Abstract

English language learning includes the written knowledge of English, and social and cultural factors can promote proper use of the English language and improve students' communicative ability. This paper, by taking Friends as a sample, is inclined to instruct rich and authentic non-linguistic contexts which are embodied in the English-language sitcoms to teachers and students in senior high schools. Learners can use the detailed background knowledge of English language to improve English learning interest and help to facilitate the progress of English language skills. Nowadays, the means and methods of learning English are emerging in an endless stream, and they are more and more innovative. The American sitcom, as a widely accepted cultural form, can also be applied to our daily English learning and teaching. As we all know, the US drama are very popular among young people now partly because they can see a different American society from the US drama. This dioloma thesis will explain the role of the US drama from the perspective of high school English learning. Every coin has two sides, and applying American sitcoms to the actual study is no exception. But American sitcoms also have advantages. First of all, we have to clear why and how the US drama promote English learning, and this paper elaborates its four aspects, including stimulating interests in cultivating English learning, improving listening and speaking, enriching language and cultural knowledge, and improving the level of translation. Next, the author describes the specific ways to learn English by looking at the US drama, including selecting the appropriate episode according to their level, mimicking the dialogue in the play, making reasonable use of subtitles and repetitive exercises. Then, the author also give the specific implementation strategies of learning English with American sitcoms. First, selecting the appropriate sitcoms to carry out listening and speaking exercises; second, controling the specific process of learning American sitcoms; third, carrying out activities that let most students love to participate. The last part is a classroom presentation by using the American sitcom Friends.

Key words:  American sitcoms; English learning; influence; senior high

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1  Introduction-1

1.1 Research Background-1

1.2 Research Purpose-2

1.3 Significance of the Research-2

1.4 Structure of the Dissertation-3

2  How American sitcoms promote English learning-3

2.1 Psychological analysis of middle school students-4

2.2 Stimulating interests in cultivating English learning-6

2.3 Improving listening and speaking ability-7

2.4 Enriching language and cultural knowledge-7

2.5 Improving translation level-8

3  Ways of learning English by watching American sitcoms-9

3.1 Choosing suitable sitcoms according to your level of English and interest-9

3.2 Imitating the dialogue-9

3.3 Rational use of subtitles and repeated practice-10

4  Specific implementation strategies for cultivation of students’ English listening and speaking ability-11

4.1 Selecting suitable American sitcoms for listening and speaking-11

4.2 Controling the process of learning by using American sitcoms-12

4.3 Carrying out activities that make the vast majority of students interested in participating-13

5  The Application of Friends in Practical Teaching-13

6  Conclusion-15

6.1 Implications of the Research-15

6.2 Limitations of the Research-16

Bibliography-17

Acknowledgements-20