The Problems of the Middle School Underachievers

The Problems of the Middle School Underachievers

1. The students lack learning motivation, and their learning objectives are not clear

  All the learning motivation, and the establishment of the learning objective is the basis to improve the learning ability. Some students’ common desire is just out of curiosity or enthusiasm, without sense of mission and social responsibility to learn English well. English learning motivation is related to unstable mood, and easily to be changed. Students don’t know or think about why they have to study a foreign language. Meanwhile, they don’t set up a clear objective, Because they don’t understand the significance and necessity of English study. When they are not curious about English, they will give up it without hesitation. This kind of phenomenon is common among most of the underachievers.

2. Underachievers lack good study habits

  The formation of good study habits take a important place in promoting English learning.  Most of the underachievers do not have good study habits in their study time, and the performance in English learning is not active. They don’t preview books before class, and don’t review the books after class, so the learning efficiency in the class is not very high. If they do not change the habits and form the inertia of opportunistic, grades must be landslides.

3. The influence of the students’ disposition

  Some English Underachievers are introverts, they don't want to speak to others and are not good at communication. They seldom open their mind to teachers and classmates even to their parents. Their imitate ability is also not good, this makes them have less willing to participate in a variety of English practice activities. Such kind of disposition makes them feel afraid of communicating with others or they even avoid to getting together with others. When they have problems in study, they neither ask classmates nor consult the teacher. They do not dare to raise their hands to answer questions in class, due to the deep fear of giving a wrong or bad impression.  Furthermore,because of their introverted characteristics, they seldom discuss problems together with classmates to express their own views and opinions actively. With the lapse of time, they will lack of the spirit of cooperating with their classmates.

4. Incorrect methods of learning lead to low efficiency in learning English

  English study is different from other subjects. It’s a kind of language learning, and a tool for communicating. But many students ignores this point, they often follow the same methods of learning other subjects to learn English. Just relying on the rote memorization, especially in words and grammars, without any applications of some special methods. Sometimes they can’t get rid of the way to understand and translate the English in Chinese mind-set. That will causes more problems.

5. Teachers’ improper teaching methods

  What is the most important part to learn English well,the answer must be the teachers’ teaching methods. Modern English teaching in the middle school is still simplex. Teachers always use the same teaching methods through the whole class. They often ignore the different  learning levels of the students. As for the students who are good at English, they can understand the difficult points easily and quickly. But for the underachievers who can’t know the knowledge very well, the same teaching methods may leave them behind others. So it is necessary to use proper teaching methods for different levels of students in English class.

6. Without good English learning environment in family

  In China, most middle school students study and speak English only in the English class at school. There is no English learning environment for them to practice their knowledge out of school. Some places even can’t receive English radios or TV programs. Often, the supply of books and magazines, which are in English are not adequate to the demands. Language study needs good environment,especially the environment in family. The middle school students are still too young to handle the family members’ relationship. This leads to that the parents can give them pressure easily. The improper family education cause following problems: The first is too much demands on children. It makes the children feel stressful. High expectations, make the parents regardless of the actual situation and ability of their children. In order to make the children get to their requirements, putting too much psychological pressure on the children will increase the burden in their mind. Also, their self-esteem and self-confidence will be destroyed deeply. Over time, The students will be disgusted to study. The second is that if the parents spoil children and gives everything they want or ask for.This is considered to have a bad effect on a child’s character. Once They meet difficulties in English learning, they will try to do anything to escape from them.

7. Limited class time in English Learning class at school

  Although English is a very important course in middle school, the class periods is still not enough for the students. The school will pay more attention on the math, the physics and the chemistry. What’s more, a number of teachers like to take up the English class to explain some other course. This does bad effect on the English learning to students, especially to the English underachievers.