The Study And Training Of Adults' English Learning Strategies In Distance And Open Education

Since 1970s, there has been a shift of emphasis in foreign language teaching and research from seeking for the best teaching method to investigating the learners. With the further development of research on foreign language teaching and learning, researchers have realized that among various factors, foreign language learning strategy is one of the crucial factors to foreign learning. Foreign language learning strategy can help students learn foreign language more effectively.The study of language learning strategies (LLS) has always been a hot topic which has received considerable attentions from a great member of researchers. Numerous studies that have been done by prominent researchers heightened learners' awareness of LLS use and intensified understanding of factors affecting LLS choice. Most studies have focused on learners under the model of traditional instruction. However, fewer have paid attention to LLS use of adult learners, and studies of English learning strategies of adult learners in distance and open education are even less than that.As an English teacher of distance and open education, the researcher notice that the difficulties and obstacles encountered by adult learners in distance and open learning is a significant issue which deserves special attention to be deeply probed into. The research adopts a questionnaire and interview to survey the LLS use of 157 adult learners' LLS use and individual differences. The findings reveal that LLS use correlates with adult learners' English proficiency, and there is no significant differences between LLS use and adult learners' gender, age, vocation and educational background. Finally, some suggestions on strategy training are put forward for adult learners to improve their English studies and self-access English learning ability in distance and open conditions.