A Probe into Learners'Colligational Use of High-frequency Verbs

This study attempts to examine the colligational use of the high-frequency verbs DO, HAVE and BE in Chinese EFL learners’written production in the CIA (Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis) approach. Findings of the study indicate that: Chinese learners use a much smaller variety of colligational patterns, they tend to underuse the inflected forms of these verbs in their colligations and they tend to use pronouns as the subject of these verbs. Though at advanced level, they still have difficulty with grammar in terms of tense, aspect and voice. The influence of L1 transfer, the learners’spoken style in writing, the classroom teaching and the learners’use of the avoidance strategy are thought to be the major reasons. The findings in this study may have some light to shed on the EFL teaching and research in China.     

Using Coh-Metrix to Automatically Access Discourse Coherence in EFL Learners’Writing:A Quantitative Analysis

The purpose of the present study was to use Coh-Metrix,a computational tool,to examine the relationship between discourse coherence and writing level,and analyze the coherence of high level writing and low level writing.The study uses 5 Coh-Metrix variables to analyze 40 college students’timed compositions from Chinese Learners English of Corpus(CLEC) and their corresponding readability scores.The study demonstrates that Coh-Metrix variables,number of words,words per sentences,the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level,LSA sentence all,and argument overlap can contribute to text coherence.Findings of the study indicate:there is a relationship between discourse coherence and writing level,but there is no significant difference between high level group and low level group in discourse coherence(p=.409>.05),and writing level can not distinguish discourse coherence in EFL learners’writing.     

Towards an eclectic framework for teaching EFL writing in a Chinese context

The challenges of writing itself and lack of appropriate teaching methodology demotivate EFL （English as a Foreign Language） learners in some Chinese universities to write more, especially as the only incentive for students to write is the compulsory tests. The main objectives of this article are： （1） to discuss the background of the EFL learners in Chinese tertiary education and then to elaborate on their needs and problems for EFL writing; （2） to review the existing approaches to teaching writing; and （3） to propose and justify an integrated model on the basis of these approaches for teaching EFL writing in the Chinese context.     

A Corpus-based Study on "However" in Chinese Learners’ Writing

The use of "however" by Chinese learners’ writing is studied through a comparison of its use in CLEC and in BROWN and found that "however" is overused in the front of a sentence,underused in the middle of a sentence and misused as a disjunctive conjunction,as is followed by the analysis of three attributable factors,i.e.the writing style,confusion with "but" and negative L1 transfer.     

The Use of LDOCE4 on CD-ROM in EFL Students’ Writing: a Case Study

This case study examines the use of LDOCE4 on CD-ROM in EFL students’writing.Four participants at different proficiency levels were invited to write a composition on a given title.They were then asked to revise their compositions twice,first using the paper dictionary,and secondly using the CD-ROM.Based on a comparison of the two versions,the following conclusions were drawn:1 The CD-ROM is generally more beneficial to EFL students’writing than the paper dictionary.2 Al though the CD-ROM is helpful,it is not a panacea.3 The CD-ROM can provide little help to lower intermediate learners.     

A Study on Different Learning Strategies Used by EFL Learners in China

This study explores how the Chinese learners apply the learning strategies in the language learning.The research examines how to understand EFL learners uses of learning strategies in language learning.The SILL(the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) was the instrument of this study.The results show that the frequency of strategy use does not vary among the different levels of learners based on the SILL’s mean scores.The results suggest that as the learners’ levels become higher,the EFL learners tend to choose more strategies which are reflective of their active learning.     

Polishing the EFL Learners’ Writing Performance

This paper intends to provide tips on improving EFL learners’ writing performance.It probes this question first from the different patterns of English writing and Chinese writing.Second,the use of varied sentences structures and wording can make the writing more impressive.Third,it suggests the application of connectives.Last,be aware of the employment of the idioms as well as figure of speech.The primary feature of this paper is that the methods mentioned here are pragmatic supported with specific examples respectively.     

