1、1New Course Syllable for EnglishPart 1: Introduction With the advent of the information age and the global economy, English has become increasingly important. English is the dominant carrier of information and the most widely spoken language in the world. Many countries have made English a cornersto
2、ne of quality education when developing strategies for basic education. Since Chinas reform and opening, the scale of its English education has continually grown, attended by significant achievements in teaching and learning. However, English education in its current form is failing to meet the need
3、s of contemporary social and economic development. The current round of reforms to the English curriculum aim to end the following practices: l Over-emphasizing the transmission and explanation of knowledge about grammar and vocabulary l Neglecting to develop students ability to use language for rea
4、l In their place, the reforms aim to establish a curriculum that: l Develops students comprehensive language competence l Motivates students, is relevant to their life experiences and cognitive level l Promotes task-based teaching methods l Involves students in experiential, practical, participatory
5、 and cooperative learning l Develops students positive attitudes, thinking skills, practical abilities, cultural awareness and autonomy through the language learning process 1. The Nature of the New Curriculum The new English curriculum strives to accomplish far more than just help students learn En
6、glish. At one level learning English should involve helping students t l Develop a certain level of comprehensive language competence and the ability to use language for real communication l Master certain basic language knowledge l Master listening, speaking, reading and writing skills However, at
7、another level the curriculum should also serve students all-round development, providing them with opportunities t l Strengthen their interest in studying English l Grow in self-discipline, perseverance and self-confidence l Improve their cooperative, investigative and thinking abilities l Develop t
8、heir memory, imagination and creativity l Adopt good study habits and effective learning strategies l Develop as autonomous and lifelong learners l Build moral integrity and a healthy outlook on life l Establish both national spirit and an awareness of and respect for cultural differences l Broaden
9、their horizons and enrich their life experience l Take part in cultural life 2l Develop as individuals 2. Basic Principles of the New Curriculum 2.1The curriculum promotes quality education (as opposed to exam-orientated education) and the all-round development of the students To promote quality edu
10、cation particular attention must be paid t l Valuing each students feelings l Stimulating students interest in studying English l Helping students gain a sense of achievement and self-confidence The curriculum must go beyond developing students comprehensive language competence to include areas such
11、 as: l Improving students ability to contribute to cultural and social life l Developing students practical abilities l Fostering students creativity 2.2The curriculum objectives are holistic and flexible. The fundamental aim of the new English curriculum is to develop students comprehensive languag
12、e competence. This aim is broken down into five general objectives. These objectives are then divided into nine ability levels with descriptors provided for each level. The five general objectives are: 1. Language Skills 2. Language Knowledge 3. Attitudes to Learning 4. Learning Strategies 5. Cultur
13、al Awareness This design allows students to progress systematically through each level whilst meeting the full range of the curriculums demands. 2.3Students are put at the centre of the curriculum and individual differences are respected Students must be at the heart of the new curriculum. For examp
14、le, their developmental needs must be the central consideration when developing: l Curriculum objectives l The teaching and learning process l The assessment process l Teaching and learning resources When implementing the curriculum each student must be allowed to develop individually under the guid
15、ance of the teacher: 2.4The curriculum promotes activity-based methods, experiential and participatory learning The curriculum promotes task-based learning whereby, under the guidance of the teacher, the students gain a sense of achievement by reaching the goals of the task. Task completion will inv
16、olve the following types of learning: l Sensory l Experiential l Hands on/practical l Participatory l Cooperative 3In order to improve their ability to use language for real communication, students should also be able t l Adjust their learning strategies and control their emotions l Form positive at
17、titudes towards learning 2.5The curriculum recognizes the important role of formative assessment in promoting student development The assessment system should combine formative with summative assessment. The purposes of assessment should be t l Promote students comprehensive language competence l En
18、courage and motivate students l Help students become more autonomous learners l Benefit students healthy personal development l Give teachers useful feedback from which to develop teaching and learning l Inform the ongoing development and perfection of the English curriculum Formative assessment sho
19、uld be an important part of the English teaching and learning process with a particular emphasis on: l Encouraging students active participation in learning l Improving students self-confidence Summative assessment should focus on: l Testing students integrated language skills l Testing students abi
20、lity to use language 2.6The curriculum expands the range of learning resources and opportunities available The curriculum should strive to use and develop resources whose content is: l Realistic l Close to the students lives l Contemporary l Healthy l Rich and varied Active use should be made of: l
21、Audio visual material l Print media l The Internet Students should be encouraged to take responsibility for finding, using and developing learning resources themselves. 3. The Curriculum Design The curriculum follows the international practice of dividing the general objectives into different abilit
22、y levels. When designing these nine levels consideration was given to the following: l The nature of language development l The different needs of different age groups l The needs of different ethnic groups and areas l The economic imbalances that exist in China The aim is to have designed a system
23、that is holistic and flexible. The correspondence between the level system and the grade system is shown in the following diagram: 4Primary School Work towards: Notes Grade 3 Level 1 Students should start studying English in Grade 3 Grade 4 Level 1 Grade 5 Level 2 Grade 6 Level 2 The required standa
24、rd for the end of primary school Junior Middle School Work towards: Notes Grade 7 (= Junior 1) Level 3 Grade 8 (= Junior 2) Level 4 Grade 9 (= Junior 3) Level 5 The required standard for the end of junior middle school Senior Middle School Work towards: Notes Senior 1 Level 6 Senior 2 Level 7 Senior
