A Research on English Educational Problems among Intermediates in Middle School

兰凤英

【Abstract】This paper mainly centers on the neglecting parts of English intermediates in middle school and presents their existing study problems. According to intermediates characters and learning motivation， I will reveal reasons of these problems and come up with effective strategies from two aspects of English teachers and students.

【Key words】English Intermediates； Study problem； Solving strategies

As the advocation of Quality-oriented Education in China， schools are required to focus on the integrated development of education. However， teachers always pay close attention to “two heads” for the purpose of improving the overall level of class， but neglect the intermediates who are the majority in the classroom.

The Definition of English Intermediate Students

The intermediate student is not a new concept to lots of scholars who have proposed their idea about it. However， I hold that its a special group who obey the class rules， behave meekly and obtain a not -bad evaluation from English teachers.

The Problems of English Intermediates

Due to the declining of English scores in the college entrance examination， there is no doubt that English gets less attention than before. We can find the main problems by observing and analyzing.

First， the English intermediates are “half a bucket of water”. Since the English course can be devided into listening， speaking reading and writing， many students only perform two or three skills well. The “half a bucket of water” means they could behave well in some areas that bring confidence to them but others make them fell embarrassed. Second， the English teachers affect them both in study and emotion. It is often said that a teachers eye contact with students is a catalyst. It gives students great encouragement to pursue being excellent， but also severely blows to students self-confidence. So why not give more love to the intermediate students？

And next in terms of their study problems， I will lay much stress on strategies of solving them from English teachers and students.

Strategies of Solving Problems

I. Methods of English Teachers

At schools， different subject teachers are the educators who contact students mostly. As the intermediate student is a special group， they are lack of enough attention from the English teacher who always focuses on the excellent and underachievers， while the intermediates fall into the state of confusion. Then， what can English teachers do？

i. Enhancing English Intermediates Self-confidence（Wang Zhenyu，2001）

The activists in classroom are the top and poor students. However， most intermediate students are quiet and not good at expressing themselves in front of teacher. They prefer to be one blade of grass quietly along with good students. The Soviet educator Su Huom Linsky said， “It is a great force of love and care to children that could set up all good things upon men.” So English teachers even all subject teachers， their pretty action can bring much hope to those intermediates（Xie Jueping，2007）. Moreover， no one is perfect， but every student has his shining point. What English teachers can do is encouraging him to build his confidence if he can write words beautifully， answer questions positively， or just dictate full mark.

ii. Helping to Set Up Learning Goals

If a person has a goal， he must has a motivation to go forward whatever kind of difficulties he met. Thus， the English teacher should assist them setting up the goal of being excellent students. Possessing that， he would improve himself step by step. During this time， the English teacher ought to give them praises for their going-on study. They can also make a particular plan to learn English， which should be feasible and conform to their actual situations.

II. Methods of the Intermediate Students

Teacher are the external causes of studying English for them， while they themselves are the internal causes and the main body of study. The intermediate students method may be the best ways that are fit for them.

i. Improving the Self-consciousness of Autonomous Learning

The reason why their performance is always plain in English class is that they havent developed the good habit of autonomous learning（Wang Linfa&Chen Xiufeng，2013）. Generally speaking， poor students just have no good learning habits. The intermediates should improve the self-consciousness of learning by asking for parents and peers supervision. Besides， they need to keep going on and shape a habit of autonomous learning.

ii. Laying Down a Plan and Putting it into Practice

The intermediates have a desire to succeed， but they have no study plan in details for a better learning. Above all， they should design each step needed to finish. Reward themselves the things they want if they completed their plans. The next one is to put them into practice. In practice， they should use the tough willpower to insist until the end. The perseverance is of great importance in our daily study.

iii. Learning from Others Humbly

Although the intermediates could get a decent score in English examinations， they still have many study problems. The intermediates should turn to teachers or classmates for help when they confused. Teachers like those students who study positively， and the intermediates could become good friends with good students in learning process. Learning from others humbly is quite a good way to shape the optimistic characters for them.

In a word， the English intermediate students are overlooked easily by teachers in classes. They hope to get affirmation from others and even eager to be the top students. Watching their ardent eyes， I really feel the urgent need of turning intermediate students roles in the classroom. All that we need to do is giving the English intermediates more love and less blame. And you would find that they actually are the good boys who you have always been expecting for a long time.

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