Memory Theories And Their Applications To English Vocabulary Learning

Vocabulary learning is very significant in second language learning. Because it is the foundation of foreign language learning and it is also the prerequisite for the improvement of other abilities of foreign language learning, such as listening, speaking, reading, writing and translating. Rivers (1983) has pointed out that the acquisition of an adequate vocabulary is essential for successful second language use because without an extensive vocabulary, we will be unable to use the structures and functions we may have learned for comprehensible communication. Vocabulary teaching and learning has gone through a long history of development in EFL teaching. Now many scholars and researchers have realized the importance of applying theories of socio linguistics, cognitive linguistics and psycholinguistics in second language vocabulary teaching and learning.The purpose of the present study is to deal with the problem that most English learners have regarded vocabulary memory as the most difficult part of second language learning, such as the retention of new words, the forgetting of words etc. The study intends to explore some memory strategies on vocabulary learning and memorization based on the memory theories. The study puts forward two questions: 1.How do some strategies on vocabulary learning help English learners gain the long-term memorization? 2. How do the learners expand a large amount of vocabulary?This thesis has carried out some investigations, pointing out the importance and necessity of vocabulary learning and memorization. Some memory strategies presented in this paper are very important and useful. If learners use the strategies in a proper way while they learn vocabulary, the problems in the process of vocabulary learning will be solved.