On Network-based English Learning Strategies

Nowadays, the research center of teaching English has changed from teachingmethod into the characteristics of learner and the mental process of learning English. Atthe same time, with the development of computer science, the internet develops quicklyand get into the realm of teaching English, which form a great impact to traditionalteaching methods and educational contents, thus more and more people use internet tolearn English. The internet provides all new environments for teaching English, and alsoprovides abundant course resources for learning English.This paper use quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis to study Englishlearning strategies using of EFL college students in the environment of the internet. Theuse of general learning strategies is also studied to serve as a comparison. A quantitativestudy is conducted on a sample of220students from Harbin Normal University andwith the instrument of two questionnaires modified from Oxford’s Strategy Inventoryfor Language Learning. All the six categories of strategies listed in SILL are employedby Chinese students, but the average frequency is only at a moderate level.The difference of strategy use by gender, major is investigated through t-test.Female students reported a higher frequency. The difference between students majoringin arts and those of science is not statistical significant. Since strategies have beenproven as one of the factors for successful language learning, it is necessary toimplement strategy training. In order to produce more authentic interaction and obtainmore resources, network-based language learning is suggested as a supplement to theconventional EFL learning. Teachers play important role both in training students to usestrategies and in integrating networking with classroom teaching. The research aboutlearning strategy plays a great role towards improving English teaching methods andEnglish learning effects.