in the EC.In conclusion,the holistic approach towards FLT can facilitate the development of students reading literacy.This study not only provides some additions to research in related fields but also confirms the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing the holistic approach in junior high school English reading classrooms,which provides a reference for the cultivation of students’ reading abilities and character.