Numerous researches about the application of mind mapping in teaching reading, writing and vocabulary has got positive findings. Mind mapping has been recommended and adopted in some teaching reference books and students’ reference books. It has been applied increasingly in daily teaching and many students have got a certain understanding about it.
But generally speaking, mind-mapping-assisted vocabulary teaching model doesn’t have detailed introduction of teaching process and independent evaluation system. As a kind of new teaching approach, the application of mind mapping in junior high English vocabulary teaching still remains at the primary stage, which needs further study. The empirical research on application of mind map in Chinese classroom is still necessary and instructively meaningful.
With the above said in mind, a teaching practice was carried out in order to see whether mind-mapping-assisted vocabulary teaching can go smoothly in junior high school. What’s more , this paper attempts to analyze the effects of the mind-mapping-assisted vocabulary from the teaching case. 1.2Research Qusetions:
The research questions are as follows:
1. Whether the mind-mapping-assisted model can go smoothly in English vocabulary teaching in junior high school?
2. What are the impacts of Mind-mapping-assisted vocabulary teaching?
2. Literature Review
2.1 Overview of Mind Mapping
Mind mapping was first proposed and developed by Tony Buzan in 1970s. In 1974, with the publication of the book Use Your Head, the concept of mind mapping was introduced to the public for the first time. Mind mapping was originally used to training some learning disabled, the study was found to achieve a significant effect. Buzan promoted this technique and then it is generally applied to the people's all aspects of life.
2.1.1 Definition of Mind Mapping
Mind mapping is a graphical way to outline ideas and concepts, it’s a visual thinking tool which can help process information, comprehend, synthesize, recollect and generate new ideas, make reader better analyze. “Mind mapping is representative of radiant thinking and is a natural function of the human mind. Mind Mapping is a powerful graphic technique that provides a universal key to unlocking the potential of the brain. It can be applied to every fact of life due to clearer thinking will advance human performance” (Buzan, 1993:59-60).