Ⅰ. Introduction
There have been great changes in the theories and practices of foreign language teaching over the last ten years. There are now many new trends in foreign language teaching and learning. All of the changes have resulted from the changes in educational theory, changes in the new teaching conditions, and changes in 本论文由英语论文网/the way we think about language teaching and learning, changes in the development of technology, changes in English learners’ needs. These changes have taken place in every aspect in foreign language teaching and learning. In summary, there are three main trends in this field---change in research, change in learning content and test, change in teaching mode and resources, change in teaching equipment (Arnold, J, 2017). Hence, the role of the English teacher in the classroom is doomed to change with the new change of teaching conditions so as to adapt to new curriculum standards for middle school English teaching.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of English teacher in the classroom under the new trends in this new century.
Ⅱ. The New Changes and Trends in English Teaching
A. Change in Research: from teaching centered to learning centered
1. From seeking the best teaching method to SLA research
Earlier approaches to second language learning emphasized teaching method. Nowadays, language teachers should realize that the focus in language teaching is no longer the question “what shall we teach?” Instead, the first question we should ask is “what are the conditions that facilitate language learning?” and “how shall we create these conditions in the language classroom”, especially for English learning (刘书林、刘春燕、林跃武，英语论文题目，英语论文，2017). So as substantive findings have been made in second language acquisition, it is commonly accepted that a more logical sequence is to start by investigation how people learn language and then to evaluate teaching methods in the light of what has been discovered. The first step in second language learning research is to study learning itself and only later move on to see how teaching relates to learning.
With the focus of research shifted from teaching to learning, we should pay more attention to the individual English learner. It is realized that learners have different needs and purposes in learning foreign language. They should play an important part in making decisions and be allowed to practice their personal choices. At last they should develop their own learning strategies. In a great 本论文由英语论文网/degree, learner’s effective strategies are crucial for language learning .Focus on the language learner lends to individual learner differences research in SLA and learner-centered education in English learning (Hedge, T.2017). Learner-centered education tries to involve learners in the learning process. In a learner-centered classroom, students are encouraged to make critical pedagogical decisions through systematical training. Such a classroom is constituted with complementary aims. Therefore learners are systematically educated in the skills and knowledge they will need in order to make informed choices about what they want to learn and how they want to learn. Besides, learner-centeredness also means that learners are actively involved in the learning process, and that they try their best to do all the work in classrooms. Thus |
