A Study Of Attribution Of English Learning For Middle School Students

Since the 1960s,the theory of attribution has been focused on in psychology field. The attribution theory originates from the American psychologist Weiner's theory of attribution, which was put forward in the 1970s and was adjusted in the 1980s. This theory is the most systematic theory, illustrating study motivation. During the course of foreign language study, students often reflect on why they can or can't learn one foreign language well, so many linguists take interest in the study of attribution. However, in the field of foreign language study, the history of the study of attribution is not long at all.Only in recent ten years does it arouse the attention of linguists when they study the theory of language acquisition ( Crookes et al, 1991;Dornyei 1994, Oxford et, al, 1994; Schmidt et al, 1996; Wen et al, 1997; Wang Churning 1991) In our country, in the field of foreign language study, only professor Wang, from Guangdong foreign language and Trade University, and Qin Xiaoqing, from Huzhong University of Science and Technology have done some research into it, only on college students.In order to find out how students make attribution about the result of their foreign language study in middle schools, I design a questionnaire with 16 testing items, according to Weiner's attribution theory. Through the study, I intenc to learn the trend of student's attribution to English. After having a general idea of it, I probe methods to guide or train students to attribute in a proper way, which helps to arouse student's interest and confidence in language study.In chapter one, I introduce attribution theories in psychology field and the development of the theory, mainly touching the attribution theory of Hyde and Weiner, especially Weiner's. Because motivation for achievement usually has some effects on the attribution of foreign language study, the concept of motivation isinvolved.In chapter two, I state the course how I did the research. I used 150 pieces of questionnaire paper and divided it into 3 parts in average. I asked three head teachers of three grades to help me ask students to finish the questionnaire, which is designed according to Weiner's attribution theory. Then follows the investigation of attribution for middle school students and the result and the analysis of it.In chapter three, I state some principles and ways of guiding and training students to attribute to the result of foreign language learning in a suitable way.In a word, this investigation helps teachers to learn how students attribute about their English learning and learn to instruct and train students to attribute in a correct way. And all this helps us to improve our teaching efficiency.