An Investigation Into Vocabulary Learning Strategies Of Senior High School Students

This dissertation carries out an investigation of vocabulary learning strategies of 144 students in a senior high school of Changchun, Jilin Province owing to the fact that there is a gap in the studies on vocabulary learning strategies among learners of all levels, especially there is lack of studies on selection and employment of vocabulary learning strategies among senior high school students in China. The whole dissertation will be divided into five chapters.In Chapter One, the background of my study will be stated first, and then the objectives and significance of this study will be introduced and the whole thesis'organization will be summarized as well. Chapter Two will review relevant studies on the definitions and classifications of vocabulary-learning strategies, and it will especially introduce rote learning as a vocabulary-learning strategy, as well as such factors as gender, belief and motivation, which will affect the choice of vocabulary-learning strategies. Chapter Three will describe the subject, research instruments and method adopted in this study, as well as the process of data collection from a senior high school of Changchun . Chapter Four presents the results of data analysis concerning senior-high-school students'choices of vocabulary-learning strategies. From the data collected by questionnaires and interviews, it is indicated that senior high school students in this study employed a variety of vocabulary learning strategies, among which rote learning strategy was found most frequently used for the purpose of examinations. In addition, some gender differences were identified in the selection of vocabulary learning strategies. Based on the analysis of the collected data, this study drew its conclusion and provided suggestions for further research and discussed its implication to English teaching in senior high schools. Teachers should select appropriate learning strategies and take more efforts to cultivate students'ability of autonomic-learning and self-management in the future.