Developing Students' Speaking Ability Through A New Picture Book Reading Model at Primary School

Abstract Former studies have indicated that picture books can bring benefits when applied to education and can truly promote rapid development of primary students’ English learning。 Picture story books might be a rich resource for EFL teachers to provide students with concrete contexts and to improve their productive skills。 The application of English picture books in English lessons has attracted much attention from EFL researchers and teachers。 However, despite numerous lectures, demonstration lessons and journal articles, many teachers still feel perplexed how picture books can be used in English class effectively。 This study mainly investigated the effects of the new picture book reading model(3SR model) on students in Xietang Central Primary School, especially on their English speaking ability。 A set of questionnaires were given to 49 English teachers in Jinhua to identify their ideas about picture books including the current situation of applying picture books in English class, and also given to the 29 students in Experimental Class to find out students’ ideas about picture books and their attitudes towards the 3SR model。 What’ more, two tests were administered to 54 students form grade five and grade six, and their test grades were taken into consideration as a measure of their English speaking ability。 The research revealed that the suggestion of using the new picture book reading model, which is made up of four steps: schema activating, storybook reading, story retelling and role play, is right。 Students' oral English can be improved by it。 Thus, we'd better apply this model in our teaching。 Activities such as role-play and retelling are essential。 Second, in choosing suitable picture books, we should pay more attention to the language, content, illustrations and colors。 Last, the author emphasizes that we should not only refer to this type of picture book reading model, but also design new kinds of teaching model。 We should include more activities such as “making picture books by students themselves” to help stimulate students’ creativity and imagination。The findings of the present study can be applied in helping students develop English speaking ability in the future。88775

Keywords: picture books, speaking ability, primary school students 

通过绘本阅读教学模型提高小学生英语口语能力的研究

摘  要以往的研究表明，绘本应用于教学中能带来益处，并且能真正促进小学生英语学习的快速发展。对于英语教师，绘本可能是能为学生提供具体情境、改善输出技能的丰富资源。绘本在英语课堂中的应用已经引起了英语教学研究者和教师的广泛关注。然而，尽管有许多讲座，示范课和期刊文章对此有所涉及，许多教师仍然不明白如何有效地在英语课堂运用绘本。本研究主要研究了新绘本阅读教学模型（3sr模型）对斜塘中心小学的学生英语口语能力的影响。研究通过一系列问卷调查了金华49名英语教师，了解他们对绘本的看法包括目前的绘本在英语课堂上的应用情况，同时也调查了实验班的29名学生，了解学生对绘本的看法和他们对3SR模型的态度。另外，本研究对来自五年级和六年级的54名学生进行了两次测试，通过他们的考试成绩衡量他们的英语口语能力。研究表明，使用新绘本阅读教学模型（包括四个步骤：图式激活，故事书阅读，复述故事，角色扮演）的建议是正确的，实验班学生的口语能力提高较快。因此，我们应该在英语教学中应用该模型。其中，角色扮演和复述等活动是必不可少的。其次，在选择合适的绘本时，要更多注意绘本的语言、内容、插图和色彩。最后，作者强调，我们不应仅仅运用3SR模型，同时还应设计更多种类的活动，如“学生自制绘本“，以此激发学生的创新能力和想象力。本研究的结果可以应用于在今后帮助学生发展英语口语能力。