Correlation Research On Extroversion/Introversion Personality And Language Learning Strategy Utilization

Current research efforts in second language(L2)acquisition have focused on exploring the individual differences that exist among L2 learners ,such as motivation, affection, will, personality, and learning strategies etc,among which personality and learning strategy are the significant factors that shape L2 learner's learning process and efficiency . Since the 1970s, more and more researchers began to center their attention on personality and learning strategies. JUNG G.G, a Swiss psychologist, is the first one to introduce the definition of Introversion and Extroversion into the field of learning. The study on the learning strategies concerns many facets: the one relating learning strategy to learning achievements and the one involving the factors in affecting the choice of learning strategies. According to Ellis, an American linguist, the factors that affect the choice of learning strategies are numerous, including environment and society etc. Linguists in foreign countries such as Oxford, Ehrman, Robson, Cohen and Tarron have carried out the study relating personality to learning strategy use.In China, the researchers like Wu Yian, Liu Runqing and Wen Qiufang adopted both qualitative and quantitative methods to indicate the relationship between personality and English learning strategies, thus making some progress with the study, but research on this issue has been found to be scanty, the solid research is as scarce as hen's teeth on how to lead students to understand the learning strategies and adopt effective learning methods based on different personality traits to achieve better learning effect as well as to develop their advantages and make up for the disadvantages of their personality traits.By means of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) and Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), the author investigated 113 non-English-major students at Xi'an International college from a specific variable introversion/extroversion to study the effect of personality traits on the choices of learning strategies. After analyzing the research data, the results of the research indicate that different characters use different learning strategies. The introverts prefer more memory and cognitive strategies and less social and affective strategies while the extroverts are more likely to use social and effective strategies. But after a year's strategy training, the learners reflect some improvement in the use of learning strategies. This study is not only to find ways to solve the problem, but also to enable students to continue with their studies life-long with the help of appropriate learning strategies, which is a most important idea that this study intends to convey. Finally, the author puts forward some suggestions for the instruction of English learning strategies and learning.