ABSTRACT

This thesis explores the subjective and objective factors affecting English major teachers’ choice of teaching methods, based on classroom observation and interviews of twelve teachers in the School of Foreign Languages of a university in China. According to the research results, the subjective factor mainly contains teachers’ attitudes and ideas, and the objective factors include teachers’ theoretical framework and competence, students’ language capacity and interest, the type and nature of the course, the teaching program and objectives, school culture, availability of time, the role of the textbook, teaching facilities, and evaluation of the course. It is found that every factor is a double-edged sword and that only with appropriate use, can these factors contribute to the English teaching reform. 

Key words: teacher of English majors; teaching method; subjective factor; objective factor

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-2

Chapter Three RESEARCH DESIGN -4

3.1 Research Questions-4

3.2 Participants-4

3.3 Research Methods-4

   3.3.1 Classroom observation-5

   3.3.2 Interview-6

Chapter Four RESULTS AND DISCUSSION-8

4.1 Results-8

4.1.1 Results of the classroom observation-8

4.1.2 Results of the interview-9

4.2 Discussion-10

4.2.1 Subjective factors：Teachers' attitudes and ideas-10

4.2.2 Objective factors-11

4.2.2.1 Teachers' theoretical framework and competence-11

4.2.2.2 Students’ language capacity and interest -12

4.2.2.3 The type and nature of the course-13

4.2.2.4 The teaching program and objectives-14

4.2.2.5 School culture-14

4.2.2.6 Availability of time-14

4.2.2.7 The role of the textbook-15

4.2.2.8 Teaching facilities-16

4.2.2.9 Evaluation of the course-16

Chapter Five  CONCLUSION-17

REFERENCES-19