The knowledge got from the class is limited, so extracurricular reading is necessary. It has positive influences on children’s oral English, writing ability and other integrated abilities. It is more critical for elementary and secondary students since English learning during this time is foundational for their further studying.
II. Extracurricular Reading
2.1 Definition and Essentials of Extracurricular Reading
Reading includes two parts: the exemplary reading in class and extracurricular reading out of class. Extracurricular reading means students read some related materials out of class. It is one kind of extracurricular activities and it is also a supplement and extension of class teaching.
American proposed educationalist Bruner came up with famous learning theory----“discovering study”. Learners get knowledge positively and voluntarily not accept negatively. Learning is the procedure which inpiduals form their own knowledge, so learning is initiatively. In addition, knowledge comes from the mutual and iterative interaction between new and old experience. A simple repeat of book knowledge which is limited is meaningless and time-wasted. It is naive to think that one can learn English well just by the limited classes. The traditional and mechanical teaching and learning method is not appropriate for current English education. Teachers should change their teaching ideas in time to meet the new demand of current society and give students more freedom to learning autonomously. Students should be encouraged to do more extracurricular reading.
2.2 The Necessity of Extracurricular Reading
Studying the extracurricular reading and how to improve the English learning quality has enormous theoretical and practical meaning under current background of education reform.
In current world, with the enormous development of the society and economic, knowledge and talent is becoming the critical factors which will determine a country’s future. As the important tool in international communication, English‘s function is becoming bigger and bigger. How to reform the traditional English learning method and develop student’s practical commutative ability is the question most English teachers are studying.
English learning, like many other disciplines, is inefficiency because of the effects of the exam-orientated education. Rote method, which is the classical learning approach of exam-orientated education, usually asks students to do mechanical exercises, recite without fully understanding, and take part in endless examinations. This outdated, inefficiency and mechanical language learning method is not appropriate for English studying. It is not only inefficiency but also harm to student’s growth and development. Second language should be defined as an instrument and its first and most important goal is communicating. The essential of English learning is the children’s integrated development and practical ability instead of academic grades.
Systemically English studying during secondary school is foundational for their further learning. Although most elementary schools have already taken English course, these courses are not the serious and systemically English curricula and we do not pay much attention to this. The reading habit formed during this time will benefit them a lot when they taking senior courses. Through enough numerous reading materials importing, learners can have the whole feeling of English and develop the language ability. 中小学英语学习中课外阅读的重要性(2):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_17024.html