An Empirical Study on the Productive Vocabulary of Advanced Chinese EFL Learners——Based on A Contras tive Analysis of model Compositions of Advanced Chinese EFL Learners and American university Students

By contrasting the model compositions by advanced Chinese EFL learners and American university students in the cor pus approach,the present study analyzes the use of productive vocabulary by Chinese EFL learners both quantitatively and qualita tively.It is found that except the first 1000 most frequently used words,there is no statistically significant difference between the frequency distribution of the productive vocabulary used by both types of English learners.But in terms of the usages of the Eng lish words,the Chinese EFL learners exhibit inadequacy in understanding and employing them,especially with regard to semantic prosody and collocation.These findings are significant for the teaching of vocabulary in China.     

On the Feasibility of Using LDOCE4 on CD-ROM to Assist EFL Students’ Writing

Various kinds of paper dictionaries cannot satisfy the productive needs of EFL/ESL learners.With this in mind,McAlp ine and Myles designed a new type of monolingual electronic dictionary.Coincidentally,the fourth edition of the Longman Dic tionary of Contemporary English(LDOCE)(Summers 2003)was published with a supporting CD-ROM in 2003.The per ceived guiding principle of the CD-ROM design was remarkably similar to that of McAlpine and Myles’design.It can be as sumed that the CD-ROM will provide EFL/ESL learners with strong support in their writing.     

An Empirical Research on DDL in L2 Writing

L2 （second language） writing teaching and research is greatly influenced by the advent of computer technology. This paper reviews papers, in the field of DDL （data-driven learning） in L2 writing, published in international journals and in Chinese journals, and differences are found in research methodology, research perspective, and research realm. Based on the analysis of the differences, the study aims at finding out the effects of the application of DDL in L2 teaching classroom. The present study, employing semi-structured writing and learning journals, explores how English learners perceive the use of corpora in their writing process. Based on the statistics, it is concluded that DDL in L2 writing is beneficial for vocabulary acquisition. However, corpus consultation does not work well for all learners. Learners＇ attitudes toward the use of corpus are various. The major findings may find application in teaching practice, and implications for teaching are discussed.     

The Study of Students-centered English Teaching at Colleges

The lack of communicative efficiency among students is still an important problem in China’s English teaching circle.Learner-centered language teaching and learning approach proposed by Nunan and Breenin 1980 s is the best one to solve the problem. This paper briefly presents the approach and mainly talks about how to apply the approach in the authentic teaching and learning situation. The adoption of this method will definitely promote the English teaching reform in China.Key words: linking adverbials; Chinese EFL learners; use; teaching     

Brainstorming and Developing English Learners’Writing Techniques: Critiques and Recommendations

Empirical studies suggest that research, by use of a systemic approach, should follow a set of procedures that are clearly described and then can be justified. However, it is worth noting that no approach is perfect, in particular, when it comes to the studies related to ethnographic studies. In view of this, this critique aims to reconsider empirical studies using brainstorming strategy to develop L2 learners’writing techniques. Firstly, this paper looks at the theoretical framework and the aims of these studies. Following this, this paper simultaneously summarizes and critiques these previous findings in terms of genres in writing, new assessment criteria, practicality in English pedagogy, data collection and analysis, findings and pedagogical implications. The final section presents the further inquiry in the language education context. This paper concludes that the brainstorming strategy in the teaching of writing can only be used in some genres, and both the product-oriented and process-oriented approaches should be applied to teaching writing.     

Corpus-based Study on the use of "really" in Chinese Students’ Writing

This corpus-based study aims to explore if the high frequently used word "really" is at a risk of overused,underused or misused in the writing of Chinese learners.Then draw attention on English learning and teaching and raise learners’ awareness of the structural and collocation complexity of words.     

Metaphor——A Tool for Writing

Figurative speeches, especially metaphors that prevail essays, novels, reports, poems, etc. give flavor, if not life, to writings, help express the inexpressible, bring the abstract concrete, make the tedious succinct, and illuminate the vague and the ambiguous bright and clear. It seems that metaphors to writing is what salt to cooking ─ and more. In this paper, we are attempting to drag it to a "down-to-earth" tool to be handy to common learners by quoting examples from various styles to show how it can be used to increase language power and how important it is for ordinary Chinese learners of English to get familiar with and learn to employ metaphors and other figurative speeches in writing. We should be able to use words in non-literal sense to lend force to an idea, to heighten effects, or to create atmosphere, so as to make our writings eligible at least for practical use and readable for an ordinary native speaker of English.     

