An Empirical Study Of The Vocabulary Learning Strategy Training Of Non-English Major Freshmen

Since 1970s, as a result of a shift from teacher-centredness to learner-centredness, increasing attention has been given to the learners by the researchers and teachers. Language learning strategies and strategy training have become the hot topics in the field of language teaching both at home and abroad in recent years.Yet, the local research of the strategy training of the vocabulary learning is still in the making, especially that of the freshmen.Based on learning strategy theories, strategy training theories, O'Malley & Chamot (1990) ,Gu& Johnson (1996) 's classification of vocabulary learning strategies and classroom- based instructions, the experiment is implemented to train vocabulary learning strategies of the non-English major freshmen.The strategy instruction program in the study selects mnemonic strategies and guessing strategies which are rarely used by the freshmen, and the subjects are the 94 students from two classes, which are non-English major freshmen in Hengyang Normal University. One is randomly chosen as the experimental class, the other as the control class. The training lasts for a semester. There are one 5 Likert-scale questionnaires, two vocabulary size tests, and two vocabulary proficiency tests. Data collection and analysis are implemented by SPSS 15.0. The findings of this research are as follows:(1)Vocabulary learning strategies can change the subjects' belief of vocabulary learning in their language learning;(2)Vocabulary learning strategies training has a remarkable positive influence on the development of vocabulary size, which may improve the efficiency of vocabulary learning, while the ability to use vocabulary has not improved insignificantly.(3)Vocabulary learning strategies training can enhance the frequency of using cognitive strategies and meta-cognitive strategies.(4)There is a strong correlation between beliefs , cognitive strategies, meta-cognitive strategies, vocabulary proficiency and vocabulary size.In addition, based on the results of the research, several pieces of inspiration on vocabulary learning strategy training and teaching are advanced.