Abstract

Mastering a certain number of English vocabularies is necessary for primary school students to improve English learning skills. New English Curriculum Standard makes changes in requirements of vocabulary learning for them, which actually bring more challenges to them. Therefore, the traditional techniques to teach English vocabulary can not fit in the students in modern times anymore. It is high time for teachers to explore more effective and scientific teaching methods, among which classroom games are particularly welcomed and extremely prevalent nowadays. However, English teachers come across a variety of problems when applying the games. On the verge of becoming an English teacher in primary school, I believe it worth researching for I will also meet with these problems in the future. Thus, a lot of related researches have been read and the fieldwork has been done. The detailed explanation of them is delivered below. Besides, some suggestions toward the problems are also put up with at the end of the thesis. In the end, I hope that I have done some useful researches about the topic and have made some contribution to both other English teachers and myself in vocabulary teaching in primary school.

Keywords: games, vocabulary teaching, primary school

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 The Necessity and Significance of the Research-1

1.2 The Structure of the Thesis-2

2. Literature Review-4

2.1 Theoretical Basis-4

2.1.1 Motivation Theory-4

2.1.1.1 Classification and characteristics of Motivation-4

2.1.1.2 Relation between Motivation Theory and Language Learning-5

2.1.2 Cooperative Learning-5

2.1.2.1 Definition and Characteristics of Cooperative Learning-5

2.1.2.2 Applying Cooperative Learning to Vocabulary Teaching-6

2.1.3 Psychological Characteristics of Primary School Students-6

2.1.3.1 Perception, Attention and Memory of Primary School Students-6

2.1.3.2 Imagination and Thinking of Primary School Students-7

2.1.3.3 Affect of Primary School Students-7

2.1.3.4 Willpower of Primary School Students-7

2.1.3.5 Self-awareness of Primary School Students-7

2.2 Games in English Class-7

2.2.1 Definition of Classroom Game-7

2.2.2 Classification and Characteristics of Classroom Game-8

2.2.3 Researches at Home and Abroad-8

2.2.4 Problems of Classroom Games-9

2.3 Vocabulary Teaching-10

2.3.1 Current Situation of Vocabulary Teaching-10

2.3.2 Related Researches of Vocabulary Teaching-10

2.3.3 Features of Vocabulary Teaching-11

2.3.4 Problems of Vocabulary Teaching-11

3. Methodology-12

3.1 Participants-12

3.2 Method-12

4. Data Analysis-13

4.1 Teaching Materials of the class-13

4.2 Explanation of the Application of Games in Class-13

4.2.1 Observations of the Class-13

4.2.2 Interviews of the English Teachers-15

4.2.3 Questionnaire of the Students-16

5. Suggestions on the Application of Games in English Vocabulary Teaching-18

6. Conclusion-19

References-20