A good mastery of English has become a must for all the students in China because of frequent communication between countries. It is easy for the students to get access to English. And our country lays stress on fostering English talents. But the present situation of English learning is that many people have labored on it but only to find it is a waste of time and energy. This thesis analyzes the factors affecting the English learning which are social context, the distinction between these two languages and the students’ goals and motivations. With Bernard Spolsky’s theory, the author explains the most important conditions for second language learning: social context, cultural background, exposure condition and native pronunciation condition. He insists that learners should pay special attention to language transfer and intercultural communication. Besides, a good attitude is crucial. Available resources are also of great help to create good conditions for English learning in Chinese context.
Key Words
Chinese context; conditions; second language learning; language transfer
Abstract.......................................................... I
Key Words ........................................................ I
摘 要 ............................................................II
关键词 ............................................................II
Introduction ..................................................... 1
I. Actuality of English Learning in China ........................2
II. Factors Affecting English Learning ...........................3
A. The Restriction of Social Context ..............................3
B. Difference between the Two Languages........................... 4
C. The Goals and Motivation....................................... 4
D. Phenomenon of Language Transfer ................................5
Ⅲ. Distinctions between English and Chinese...................... 6
A. Structure ..................................................... 7
B. Pronunciation ................................................. 7
C. Vocabulary .................................................... 7
D. Culture ....................................................... 8
Ⅳ. Conditions for English Learning............................... 9
A. Social Context ................................................ 9
B. Attitudes and Motivation .......................................10
C. Native Pronunciation Condition .................................11
D. Cultural Background ............................................11
Ⅴ. Creating Conditions for English Learning...................... 12
A. A Good Foundation of English ...................................12
B. A Good Attitude to English Learning ............................12
C. Using Our Available Resources ..................................13
D. Cultural Communication .........................................13
E. Proper Use of Language Transfer ................................13
Conclusion.........................................................15
Acknowledgements ................................................. 16
Bibliography ..................................................... 17