An Evaluation of the English Teaching Materials for Primary Schools in Taiwan

• Main Authors: Lin, Ching-yi, 林淨儀
• Other Authors: Chen Chin-cheng
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1998
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/21551221273735411960

碩士 === 國立高雄師範大學 === 英語教育研究所 === 86 === This study aims to investigate and evaluate sets of English teaching materials experimentally used in primary school in Taiwan. The focuses of this study are the overall investigation of the English teaching materials used in the pioneering English teaching primary schools, factors for selections and adoption of English teaching materials, and the quantitative analysis of textbook vocabulary including word frequency level and word repetition. The subjects for this study were 321 children''s English teachers at the primary schools in Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. A questionnarie was sent to the subjects to investigate which English teaching materials are used in the primary schools and to elicit the subjects'' reflections on the English teaching materials and textbook vocabulary. Children''s English teaching materials used most frequently at the primary schools in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung were collected for vocabulary analysis.The main findings of this study are outlined as follows:1.Commercial English teaching materials are widely used in the primary schools in Taiwan but some teachers find the prices of the commercial material are too costly, and the content of tje materials lacks some Chinese cultural specifics.2.Publishers introduce commercial teaching materials to the primary school English teachers but the choices supplied by the publishers are limited. In addition, publishers should set up stricter editing and screening standards to improve and ensure the higher quality of the English teaching material.3. Experienced English teachers'' suggestions are beneficial for the less experienced English teachers to decide about English teaching materials.4.Teachers expree that English teaching in primary schools should be a specific duty and teaching materials should be determined and adapted by professional English teachers, and more professional English teachers in full-time service or a comprehesiove primary shool English teachers training program is urgently needed. moreover, primary school teachers hope to have teachers training programs to help them be well prepared in English teaching.5.Primary school English teachers find usually there is too much content in each lesson or there are too many lesson units in a book, and the order of lessons should be rearranged. Besides, more authentic, and real-world context, more elaborate daily conversations, more rhymes, Jazz chants, listening comprehension practice, games, English songs, sample sentences, various interesting substitution activities for pattern practice, and text sections are highly demanded. many more appropriate teaching aids arerequired in the primary school English teaching curriculum.6. Primary school English teachers adjust their teaching according to students'' level, responses, real-life needs, and course duration.7.Most English teachers prefer local experts consulting with both English teachers and foreign experts to compile materials for local needs.8.The primary school English teachers find that the vocabulary in certain textbooks is excessively progressive. And some words sampled for teaching alphabet and pronunciation are very low frequency words and they are too difficult or meaningless to primary school beginning learners. Also, teachers wish the teaching material writers would bring Chinese cultural interests into the English curricula.9.The density index of most textbooks for this research passed the minimum threshold. However, workbooks and cassettes are highly recommended for every students to gain more repetition opportunities.