Influence of Network Environment on English Learning.doc

网络环境对英语学习的影响Influence of Network Environment on English LearningContentsAbstract.1Key Words.1.Introduction . 2. The Network Environment and English Learning.31. The features of the network.31) Asynchronous computer-mediated communication.32) Synchronous computer-mediated communication.43) Hypertext .52. The characteristics of English learning.51) Needing to remember much language knowledge62) Needing to review timely.63) Needing to learn constantly.6. Influence of Network Environment on English Learning61. The relationship between network environment and English Learning 6 2. The positive influence. 71) Distance education.82) Teacher-student interaction. 83) Improvement of language competence.103. The negative influence .11.Conclusion.12References.13Abstract: Since English learning is a process of complex cognitive psychology, it involves students qualities of listening, speaking, reading and writing, and also concerns psychological qualities and socially cultural qualities of learners. It requires a good study environment. Network environment encompasses many advantages. It is helpful for the students to achieve effectually the object of knowledge application. It has powerful function for retrieving related information, so, it can help students to obtain information they need and improve their judging ability. It provides students with an open environment for dialogues. At the same time, Internet can train learners abilities in many aspects and help them master the methods of study. Thus learning English on Network environment fully mobilizes students initiative and enthusiasm in English learning, and arouses their interest. This paper starts with an analysis of the features of the Network and the characteristics of English learning, and further discusses the relationship between English learning and Network environment, network influence on our English learning and how to use properly the advantages of Internet environment to improve our learners competence of English language. At last, we should also realize the disadvantages of Internet itself and limit them, then make it better serve English learning.Key words: influence; English learning; network environment摘 要: 由于英语学习是一个复杂的认知心理过程，它牵涉到学生的听说读写的素质。所以，它需要一个好的学习环境。网络环境具有许多优势，如：它以学生为中心，有利于学生有效地实现知识运用的目的；它有强大的检索相关信息的功能，有利于学生获得自己所需要的信息，也有利于他们自己判断力的提高；它为学生提供了一个开放的对话环境，从而使每个学生学习语言的权利得到了尊重；同时网络还能培养学习者的各种能力，帮助他们掌握学习方法。因此，在网络环境下学习英语充分调动学生学习英语的主动性和积极性，激发了兴趣。本文首先分析了网络的特点和英语学习的特点，进而阐述了英语学习与网络环境的关系，网络环境对英语学习的影响和如何利用网络环境的优势来提高英语语言能力。最后，我们还要意识到网络本身的不足和缺陷，扬长避短使之更好地为英语学习服务。关键词：影响; 英语学习; 网络环境. IntroductionWith the development of information and technology, Network becomes more and more popular as the most modern method for people to communicate with each other, get information and enlarge knowledge. And what is the Network environment? Network environment refers to a visual environment based on sharing resources and communicating with each other as major purpose, which is under the supporting of computers hardware and software. It is changing with the advance of high science and technology, especially, the progress of information and technology.The Network just refers to the Internet, which has great influence on all aspects of educational field, English teaching and learning is also influenced. Many schools in the developed countries are now wired for the Internet, inspiring common peoples efforts to reform education in order to take better advantage of information technology. A majority of college students and professors in the industrialized countries use the Internet to share ideas, conduct research work, and collaborate in the production of knowledge. Learning on Network is becoming a new learning form which combines education and information technology, because it is a new learning approach without limitation of time and space.The Internet has many features. (1) It provides a lot of natural, real and fresh language materials for English teaching and learning. For example, the World Wide Web is like a great electronic library, English learners can get all kinds of knowledge, such as politics, economy, culture, and so on. According to an American scholars theory of foreign language learning, learners should touch as many natural language materials as possible in order to improve their language knowledge and competence. (2) Internet provides a natural and real language environment for learning and communication. This environment can be realized by Computer-mediated Communication which includes Real-time Chat, Audio or Internet phone, Videoconferencing, e-mail, and so on. So, learners can improve communicative abilities of English in this cooperative and natural environment. (3) Internet is a modern educational method of student-centeredness; it can train students competence of independent study. Because its a classroom of open form, students can choose contents, time and speed of study according to their own needs, and their autonomy and activity also get improvement. (4) Internet makes distance education achieve development, and belief of lifelong learning also becomes perfect.Above all are advantages of the Internet, and the Web provides the learner with a simulated immersion experience through its up-to-date information and its cultural authenticity. And the Network has the positive and negative influence on English learning reported by other people. Now we would study the subject of the English learning under the Network environment. . The Network Environment and English LearningIn order to fully understand the relationship between the Network environment and English learning, we should firstly make clear about the features of the Network and the characteristics of English learning, and then we can take advantage of the Network environment and its strong points to improve learners language competence.1. The features of the networkThe Network encompasses many different ways of communicating and exchanging information. For the most part, though, they can be categorized as asynchronous computer-mediated communication, synchronous computer-mediated communication, and hypertext. 