本文是一篇小学英语教学论文，研究者在一所中英文小学进行了两轮关于思维导图在英语词汇学习中的应用的行动研究。通过对两轮问卷、两组学生访谈和三次英语词汇测试数据的分析，研究者发现思维导图可以影响学生的英语词汇学习。
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Among the three elements of English language (structure, vocabulary and pronunciation), vocabulary is the basic one, which plays a decisive role in developing learners’ communicative competence. In addition, New English Curriculum for Chinese Primary Schools and Junior/ Senior Middle Schools (2011 Version) has requirements for vocabulary learning. The sixth grade students should reach the second level. The requirements of second level are as follows: the number of words that students should learn is 600 to 700 and students should learn 50 or so common expressions associated with the topic for this unit. Students also need to understand that words are formed from letters. In this case, how the students learn English vocabulary seems to be of great importance. However, there still exist some deficiencies in primary school English vocabulary teaching. As a front-line teacher in primary school, the researcher finds that it is difficult for many students to memorize English vocabulary. While it is easy to forget English vocabulary and it is hard to use English vocabulary accurately. The reasons for these situations are usually as follows.
First of all, many teachers still only use grammar-translation method to teach vocabulary. They just tell students the Chinese meaning and lead students read vocabulary again and again. Secondly, students are accustomed to memorize vocabulary by rote. It takes them a large amount of time to memorize the vocabulary, while it is easy for them to forget the vocabulary. They often have a bad score on vocabulary. They feel a sense of frustration and gradually lose interest in English learning.
Therefore, it is urgent to find an effective tool to help students learn English vocabulary effectively. Mind mapping is a thinking tool. It starts with the students’ main topic or the theme as the central idea and allows the main branches of mind mapping to represent the main points of their thought (right brain). It is also combined by the interesting colours and images (left brain) which will stimulate the brain. Mind mapping allows the students to clarify their thoughts by categorizing and grouping into related ideas and makes learning information a vividly visual format.
1.2 Significance of the Study
As mentioned above, there exist some deficiencies in primary school vocabulary teaching. After reading related literature, the researcher finds that mind mapping is an effective graphical thinking tool. It plays a unique role in helping the students understand the vocabulary and leading them to
