A Survey Study Of English Learning Strategies Of Adult Learners In Distance And Open Education

The study of language learning strategies (LLS) has always been a hot topic which has received considerable attentions from a great number of researchers. Numerous studies that have been done by prominent researchers heightened learners' awareness of LLS use and intensified understanding of factors affecting LLS choice. Most studies have focused on learners under the model of traditional instruction. However, fewer have paid attention to LLS use of adult learners, and studies of English learning strategies of adult learners in distance and open education are even less than that.As an English teacher of distance and open education, the researcher notices that the difficulties and obstacles encountered by adult learners in distance and open learning is a significant issue which deserves special attention to be deeply probed into. The research adopts a questionnaire and interview to survey the LLS use of 182 adult learners in Dalian Radio & TV University, makes quantitative analysis of the current situation and affecting factors by SPSS, and then identifies the relationships between adult learners' LLS use and individual differences. The findings reveal that LLS use correlates with adult learners' English proficiency, and there is no significant differences between LLS use and adult learners' gender, age, and previous education. Finally, some suggestions on strategy training are put forward for adult learners to improve their self-access English leaning ability in distance and open learning.