The Study Of Language Learning Strategies Used By Foreign Students Learning Chinese

This thesis makes an empirical study on language learning strategies of the foreign students learning Chinese in Chongqing University. It examines and analyzes the overall frequency with which these students employ learning strategies. The comparison between the results of the foreign students learning Chinese and the results of the Chinese ESL learners is also examined. Another comparison between the results of the students and the results of teachers' perceptions of their students' use of language learning strategies is examined, too.The findings of the research suggest that the learning strategies employed most frequently by the foreign students are social and compensation strategies, followed by affective and memory strategies, while cognitive and metacognitive strategies are least employed.However, the teachers think their students employ most frequently social and cognitive strategies, followed by affective and compensation strategies, while memory and metacognitive strategies are least employed.The research also shows that there exist many differences between the foreign students and Chinese students, and between the foreign students and their Chinese teachers' perception. Finally, this thesis discusses the reasons of these differences and similarities. The main reasons include the settings of their learning, their motivations and the level of their learning in Chinese. Furthermore, this thesis points out that in order to improve our Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (TCSOL), we should make a thorough investigation in the learning strategies used by the students and thereby modify our teachings.