A Study On Isolated And Integrated Form-Focused Instruction In The Teaching Of English Grammar In Senior High School

General Senior High School English Curriculum Standards(2020 Revised)recommends a grammatical view of English instruction,which is “form-meaning-use”.It is directed toward language use.In the teaching of English grammar,linguists have been searching for more effective methods of teaching grammar.Since Long’s proposal for form-focused instruction,numerous studies have indicated that it can effectively enhance students’ grammar acquisition.Form-focused instruction lets students focus on form under the meaning-centered circumstances,which is consistent with the new curriculum’s grammatical teaching perspective.Researchers have proven that the factor influencing language acquisition is the timing of focus on form,thus comparative studies of integrated and isolated form-focused instruction have been growing in popularity.However,some studies have found that integrated form-focused instruction is better than isolated form-focused instruction,while other studies have found the opposite.Consequently,this study compared these two methods on grammar learning.The research investigated two primary questions as follows:(1)What are the different effects of isolated and integrated form-focused instruction on English grammar learning?(2)What are the students’ attitudes towards isolated form-focused instruction and integrated form-focused instruction?Based on the noticing hypothesis,interaction hypothesis,and transfer appropriate processing,101 students from a senior high school in Lanzhou were selected as the subjects.Tests,questionnaires,and interviews were used to investigate research questions.The study lasted ten weeks and consisted of three stages.Before the experiment,two classes were given grammar tests and questionnaires.Experimental Class 1 was instructed by isolated form-focused instruction,which required subjects to focus on form before or after communicative activities,while Experimental Class 2 experienced integrated form-focused instruction,which required subjects to focus on form during communicative activities.After the experiment,both classes completed grammar tests,questionnaires,and interviews.The thesis concluded that(1)two methods can improve students’ English grammar learning ability,but isolated form-focused instruction was more effective.(2)isolated form-focused instruction was favored by students.Finally,the study found that these two methods can help students learn English grammar,teachers can effectively combine the two teaching methods according to the grammar characteristics and students’ learning level.