A Study Of The Application Of English Learning Strategies: On Nursing Majors In Changsha Health School

This study aims to investigate how the nursing majors employ learning strategies in their English learning in Changsha Health School. The study attempts to clarify the strategies used most and least frequently or non-effectively by the nursing majors. A discussion was also conducted to explore the relevance between their learning strategies and their learning results.In the past most researchers in China took English majors as their subjects, but the majority of EFL learners in colleges and universities are non-English majors, such as nursing majors. It seems necessary and reasonable to survey them. It is imperative to help them become aware of successful language learning strategies and acquire these strategies.Based on previous researches, the data was computed and analyzed by means of descriptive analyses, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation analysis and a multiple regression analysis. The findings of this study were as follows.1. On the whole, the nursing majors use meta-cognitive strategies and social strategies often but they are not good at using cognitive strategies. Compensation strategies and cognitive strategies were reported as moderately used strategies in this population. 2. Basically, the students in Grade One use study strategies in low frequency. After a year's study at school, under the teaching instruction of the teachers, they use learning strategies in the evidently higher frequency.3. According to the present research, the nursing majors'application of English learning strategies is closely related to their learning results.4. Generally speaking, the nursing majors are introvert and shy. They are not creative in strategy application, but they are hard-working and easy to motivate.Findings from this research suggest that both the knowledge about English itself and the knowledge about learning strategies are important and they should gain equal weight in learning and teaching. Teachers should develop the nursing majors'awareness of using good learning strategies, do more strategy guiding and training and help students gain effective learning strategies. Meanwhile, teachers should take the nursing majors'specific personalities into consideration, give them more chances to participate in learning activities and give them persistent encouragement.Learning strategies are not all-purpose although they may contribute significantly to learning. They shall never take the place of the learning process itself. Only when strategies are based on diligence will success in English learning be gained. Therefore, teachers should always train strategies following the right orientation and prevent students' misconception of taking shortcuts in English learning.