This article explores a contradiction between communicative theory and practice in beginning and intermediate English language teaching(ELT)and compares this situation with what prevails in early Chinese reading instruction.After a detailed analysis of the benefits of learning text by heart as reflected in the increasing proficiency of students in oral and written communication,the author puts forward the suggestion that EFL teachers at college level should create and use this teaching methodology that primarily appeals to elementary or adolescent students when they are learning Chinese.This old classroom activity will be particularly helpful to EFL students who are poor in both reading and writing through an increased awareness of words,phrases,idioms,and sentence structures.Taking the texts in New Horizon College English as examples,the author follows up with strategies EFL teachers may utilize,among which the purpose-based assignments of learning text by heart is greatly favored and should be effectively carried out in reading instruction.