1）Asynchronous computer-mediated communicationComputer-mediated Communication (CMC) refers to communication that takes place via networked computers. Asynchronous CMC refers to CMC that takes place in a delayed fashion; in other words, the communicating people do not need to be sitting at the computer at the same time. Rather, messages are somehow deposited to be read later. The most common form of asynchronous CMC is electronic mail, now referred to almost exclusively as e-mail. E-mail is usually used to send simple text messages but can also be used to exchange formatted documents (including word-processed documents, sound files, pictures, computer software, and even full-motion video) as attachments. E-mail can be exchanged one-to-one, or many-to-many through e-mail discussion lists. On these lists, which can include anywhere from a handful of participants to tens of thousands, any participant can send a message that will be automatically forwarded to all others, thus facilitating group discussion. To become a member of an e-mail discussion group, you have to send a subscription message per the requirements of that particular list.Another popular form of asynchronous CMC is bulletin boards accessed through the World Wide Web. To post or read a message on a Web bulletin board, no subscription is required (though some World Wide Web sites may ask you to fill out a registration form first). In most cases, anyone coming to the Web site can read or post messages. In addition, these messages are listed in threaded form (i.e., organized by topic) on the site rather than sent in chronological order to individuals, as in e-mail discussion lists.Asynchronous CMC, in particular e-mail, remains the mother of all Internet applications. No matter what else you can do on the Internet, communicating with friends and colleagues remains the most popular Net-based activity and nothing beats the convenience of doing so via e-mail. As will be seen, e-mail and other forms of asynchronous CMC are a powerful way of connecting students and educators.1） Synchronous computer-mediated communicationIn synchronous (or real-time) CMC, all participants must be sitting at the computer at the same time. Messages are sent instantly, and communication takes place live, as on a telephone. As with asynchronous CMC, communication can be either one-to-one or many-to-many.Several types of synchronous CMC will be discussed in following. The most common type is Internet-based chat, which takes place in chat rooms found on the Internet (e.g., Talk City, ), or on a one-to-one or small-group basis using software such as ICQ (read “I seek you”) (see ). A closely related medium for real-time group discussion is called a MOO, where participants can not only communicate but also engage in simulated activity, such as moving from room to room or examining objects.In addition to these free, Internet-based chat programs; a particular type of commercial software enables real-time communication in a single setting. One of the best known of these products is Daedalus. Interchange (a component of Daedalus Integrated Writing Environment, 1997; see ), which allows people in a computer laboratory to discuss ideas using a convenient split-screen interface.Real-time on-line communication can take place not only with text but also with voice or video. Conferencing software allows students to communicate in real time using audio, video or text. 3) HypertextThe Internet is more than a communication medium-it is also a worldwide repository of linked multimedia documents, brought together on the World Wide Web. There are now tens of millions of pages on the Web, bringing together reports, advertisements, personal home pages, and every other kind of information known to humankind. The World Wide Web is based on principles of hypertext, a nonlinear, linked or layered form of information organization whereby documents in a database are connected via hyperlinks. On the Web, pointing and clicking the mouse on a link brings you to a connected document elsewhere. The World Wide Web includes not only textual information and links but also documents based on graphics, audio, and video. Technically, these documents are referred to as hypermedia, but the words hypertext and hypermedia are used interchangeably. The World Wide Web allows unprecedented access to information by computer users throughout the world. It also allows inexpensive international publishing; any classroom with access to the Internet can now publish to free its own newsletter, report, or magazine using advertising-supported Web-publishing sites such as XOOM.com () or Yahoo! GeoCities (). The various formats of the Internet are merging and evolving. With new graphical software, e-mail messages themselves can include hyperlinks to other information, thus becoming a form of hypertext. The World Wide Web includes not only hypertext documents but also software for sending and receiving e-mail (e.g., Hotmail, ; Yahoo! Mail, http:/mail. Y). Many sites on the Web, such as Daves ESL Café (), include forums for synchronous and asynchronous communication. Which of the many Internet features you use will depend on your goals, but once you start using the Internet, you will probably begin to take advantage of all the features it has to offer.2. The characteristics of English learningEnglish learning is a process of skill training, because language is a kind of communicative tool, it is different from learning other subjects, such as, mathematics, economy and philosophy. In the process of English learning, we not only need to master essential language knowledge (such as, pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar), but also have ability of applying these knowledge in the practice. So, we have to realize the difficulties in English learning as follows: 1) Needing to remember much language knowledge When learning English, we have large quantity of language knowledge to remember. This is one characteristic of English learning. In fact, whatever language we learn, there are a large number of materials and grammatical rules that we need to remember. But it is great different for learners to learn foreign language and native language. Because we have been getting in touch with the native language from childhood and growing up in this environment, everyone seems to have a kind of natural gift to learn native language, for example, understand the language knowledge, listen well and speak fluently. Then after primary school education of several years, the capability of reading and writing develops rapidly. But when we learn English as the second language, the situation is different, because there is a large number of language knowledge (such as, pronunciation rules, grammar rules and vocabulary) to remember and use. Especially vocabulary, it is all with a heavy burden to our Chinese students. 2) Needing to review timelyThe most trouble thing for foreign language learners is that they will quickly forget language knowledge learned before. So, when we learn foreign language, we must review timely. There are two forms for us to forget things quickly. One form is that relevant information is never stored in memory system of cerebrum, or even stored in it, yet the information has changed. The most effective method is often using this relevant information, so that they are gradually tended to stabilize and permanently stored in brain. This process is called consolidation. So, in the process of foreign language learning, we emphasize timely reviewing in order to make information consolidate. The second form is that information is stored in the system of memory, but we cant recall timely. Sometimes we cant remember some words learned before, but after some time, we can do in certain situation. This problem should be solved at the beginning of memorizing them. 3) Needing to learn constantlyThe third characteristic of English learning is that we need to constantly learn knowledge on language, which has two meanings. One is that there is a close connection among every phrase of English learning; another is that we cant inte