Section 4 Teaching Environments

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I.Thinking

【Case Reflection】

Teacher A and B teach English in Grade Seven. Teacher A tries to create a foreign language environment and post English cultural knowledge and aphorisms all around the classroom. He has helped students to establish an English Corner, in which the students and teachers from other classes are also involved. In addition, he organizes student drama performances and regularly holds English Song Contests and English Speech Contests. In contrast, Teacher B follows the curriculum requirements and teaches step by step. His teaching mainly focuses on language points. As a result, the students of Teacher A are more interested in English than those of Teacher B. The language learning results in Teacher A's classroom are also relatively better.

Please explain why Teacher A is relatively more successful than Teacher B.

II. Contents of Teaching Environments

Any teaching activity is carried out in a particular teaching environment. The effectiveness of English teaching is dependent on the actual teaching environments. The design of teaching environment therefore, is of great importance.

A teaching environment is the combination of subjective and objective conditions that are needed for a particular teaching activity. The design is based on the needs of the students. The term “English teaching environment” refers to the conditions that can stabilize the teaching structure, restrict the operation of teaching, and promote individual development. Environmental factors are external conditions that constrain and affect English teaching activities.

The main elements of teaching environments are:

1.The social environment

The social environment is the primary factor that affects and restricts the teaching process of a foreign language. It mainly refers to the social system, the nation's education policy, foreign language educational policy, economic development, scientific and technological level, attitude to the humanities, attitude of social groups towards English learning, and social needs for the English language and so on.

2.The school environment

A school that provides suitable facilities and teaching methodology creates a good learning environment for its students. This environment has a direct impact on English teaching, and determines the success or failure of the majority of students in English learning. It includes factors such as classroom teaching, the frequency of exposure to English, class size, teaching facilities, teaching materials, English extra-curricular activities, the teachers, the attitudes of other teachers, the language level, the English language atmosphere and interpersonal relationships etc.

3.Personal circumstances

Personal circumstances can also have a degree of influence on English learning. This includes the social status and occupation of the family members, classmates and friends, living conditions, literacy, attitudes towards learning English, experiences in learning English, learning styles, the economic conditions of the students, and the learning facilities.

III.The Function of the Teaching Environments

1.The significance of analysis of the teaching environment

Successful English learning depends on a number of environmental factors. The teaching environment is the main factor as it potentially impacts on the effectiveness of teaching activities. The significance of the teaching environment analysis is mainly manifested in:

(1) Helping teachers to correctly understand objective measures of effects of the environment on the students. It also helps in enabling teachers to analyse, judge and select English teaching theories and methods according to current teaching practices in China.

(2) Encouraging teachers to try their best to create a better English teaching environment, and to make full use of modern teaching methods and teaching resources with the purpose of improving students' English proficiency.

(3) Helping teachers to process language input materials and design language exercises.

(4) Improving teachers' quality in the process of their continuous study and practice of strategies to optimize teaching environments.

2.The impact of teaching environments on English learning activities

Jean Piaget maintains that a person's intellectual development is gradually built up through his/her interaction with the surrounding environment. As English is a social, comprehensive and practical subject, a rich English teaching environment will have a significant impact on students' learning opportunities.

(1) Teaching environments will help broaden the horizons of students' English learning resources, which include beyond school books, libraries, bulletin boards, blackboards, newspapers, posters, and radio programs, internet, etc.

(2) They are helpful in creating a harmonious, relaxed, happy, democratic learning environment to develop a good frame of mind in students, to stimulate students' thinking potential, and to improve their language proficiency.

(3) They can foster students' interest in learning English.

(4) They can help students to maintain a positive learning attitude and resist the influence of negative factors in the process of English learning.

(5) They help cultivate students' learning habits and awareness such as active learning, extensive reading, and dictionary skills.

(6) They create an atmosphere that is aligned with English teaching theory.

3.The control and optimization of English teaching environments

A teaching environment is a complex composed of various elements. It can potentially influence the cognitive development, emotions and behavior of students. The environment also intervenes systematically the process and effect of teaching activities. In order to maximize the positive effect of English teaching environments, reduce negative impacts, a number of specific strategies can be used.

(1) Overall coordination

Teachers should take an informed and balanced approach to adjusting environmental factors and create a positive and harmonious environment conducive to the physical and mental health of students and the improvement of teaching quality.

(2) Enhancing characteristics

In order to enhance or highlight certain characteristics of the environment, a school can create conditions to influence the teaching activities and teachers' behavior. Bilingual signs or placards can be set up on campus; an English corner can provide oral training opportunities; English language radio stations can give students all-time access to English broadcasting; and English festivals can provide interesting English learning activities. All the above approaches can create a good English learning environment to enhance student's interest and awareness of learning English.

(3) Fully utilizing resources

In order to fully explore and utilize existing favorable conditions in schools, families and society, it is important to provide a wide variety of learning experiences, e.g. visits, outings, parties, summer camps and other social activities; hiring foreign teachers to enhance the effectiveness of teaching; and making use of advanced teaching facilities, including multi-media language laboratories.

(4) Screening information

This means using radio, television, books and the Internet to experience all kinds of English learning texts, courseware, audio, video and other information. Teachers need to screen these materials in order to retain appropriate and authentic contents.

(5) Students' self regulation

This means to pay more attention to the students' role in adjusting the teaching environment, to cultivate students' self regulation, to mobilize students to design and perform activities, to maintain a harmonious and pleasing English learning environment, such as by decorating the classroom or holding the English corner, so that the teaching environment is continuously developed by the students' efforts.

【Questions】

Please answer the following questions, give reasons for your opinions, and compare your answers with your opinions before reading this section.

1.What are the main elements of the English language teaching and learning environment?

2.How can you build good English teaching and learning environments?

IV. Chapter Summary

This chapter discusses elementary and middle school English teaching elements: students, teachers, teaching content, teaching environment, and other related issues. Elementary and middle school English teaching is closely connected with the activities of students and teachers, and therefore we must clearly define the role of both the student and the teacher. There are individual differences among the students, so it is necessary to cultivate different learning strategies. It is equally necessary for English teachers to master professional skills and pursue professional development. Teaching content is an important basis for teaching activities, and this can be activated through the initiative of both students and teachers. Understanding the constituent elements and the significance of English teaching environments, and mastering the strategy of the control and adjustment of the teaching environment are essential skills for school administrators and teachers. This chapter provides a concise, clear presentation of the elementary and middle school English teaching elements. We hope to have brought the readers some inspiration and to improve China's English language teaching levels in elementary and middle schools.