1。3 Overall structure of the thesis

Chapter One includes a brief introduction to the purpose and significance of the research, and the organization of the thesis。 

Chapter Two pays attention to literature review。 A brief introduction of multiple intelligence theory (MIT) is carried out, including the concept on MIT, studies done both at home and abroad。   

Chapter Three is the empirical study。 It introduces the research participants and questions。 And it mainly focuses on the detailed methods in the survey。 It is indeed a complex procedure to investigate MI among second language learners since it has a connection with various aspects of social, cultural, economic, and language environment。 In order to gain a broad view of the application of MIT in secondary school English teaching, the author took a lot of approaches by using questionnaires and interviewing students and teachers。 And the author implemented practical classroom observation and English tests so as to probe more into the importance of MI in students’ English learning。 

Chapter Four concentrates on the date presentation and analysis based on questionnaires, interview, classroom observations and tests to search for the correlation between students’ MI and their achievements in English learning, and the relationship between students’ intelligence development and MIT-based English teaching 。

Chapter Five draws a conclusion of the thesis, dealing with the major findings and implications of the present study。 The limitations and suggestions of the study are also presented for further research to be concerned in second language learning and teaching。 

2。 Literature Review

2。1 Multiple Intelligence Theory

  In 1983, American psychologist Howard Gardner proposed the Multiple Intelligences Theory in his work Frames of the Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences。 As it was published, the theory quickly swept the worlds of education and science, especially in western countries。 At that time, Gardner proposed an alternative definition of intelligence。 According to Gardner, intelligence is "a biopsychological potential to process information that can be activated in a cultural setting to solve problems or create products that are of value in a culture。" So there are many different intelligences that result in different ways of knowing, understanding and learning about the world。 As Gardner has indicated,” It is of the utmost importance that we recognize and nature all of the varied human intelligences, and all of the combination of intelligences。 We are all so different largely because we all have different combinations of intelligences。 If we recognize this, I think we will have at least a better chance dealing appropriately with the many problems that we face in the world。”(Gardner, 1993:12)

Gardner proposed that each person possesses at least eight intelligences。 And the eight intelligences are listed as following:

Musical Intelligence: refers to the ability to perform, create and appreciate music, such as musicians and composers who are well-developed in musical intelligence。

Visual Spatial Intelligence: refers to the ability to identify and use object in broad space or within a limited area, such as aircraft pilots, seafarers, sculptors, painters and others who are well-developed in visual spatial intelligence。

Linguistic Intelligence: refers to the sensitivity of spoken language and written language, the ability to use language to achieve a certain aim。 Lawyers, writers, poets are such person who are well-developed in Linguistic intelligence。来*自-优=尔,论:文+网www.chuibin.com

Logical-mathematical Intelligence: refers to the ability to analyze the logic problems, to operate mathematical and scientific methods to analyze and investigate the problems, such as mathematician, logician and scientists who are well-developed in logical-mathematical intelligence。