A Study of Mother Tongue’s Negative Transfer in English Learning in Junior High School.doc

A Study of Mother Tongue’s Negative Transfer in English Learning in Junior High School Abstract: In foreign language learning process, there has been a relatively complete native language system in the learners’ mind which influences the learners’ target language learning. This influence is called native language transfer. Native language transfer is an undeniable phenomenon. Native language transfer, especially negative transfer of native language is always concerned by language researchers and teachers. Native language transfer is often discussed in foreign language acquisition. It can be divided into two kinds: positive native language transfer and negative native language transfer. Positive transfer helps language acquisition. Contrarily, negative transfer hinders language acquisition. This study mainly focuses on the influences on junior high school students’ English learning caused by negative language transfer. Based on Junior High School English Curriculum Standards for students’ English learning and the theory of language transfer, this study investigates the status quo and trends of junior high school students’ mother tongue’s negative transfer in English learning and conducts a statistical analysis of errors. By referring to the numerous examples, the study finds that there are a large number of phenomena of mother tongue negative transfer in junior high school students’ English learning, mainly in terms of phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, lexis, syntax, chapter structure, culture and ways of thinking. This thesis introduces the essence, definition, types of transfer, the theoretical basis and then reviews the domestic and foreign research about the influence of native negative transfer in English learning. The research design which contains study questions, subjects, instruments and procedures. Then the result of the questionnaire is analyzed and the errors resulting from Chinese negative transfer according to the samples in the education practice are cla