On English Language Strategies Of Vocational College Students－an Empirical Study

The dissertation gives a discussion of the background of learning strategy studies, some influential researches in this field both at home and abroad, the empirical studies in China and some issues to be discussed in the future. It also has a brief discussion of the theoretical framework (the definition and classification of learning strategies.) On the base of it, the dissertation takes Wen Qiufang's theory as the main theoretical framework, using the following research instruments : the English learning strategies questionnaire, learning belief questionnaire, and learning strategies interview questions which are designed by Wen Qiufang . The interview questions used to further investigate learning strategies in this study are adapted by the author according to the actual learning situation of vocational college students under discussion. A mixed design (both quantitative and qualitative designs) is used to analyze the characters and existing problems of vocational college students' English learning strategies. The findings in this study are as follows: (1) Generally speaking, students' ability of using learning strategies in their English study is feebiish. (2) The degree of using management strategies is weak. Although students have already had some management beliefs, their beliefs seldom lead to the use of corresponding learning strategies (behaviors) . A certain belief, which needs a higher degree of students' effort , is less likely to be transformed into the corresponding learning strategies (behaviors) (3) The traditional language learmng strategies are frequently used . And the non-traditional language learning strategies are rarely used by the students. Their language learning beliefs are consistent with the use of the language learning strategies (behaviors): The traditional beliefs are in the dominant position in students' mind, and therefore the traditional strategies play a key role in their actual learning behaviors. (4) Although the affective strategies are frequently used by the students as seen from the quantitative analysis in this study, most students are short of correct affective beliefs, which shows the use of the affective strategies hasn't reached the level of students" consciousness.