How Do Learners Progress In Their English Learning?

The past few decades have witnessed the rapid development and substantial accomplishment in the field of Second Language Acquisition. And with the trend of interdisciplinary integration, SLA researches are blooming with the flourish of theories and methodologies in different perspectives.By adopting the microgenetic method, which originates from developmental psychology, the present author has conducted a five-month observation and recording of the English learning process of three self-taught students in Zhejiang University, with the aim of finding out how learners progress in their English language learning, and attempted to put forward some suggestions for the subjects accordingly.A Background Information Questionnaire has been administrated at the beginning for some information about the subjects' English learning background and their beliefs towards English learning; then portfolios, including the Weekly Learning Behaviors Questionnaires, which are filled out by the subjects themselves once a week, and a series of simulated tests for PETS-2, which are administered once every two weeks, are employed for the recordings of the developmental processes of their English learning. Besides, three interviews have been carried out to inquire about some other information which might not be revealed in detail on papers and yet might exert influence on their English learning to some degree, such as the subjects' academic goals, affective states, habits for English learning and the like.Based on the collected data and materials and through tables and graphic analysis, the present author has found out the different ways the subjects conduct their English learning and their developmental routes of English proficiency. Accordingly, suggestions for their further English study are given respectively to the three subjects and some favorable ways of learning English as a second language are put forward as reference for other self-taught students.