The Application of Mind Mapping in English Vocabulary Review Class

【Abstract】Mind Mapping is a tool which can help stimulate divergent thinking of our brain. It visualizes information and knowledge and provides a simplified structure of the target knowledge system. English vocabulary is a very important part for students to improve their English. Thus the function of English review class can not be ignored. Under the reform of English Curriculum Standard， several attempts to change traditional vocabulary review are made. One of them is Mind Mapping. Applying Mind Mapping to English review class can benefit both English teachers and the students.

【Key words】Mind Mapping； English review class； divergent thinking

In learning English， vocabulary is a quite fundamental part for students to master. Usually， students review words on the basis of a unit. We ask students to classify and group words of a unit and sometimes we also do expansion in group work. And then they can remember all the words according to their own mind maps. With the deepening of revision， students may generate some new strategies in reviewing words. They add related words， phrases and even sentences around the keywords. Thus a more inclusive language database of their own is formed.

1. Characteristics of Mind Mapping

According to Tony Buzan， there are four characteristics about Mind Mapping：

First， the focus of attention is clearly gathered at the central diagram. At the very core of each mind map， the subject term is clearly shown.

Second， divergent ideas are formed through the subject term. Several ideas related with the subject term are inspired through divergent thinking.

Third， branches are generated from keywords written on the line. Topics rather unimportant are also shown in the form of branches.

Last， each branch has a node for connection. The node connects the higher hierarchy with its subordination. Node can be two or more words.

2. The function of Mind Mapping in English vocabulary review class

First， an effective tool for teaching design

For most high school students， the review stage is much excruciating. Because the review task is so heavy and complicated that students always get confused about the structure and the internal connections of the knowledge. The very first thing teachers should do is to prepare a lesson. It is quite a time-consuming and complicated task. In this condition， Mind Mapping can be adopted so that teacher can start from the whole idea and therefore form a systematical knowledge structure. Teaching plans can be very clear and upright by using mind map. As is known to all high school English teachers， textbooks of FLTRP have many modules. Actually， each module can be designed as a mind map. As soon as the map is designed， we can do adjustment and supplement according to the actual situation（class and learning actuality）.

Second， a cognitive tool for stimulating divergent thinking

From our experience， we know that divergent thinking is very important for our study， especially for English review class. How to stimulate divergent thinking？ By visualizing the knowledge， a concise mind map with clear theme and colorful labels can draw the voluntary attention of the whole class successfully and guide them to observe and think therefore swiftly move into the review stage. It activates class atmosphere and leads students to review main vocabularies of the unit； a query is another way to stimulate active divergent thinking. It is the motivation to explore problems. The curiosity and thirst for knowledge are very important for active learning and English review class. The elements of a mind map like colors， lines and keywords can promote synergistic action between the left and the right cerebral hemisphere so that divergent thinking may happen.

3. Conclusion

From all stated above， we can see that Mind Mapping is a tool which can help to stimulate divergent thinking. It not only helps teachers to elevate their teaching levels but also improves students interest and revision efficiency. It needs more and more English teachers and education scholars to pay attention to.

References：

[1]Buzan T.Use Your Head[M].London：BBC Active，1974.

[2]Buzan T.The Memory Book：How to Remember Anything You Want[M].London：Pearson Education Ltd，2010.

[3]Edwards S.and Cooper N.Mind Mapping As a Teaching Resource.The Clinical Teacher，2010.7（4）：236-239.

作者簡介：肖維菊（1994.06.24-），女，陜西安康人，現陜西師范大學學科教學英語碩士研究生在讀。