Constructivism Learning View and Situational Teaching in IELTS

Writing

Wang Zhen

Yongzhou Vocational Technical College, Yongzhou, Hunan, 425100, China

Keywords: English Teaching, IELTS writing, Situation Teaching, Constructivism.

Abstract: Constructivism learning view emphasizes that the learner should be the subject of class teaching. IELTS

writing teaching should be reformed because of instillation and exam-oriented education. In IELTS writing

teaching, real situation can be created for teaching based on constructivism learning view. Multimedia

audio-visual materials can be applied to lay foundation for learning in the future.

1 INTRODUCTION

For English learning, it is an important way to learn

and work in English countries. The best way of

learning culture and technology in western countries

is to enter their life, thus achieving personal feeling.

IELTS is an important platform of presenting

English application ability, and the only way to enter

English countries. IELTS writing, as one of the four

sections, can be divided into two types including

academic and training writing. The former is to

show opinions based on analysis of pictures and

issues. The latter is to compose related letters

according to certain event, or provide an opinion and

plan based on certain content. IELTS writing

teaching is a long-term problem of English teaching,

and the solution based on constructivism is an active

attempt.

2 BRIEF ANALYSIS OF

CONSTRUCTIVISM

LEARNING VIEW

Constructivism learning view was developed from

the medium term of last century. It was proposed by

psychological research expert Jean Piaget from

Switzerland in terms of experiments and theoretical

derivation. Constructivism was established based on

exploration of young children's cognition formation

mechanism. Young children know the whole world

from the surrounding environment by

constructivism. Visible and immaterial environment

can deeply affect their cognition mode and

development. Constructivism learning view focuses

on the subject position of learners. The subjective

initiative can be exerted to transform passive

learning into positive behavior. The learners can

rebuild the knowledge in learning process. A new

learning method—situational teaching is formed

according to requirement of constructivism to

environment. In situational teaching, the learners can

apply the acquainted knowledge to specific

environment and rebuild their own knowledge

system in application, thus forming a comprehensive

theoretical system.

IELTS writing is expressed by written words for

communication with other people. Therefore, it

depends on specific language environment. Through

communication of IELTS writing in specific

environment, the learners can master keen thinking

and point of IELTS writing, thus successfully

expressing their own opinions in written English.

3 OBJECTIVE PROBLEM

ANALYSIS ON TRADITIONAL

IELTS WRITING TEACHING

IELTS writing teaching in the past emphasized

behavior practice developed from conditioned

reflection theory by Pavlov. A theory obtained from

biological behavior experiments by Pavlov shows

that creature can master some knowledge through

repeated learning and use it in suitable condition.

Traditional IELTS writing emphasized repeated

exercises and memories of English writing to form

correct writing habit. The center of class was

English teacher rather than the learners. The learners

did not realize learning for practice by this teaching

218

Zhen W.

Constructivism Learning View and Situational Teaching in IELTS Writing.

DOI: 10.5220/0006022602180220

In Proceedings of the Information Science and Management Engineering III (ISME 2015), pages 218-220

ISBN: 978-989-758-163-2

method. The teachers performed teaching based on

traditional English knowledge including

grammatical, paragraph and chapter structures. The

IELTS writing knowledge in class was too scattered

to form complete system of English writing.

In essence, traditional IELTS writing teaching

focused on model essay and sentential form analysis

for memory. This teaching method cannot give

correct guidance to formation of English writing

thought. Dependence on model sentences or

paragraphs was the crucial reason of IELTS writing.

Therefore, it is necessary to apply constructivism

learning view to rebuild IELTS writing class based

on traditional IELTS writing teaching. As an

innovation direction of IELTS writing,

constructivism learning view has great significance

in improving students' IELTS application ability and

learning interest.

