As an old saying goes: "A good beginning is half done." An appropriate lead-in is able to attract students’ attention directly, arousing their interest and stimulating a good motivation to learn. Nevertheless, more and more experts discovered that traditional English teaching methods are not very appropriate for present education. Traditional English teaching methods would rather focus on teaching language knowledge to students from the beginning than focus on students’ non-intelligent facts such as interest, desire and enthusiasm. As a result, primary English teachers should make the best of resources, including pictures, videos and music to help students be willing to participate in English learning. The author believes that lead-in plays a significant role in improving students’ English learning. Firstly, this thesis will discuss some functions of lead-in, including the function of arousing students’ interest, creating a favorable learning environment and clearing the teaching purpose. Secondly, the author is going to present the application of setting suspense or questions, telling stories, singing songs and chants and employing the multimedia technology during the step of lead-in in English class. The application is particularly useful for teachers to improve their teaching skills and methods of lead-in. 

2.Literature Review源'自:吹冰`!论~文'网www.chuibin.com

2.1 Definition of lead-in

     Lead-in as the first step of English teaching classes is very significant. Lead-in takes about 3-5 minutes, however, it has irreplaceable function. The aim is to motivate students to actively and energetically take part in classroom activities. This requires teachers to be familiar with the principles and the art of teaching and create a kind of atmosphere  during the step of lead-in. Following definitions of lead-in is given by some experts from domestic and abroad.  

     Knowledge enters into the short term memory from outside environment. This process is called lead-in in a class. It refers to a method of teaching activity that draws students’ attention, stimulates students’ desire to learn, develops the sense of confidence, helps students be aware of learning aims naturally and builds relations between old and new materials.(Xu Xinquan, 2003:225) 

     Lead-in means an activity that the teacher organizes in order to help students have little impression on content that is going to be learned. Lead-in in primary school contributes to promoting students’ learning motivation.(Xiao Xi, 2002:26) 

     Lead-in is an activity contains interaction between the teacher and students at the beginning of the class within 3 to 5 minutes. It refers to some specific methods of passing on knowledge related to the subject. (Xiao Rong, 2001:38)

     Combining recent researching findings with the practice of English teaching classes, lead-in can be defined as a step taking few minutes to present some related teaching resources. 

2.2 Previous research

2.2.1 Research abroad

     Roger Gower and Steve Walters researched some teaching skills by means of the step of lead-in. When the teacher taught a new lesson, he or she was supposed to use a variety of activities. It means that the teacher talks some familiar things with students. For example, the teacher can use animals, food, games and other things to lead in new lessons. In this way, a teacher can make students focus on learning contents immediately. Meanwhile, at the beginning of the class, teachers draw students’ attention in a concise and clear way. For example, the teacher provides a short task on the board for students so as to make them pay close attention to the content which is going to be learned, accordingly teaching activities are to be finished in efficient ways.(Roger Gower and Steve Walters, 1983:220-225)