| 摘要 | 第1-3页 |
| Abstract | 第3-5页 |
| 中文文摘 | 第5-7页 |
| Synopsis | 第7-11页 |
| Chapter One Introduction | 第11-20页 |
| ·Current situation of university English teaching in China | 第11-12页 |
| ·Traditional English language teaching mode and curriculum | 第11页 |
| ·Current university English teaching classroom and present study | 第11-12页 |
| ·English teaching aims | 第12-13页 |
| ·Small group discussion (SGD) and the acquisition of English | 第13-19页 |
| ·The benefits of group discussion | 第14-16页 |
| ·The necessity of group discussion | 第16-19页 |
| ·Key research questions of the present study | 第19-20页 |
| Chapter Two Brief Introduction to Small Group Discussion | 第20-27页 |
| ·The definition of group discussion | 第20页 |
| ·Application of SGD | 第20-21页 |
| ·Types of group discussion | 第21-23页 |
| ·Informal round-table discussion | 第21页 |
| ·Buzz sessions | 第21-22页 |
| ·The circle of voices | 第22页 |
| ·Circular response discussions | 第22-23页 |
| ·Individual's role in group discussion | 第23-25页 |
| ·Group leader's leading role in group discussion | 第23页 |
| ·The summarizer's important task | 第23-24页 |
| ·The responsibilities of group members | 第24-25页 |
| ·Planning the physical environment | 第25-27页 |
| ·The classroom setting | 第25页 |
| ·The seating arrangement | 第25-27页 |
| Chapter Three Experiments | 第27-35页 |
| ·Objectives | 第27页 |
| ·The study questions | 第27页 |
| ·Subjects | 第27页 |
| ·Methods | 第27-29页 |
| ·Instrument | 第27-28页 |
| ·Sources of the questionnaires | 第28-29页 |
| ·Procedure | 第29页 |
| ·Pilot study | 第29页 |
| ·Current study | 第29页 |
| ·Results and data | 第29-35页 |
| ·Students' general attitudes towards group discussion | 第29-30页 |
| ·The Ranking Order of Factors Causing Group Discussion Failure | 第30-31页 |
| ·Ranking of facilitating factors concerning students | 第31-32页 |
| ·Ranking of other factors concerning students | 第32-35页 |
| Chapter Four Discussion and Conclusion | 第35-45页 |
| ·Discussion on students' general attitudes towards group discussion | 第35-36页 |
| ·Discussion on factors causing failure to group discussion | 第36-39页 |
| ·Poor preparation | 第36页 |
| ·Others' inactiveness | 第36-37页 |
| ·Others' criticism and sarcasm | 第37页 |
| ·Other students' or teachers' correction | 第37-38页 |
| ·Low proficiency of English | 第38-39页 |
| ·Discussion on factors facilitating small group discussion | 第39-42页 |
| ·Respect | 第39页 |
| ·Patience | 第39页 |
| ·Negotiation of meaning | 第39-40页 |
| ·Self-confidence | 第40-41页 |
| ·Risk-taking | 第41页 |
| ·Sense of achievement | 第41页 |
| ·Silence | 第41-42页 |
| ·Discussion on the factors concerning SGD itself | 第42-45页 |
| ·Topics and content | 第42-43页 |
| ·Appropriate time allocation and alternation with other activities | 第43-44页 |
| ·Grouping and group size | 第44-45页 |
| Chapter Five Pedagogical Implications | 第45-51页 |
| ·Teacher's role in discussion | 第45-46页 |
| ·Rewarding but not grading students' performance | 第46-47页 |
| ·Helping students prepare for discussion | 第47-49页 |
| ·Encouraging students to learn each other's names and interests in group | 第47页 |
| ·Allowing to warm up before launching into the discussion | 第47-48页 |
| ·Identifying discussion questions in advance | 第48-49页 |
| ·Sustaining of the discussion | 第49页 |
| ·Summarizing the students' reports and giving sensible comments | 第49-50页 |
| ·Conclusion | 第50-51页 |
| References: | 第51-53页 |
| Appendix Ⅰ | 第53-55页 |
| Appendix Ⅱ | 第55-59页 |
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS | 第59页 |