4 SITUATIONAL TEACHING

THINKING BASED ON

CONSTRUCTIVISM IN IELTS

WRITING

Cultivation of IELTS writing ability is a long period

in fact. The students build English writing

knowledge system while learning IELTS writing

ability. Therefore, IELTS writing is a dynamic

knowledge accumulation according to different

social situations rather than a static and closed

process. In order to change imported method of

traditional IELTS writing teaching, constructivism

learning view, as an innovative teaching idea, is

applied to strengthen knowledge accumulation of

daily teaching optimization.

Innovation of English Writing Teaching Idea

In constructivism teaching, teachers should change

their teaching idea in the past. The center of class

should be transformed from teachers into students.

The teachers are the inductors of knowledge instead

of instillation performers. They should guide the

learners to form interest and accumulate writing

knowledge. The subjective initiative can be exerted

to solve problems by using English knowledge in

real situation. Therefore, guided by the teacher, the

learners should be the core of situational teaching.

4.1 Building Audio-Visual Teaching

Situation by Multimedia Materials

Audio-visual teaching situation can be formed by

current information technology. In IELTS writing

course, conditions for writing are restrained by

writing form, without real situation simulation.

Official or unofficial letters are written according to

different situations in training type of IELTS

writing. Therefore, the teachers should apply

multimedia audio-visual materials of social customs

in English countries to build a simulated teaching

situation according to actual IELTS writing. The

learners can form the desire of written or oral

expressions using these materials. Without class

exercises in writing, the learners can present their

thoughts or opinions in the form of questions and

talks based on audio-visual materials. Words

organization and expression abilities are

interconnected in essence. Therefore, various

expressions in situation can lay a great foundation

for better IELTS writing ability.

4.2 Actual or Simulated Writing

Teaching

The teachers can guide the learners to perform

IELTS wring practices in real environment based on

requirement of courses. The essence of IELTS is to

inspect candidates' language skills for life in English

countries. Therefore, the language skills will be

achieved in real situations including restaurant,

company, etc. The learners should have ability to

perform knowledge in practices rather than papers.

In IELTS writing, the teachers should try to build

real teaching situations such as a statue or a view

spot. The students can understand the purpose of

writing and achieve more associated points and

knowledge in real situation. Meanwhile, the learning

interest and initiative can be greatly motivated.

In IELTS writing teaching, situation simulation

will be performed if real teaching situation is

difficult to create. The teachers can create some

simulated environments where the students can play

a new role for IELTS writing practice. E.g.,

coordination among departments and relations of

different levels in a company should be emphasized

in memorandum or E-mail English writing teaching.

Therefore, the students can perform E-mail writing

for better coordination by playing the workers of

different departments. After guided by the teachers,

the students can present more excellent written

expression by former business letter writing

simulation.

4.3 Creating Teaching Platform for

Network Writing Communication

Internet resources can be applied for English

communication in IELTS writing. Fragmented and

random English language communication can raise

Constructivism Learning View and Situational Teaching in IELTS Writing

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Constructivism Learning View and Situational Teaching in IELTS Writing

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the interest of learners. Problems in IELTS writing

can be solved with efficiency by consulting teachers

in the internet. Some language materials shared in

network platform can be loaded if necessary. The

teachers can create network simulation situation in

different forms such as group chat for simple free

writing and teaching interaction with students in the

internet.

5 CONCLUSIONS

With the internationalization of communication,

talents with different abilities are required,

especially for comprehensive English application.

English language should be applied for oral

communication and written expression. IELTS

writing teaching should be adjusted to motivate the

learners' interest and subjective initiative for better

achievement in English inspection according to

actual situation of international communication.

IELTS writing teaching is not just a tool of exam-

oriented education. As direction of IELTS writing

reform, constructivism learning method should be

applied to meet writing requirements of different

situations in terms of actual situations of learning

and life abroad.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The work was supported by Study on Translation

Strategy of Literary Works Based on Moral

Principles (12C1251), Scientific Research Project of

Education Department in Hunan Province.

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Jiao Yuping, 2011(12). Applicability of IELTS listening

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