A Brief Analysis of the Self—correction Model

佘阿莉

Abstract：Based on the theory of the post method pedagogy and the teaching practice，this paper proposes a new teaching model，the self-correction model，and explains it from the point of view of linking theory.

Keywords：self-correction model；linking theory；concept；implications

I. Introduction

College English Curriculum Requirements （Ministry of education，2007） pointed out clearly that colleges and universities should make full use of multimedia and the internet and take new teaching model to make the English teaching in the direction of personalization and independence，particularly establishing the main position of students in the teaching process. As a result，“the study of College English teaching should aim to establish language theories and practice systems with Chinese characteristics” （Cui &Ma，2012）. Under this background，I reform that the current teaching model and construct a set of teaching models which cannot only arouse the students enthusiasm and initiative，but also cultivate their independent learning ability.

2. The concept of the Self- correction Model

The traditional theory of comparative analysis is contrasting the mother tongue and the target language. As long as you contrast the mother tongue and the target language in pronunciation，grammar and vocabulary and find out the differences，“You will know what factors will lead to learning difficulties and what will not. Its easy to predict the learners errors. ” （Liu，2007） The “Self-correction Model” proposed in this paper can be divided into the following six steps. Step 1，translating. The learner translates the native language into the target language. Step 2，comparing. The learner compares the learners language with the target language to find out the differences. Step 3，analyzing. The learner analyzes the causes of these differences. Step 4，correcting. The learner corrects the differences or error places according to the rules and forms of the target language. Step 5，memorizing. The learner abandons the error sentences and keeps the correct sentences of the target language in mind. Step 6，reproducing. The learner uses the correct sentences of the target language in other similar situations.

3. The Self- correction Model and the linking theory

The basic idea about learning of Thorndike is selecting and connecting theory. He thought （Ye，2004） the most basic form of learning is “trial and error” or “selection and connection”. In Thorndikes opinion，when learners are facing a new situation，the learner must continuously try errors in order to achieve a specific goal. The learner chooses an instinct reaction from many possibilities to form a connection with the situation. Later，this connection will be used again in a similar situation. Learning is the process of connection. The formation of connection means the completion of the learning process. In addition，Thorndike believes that learning is time-consuming in the first try to solve the problem，but the time is becoming less with the increasing of trying times. However，this process is gradual，slow and irregular.

In the Self-correction model，The first step is also the continuous “trial and error” when the learners translate the given article. When learners find a successful experience of an attempt，this successful experience will be selected to form a firm connection with the situation. When learners are facing the same situation，this connection was used again. So with the increasing in the number of tries，the time spent on solving the problem of learning will be gradually reduced，which is also consistent with Thorndikes “law of practice”. If a variable connection is used，the connection between stimulus and response will be strengthened. If a variable connection is not used for a long period of time，the connection between stimulus and response will become weak. That is to say，the more the translation exercises are，the better the learning effect is. On the contrary，if the strength of connection is not strengthened for a long time，the learning effect is certainly not good.

4. The Implications for Foreign Language Teaching

（1）Learner are in the main position.Constructivists advocate “learner are centered under the guidance of teachers.” （Qi&Tang，2007） In the Self-correction model，the learners compares the learners language with the target language and analyzes the differences or causes of errors，and then reconstruct the learners language according to the rules and forms of the target language after translating the mother tongue into the target language. The teachers role is changed from the traditional knowledge transferer into a senior partner or cooperator. Students are the main body of information processing and the active constructor of meaning，not the passive receivers of knowledge. In a word，teachers are the guider，and the responsibility of monitoring and exploration are also turned from teachers to students. The final purpose is to enable the students to learn independently.

（2） It makes use of the positive transfer.Ringbom （1987） analyzes the complexity of language similarities. “Both psychological （perceived） and formal （Language） similarities influence the transfer from the mother tongue to the target language” （Yu，2004）. When learners translate the given article，they can translate those similar to their mother tongues easily. For example，the English declarative sentences have the similar word order with the Chinese. So in the process of translation，the students can make good use of the positive transfer.

（3）Its in accordance with the principle of individualization.The principle of individualization in education refers to “teacher should take different methods for different students according to the specific circumstances，so that each student can be fully developed on their original basis. This principle of individualization is a reflection of the objective law of the students development. The development of students has both commonness and individuality at a certain stage. Only the characteristics and differences in personality are taken differently，the effect of education is ideal” （Zhu &Wang & Zhou，2010）. In the Self-correction model，the material the students use is the same，but the question they have may be the same or different. The teachers can answer the students questions jointly or individually so that they can fully perform the principle of teaching students according to their aptitudes.

5. Conclusion

As the saying goes “there is no fixed way to teach”. A good teacher should not adhere to a teaching method rigidly，but construct his own theory through continuous observation，reflection and revising in teaching practice. Sticking to this concept and the unity of language teaching and researching，you can get to the way of innovation （Hu，2004）.

參考文献：

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[2]叶浩生.西方心理学理论与流派[M].广州：广东高等教育出版社，2004.

（作者单位：宿迁学院外国语学院）