The comparison between task-based approach and Traditional teaching mode

The tradition English teaching hasn’t adapted to our society.It has to be reformed completely,the key theory of the task-based teaching is that if the learners want to master the language, they must learn to use it,Application is the most important factor for the language learners.In the task-based teaching, the-specific task is the carrier,finishing the task is the motivation.,It mixes knowledge and skills,the student learn to do something by listening, speaking,reading and writing while doing something,they use the language they have learnt naturally.They develop and improve their own language in the process of using language that is to say,they learn to use,they learn the language using the language.     

Language Games in Communicative Language Teaching(CLT)

Games are an indispensible part of Communicative Language Teaching(CLT).They not only reduce EFL learners’ stress and increase their learning motivation,but also improve their communication competence and promote fluency.It is advocated that games should be implemented by EFL teachers in CLT,meanwhile paying attention to the communicative characteristics of games in the application and design of games.     

Chinese EFL Teachers’ Attitudes toward Corpus Use in Collocation Instruction

The purpose of the present study was to investigate Chinese EFL(English as a Foreign Language)teachers’attitudes toward corpus use in collocation instruction.Fourteen Chinese EFL teachers from seven different colleges or universities answered a questionnaire asking their perceptions about corpus use in collocation instruction.The statistical analysis revealed that significant difference(t=2.449,df.=9,p=.0370.1)was found between males and females in their perception of the learnability of the searching technique in collocation corpus.Besides,the result also revealed that significant differences were found between novice and experienced teachers’perception of helpfulness of corpus in writing native-like sentences(t=5.75,df=11,p0.1),identifying collocation errors in English(t=5.75,df=11,p0.1),usefulness of corpus in searching for English collocations(t=2.93,df=12,p0.1),and advocacy of corpus to colleagues(t=5.75,df=11,p0.1).Finally,some pedagogical implications were put forward.     

The Application Study on Genre-based Approach in the English Exposition Writing Teaching for Professional College English Major Students

The previous studies show that the major problems faced by the students in writing can be classified into two categories, that is, they don’t know"what to write"and"how to write". The researchers found that the specific problems existing in their writings are identified as poor content, incomplete generic structure and misuse of cohesive devices. Therefore, on the basis of the previous studies, this study attempts to use Martin’s genre theory to resolve the existed problems of the Professional College English major’s students in writing and enhance students’ discourse writing ability. Meanwhile, this study tries to answer the following questions:(1) Compared with the traditional writing teaching methods, whether the genre-based writing method has a significant effect to improve students’ writing skills;(2) Whether the genre-based writing method is possible to increase students’ interest in writing. The experimental result and the questionnaire show that genre-based approach in ESL writing teaching really can improve students’ writing achievement and enhance students’ interest in English writing.     

Challenges and Approaches of Teaching EFL to Large Classes in China

Compared with the smaller class sizes in many other countries, China EFL classes are generally oversize with gaps of learners’language proficiency and competence, different language acquisition abilities, diverse motivations and attitudes which constitute a multilevel class with many challenges to class management and language teaching. Based on the views upon the issue of researchers from China and other countries, this paper identifies the challenges with large EFL classes and discusses strategies of coping in such a context by providing pragmatic guidelines of teaching EFL to large classes in China.     

A Diary Study of the Impact of Extensive Reading on English Writing

Motivated by the continued growth of research on extensive reading and positive results from a variety of studies (e.g. Bell,2001; Nash &Yuan,1992; Nation, 1997), an investigation is conducted on the impact of extensive reading on college students’ writing per-formance over a 20-week period. Data are collected from multiple sources, mainly including teacher and learners’ diaries, together with aninterview and writing tests. The results of the study show that extensive reading can enhance learners’ writing skills and promote a positiveattitude toward writing.