Abstract: Negative transfer in second language acquisition is inevitable, which affects students' language learning to some extent. Chinese, as students’ mother tongue, has an influence on English learning definitely. Junior middle school students’ English learning, especially listening and speaking, is more likely to be affected by negative mother tongue transfer. This thesis combines the theory of negative mother tongue transfer with English teaching of listening and speaking in Nanjing Baijiahu Middle School. By making use of the questionnaire and interview, this study investigates English listening and speaking of 200 students from Grade 7 to Grade 9. It analyzes the influence of negative mother tongue transfer from perspectives of phonetics, including pronunciation, intonation, tones, linking, etc, the differences in lexical meaning and cultural differences. According to the findings of the research, the thesis comes up with some suggestions to weaken the influence of negative mother tongue transfer from the teachers’ points of view to shed some light on English listening and speaking.

Key words: negative transfer; listening and speaking; effects

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Literature Review-2

2.1 Language Transfer

2.2 Definition of Negative Transfer  

2.3 Related Researches of Negative Transfer in English Teaching 

3. Research Methodology-4

3.1 Research Questions

3.2 Participants

3.3 Instruments

3.3.1 Questionnaire Survey

3.3.2 Interviews

3.4 Research Procedure and Data Collection

4.Data Analysis and Findings

  4.1 Data Analysis of the Participants

  4.2 Data Analysis of Application of Mother Tongue to English Classes

  4.3 Data Analysis of Effects of Negative Transfer on English Classes

    4.3.1Data Analysis of Effects of Negative Transfer in Phonetics

    4.3.2 Data Analysis of Effects of Negative Transfer on Rhythm and Intonation

    4.3.3 Data Analysis of Effects of Negative Transfer in Daily Expressions

5. Suggestions-10

5.1 Making Use of Positive Transfer Properly

5.2 Systematically Training

5.3 Strengthening Insights into Western Culture

6. Conclusion-11

Bibliography-13

Appendix A

Appendix B

Acknowledgments-17