Abstract

Reading plays a significant role in improving the students’ language competence, and it is the important means of language acquisition. Schema theory emphasizes that background knowledge plays a positive part in language acquisition and is widely used in English teaching. 

This study focuses on reading strategies based on schema theory. According to the experiment, three reading strategies are considered useful in reading. They are building and cultivating students’ background knowledge, the strategy of prediction and the strategy of inference. These strategies are of great help for improving their ability of reading comprehension. 

The research framework this paper builds is as follows. In literature review, there will be the review on schema theory and related researches on reading strategies. Then, it introduces the implement of the study, with collection, analysis and discussion on the data followed. Some suggestions are put forward in order to help more higher vocational English learners find more practical and beneficial reading strategies in the future.

Key words: schema theory; reading strategies; higher vocational English learners

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1 Introduction.1

  1.1 Background of the study.1

  1.2 Purpose and significance of the study2

  1.3 Organization of the paper.2

2 Literature review3

  2.1 Reading comprehension3

  2.1.1 Definition of reading3

  2.1.2 Three models for teaching reading.4

  2.2 Schema theory.5

  2.2.1 Definition of schema6

  2.2.2 Classification of schema6

  2.3 Previous studies on reading strategies8

3 Methodology8

  3.1 Subjects9

  3.2 Instruments.9

  3.3 Procedures10

3.3.1 Questionnaire.10

3.3.2 Pre-test.10

3.3.3 Teaching procedures.11

3.3.4 Post-test13

  3.4 Data collection and analysis13

 3.4.1 Analysis of the questionnaire13

  3.4.2 Analysis of pre-test17

  3.4.3 Analysis of post-test.18

4 Findings and discussion.18

  4.1 The cultivation of background knowledge.19

  4.2 The strategy of prediction.19

  4.3 The strategy of inference20

5 Conclusion.21

  5.1 Results of the study.21

  5.2 Limitations of the study..22

  5.3 Suggestions for further study.22

References23

Appendix 1.25

Appendix 2.28

Appendix 3.31