25、 3 Level 8 The required standard for senior middle school graduation Level 9 An extension level for specialist schools and able students Diagram 1: The Levels and the GradesPart 2: Introduction to the General Objectives The fundamental aim of the new curriculum is to develop students comprehensive l
26、anguage competence. This comprehensive language competence is achieved through the five general objectives as shown in the following diagram: Diagram 3: Comparison of the Old and New Curriculums l Language skills and knowledge form the basis of comprehensive language competence l The students attitu
27、des to learning strongly influence their learning and development l Successful learning strategies improve the effectiveness of students learning l Cultural awareness ensures students use language appropriately The overall descriptors for comprehensive language competence (i.e. a combination of all
28、five general objectives) for Levels 1 to 9 are presented below: Level Descriptors 1 Students are curious about English and enjoy listening to people speaking English. They can: l Play games, do actions and activities (e.g. colouring, joining lines) according to simple instructions from the teacher l
29、 Perform simple role plays l Sing simple English songs l Say simple rhymes and chants l Understand simple stories by with the aid of pictures l Communicate simple personal information l Express simple feelings and attitudes l Write letters and words l Take interest in foreign cultural customs met du
30、ring learning English 2 Students show a sustained interest in and enjoyment of learning English. They can: 5l Use simple English greetings and exchange personal information and information about family and friends l Perform dialogues, songs, rhymes and chants about content they have studied l Unders
31、tand and narrate simple stories with the aid of pictures l Write simple sentences with the aid of pictures or prompts l Participate and cooperate actively and happily l Take the initiative to ask for help l Enjoy learning about other countries cultures and customs 3 Students show a positive attitude
32、 and the beginnings of self-confidence towards learning English. They can: l Understand short and simple stories about familiar topics that they hear l Exchange information about familiar topics (e.g. school, family life) with the teacher or classmates l Read and understand short stories and other s
33、imple written material l Write simple sentences with the aid of examples or pictures l Take part in simple role plays and activities l Attempt to use suitable learning strategies to overcome difficulties encountered during study l Identify cultural differences that are present when communicating in
34、a foreign language 4 Students can identify their own learning needs and targets and are fairly self-confident about learning English. They can: l Listen to and understand dialogues and short stories in everyday communication l Communicate information and simple opinions about familiar everyday topic
35、s l Write brief and simple letters l Attempt to use different educational resources l Gain information from oral and written materials to extend their knowledge, solve simple problems and describe results l Help each other to overcome difficulties encountered during learning l Plan and arrange sensi
36、ble learning activities l Actively explore learning strategies suitable for themselves l Take note of cultural differences between China and other countries during study and communication 5 Students show clear motivation and a positive, active attitude towards learning English. They can: l Listen to
37、 and understand the teachers statements about familiar topics and take part in discussions l Exchange information with others and express opinions about various topics in daily life l Read and understand texts, newspapers and magazines suitable for Grades 7 9, overcoming the barrier of unknown words
38、 to understand the main ideas l Use appropriate reading strategies according to the purpose of reading l Draft and edit short compositions according with the aid of prompts l Cooperate with others to complete tasks, solve problems and report results 6l Assess their own learning and summarize their o
39、wn learning style l Make use of a wide variety of resources l Further increase their understanding and awareness of cultural differences 6 Students show further motivation to study English and a growing awareness of autonomous learning. They can: l Understand the viewpoints expressed in oral or writ
40、ten materials and state their own view l Effectively use oral or written language to describe personal experience l Plan, organize and carry out a variety of English learning activities with the teachers assistance l Take the initiative to exploit a range of learning resources and gain information t
41、hrough multiple channels l Adjust their own learning objectives and strategies according to the results of self-assessment l Understand the cultural background to and connotations of language during communication 7 Students show clear and sustained motivation to study English and a clear awareness o
42、f autonomous learning. They can: l Exchange information, ask questions, give opinions and advice about a fairly wide range of topics l Read and understand original texts and newspapers that have been adapted for senior middle school students l Show nascent skill in writing compositions such as notic
43、es and letters of information l Take the initiative to plan, organize and carry out a range of language practice activities l Take responsibility for using a wide variety of learning resources to promote study l Monitor their own learning to continue to form learning strategies suitable for themselv
44、es l Understand cultural differences in communication and further form wide cultural awareness 8 Students show strong self-confidence and ability to learn autonomously. They can: l Communicate fairly naturally with other English speakers about familiar topics l Express evaluative comments about the
45、content of oral or written materials l Write coherent and fully structured short compositions l Take responsibility for planning, organizing and carrying out a range of language practice activities such as discussion, decision making, and reporting experiment and survey results l Use the internet an
46、d various other resources to gather and process information effectively l Consciously evaluate learning outcomes and form effective English learning strategies l Understand the cultural connotations and background during communication and adopt a respectful and tolerant attitude towards cultures of
47、different countries 9 Students are autonomous learners. They can: 7l Listen to and understand the main content of speeches, discussions, debates and reports on familiar topics l Discuss and express their attitudes and opinions about topics of universal importance inside and outside China, such as the environment, population, peace, development, etc l Act as an interpreter in everyday life l Make the most of a variety of opportunities to use English for real communication l Read popular science and literature articles with fairly wide ranging subjects with the aid of a dictionary l Use common
