A Study On Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used By Medical Students

In recent years, English vocabulary learning strategies (EVLSs) have been paid more and more attention in China. At the same time, many papers and works related to this area were published. Many experts and scholars have been doing a lot of researches about English vocabulary learning strategies (EVLSs). For example, they studied the differences of good learners and bad learners in using vocabulary learning strategies as well as students at different ages and so on. However, all these studies were concentrated on learning strategies and vocabulary learning strategies in general English. The research of English for specific purpose (ESP) is very little.With the development of globalization, nearly all fields need people who know both professional knowledge and an international language. Therefore, the study and use of English for specific purpose (ESP) is very necessary. English for specific purpose (ESP) plays a more and more important role in our country. Medical English is one of English for specific purpose (ESP) that is widely used in China. Many colleges in China have opened the course of medical English. However, as a result of several reasons, the outcomes are unobvious. According to different studies, medical English vocabulary learning is a difficult point, because many students did not use vocabulary learning strategies appropriately. The present study intends to investigate the use of medical English vocabulary learning strategies by medical students. Try to find the problems and provide reasonable advices and make contribution to the improvement of the teaching level in China.In order to know the situation of using medical English vocabulary learning strategies by medical students and find useful vocabulary learning strategies, a questionnaire was designed based on the opinion of Wen Qiufang, Zhu Houmin, Norbert Schmitt and so on.100medical students from XinXiang Medical University attend this study, and15students took part in the interview. SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)17.0was used to analyze the data collected.The results indicated that the use of medical English vocabulary learning strategies was at the medium level. Medical students were not aware of using them in the process of medical English learning. The affective strategies were most frequently used, and the mid-management strategies were the least frequently used. Significant differences existed in almost every strategy except for the cognitive strategy. Some suggestions for improvements were proposed after analyzing the results from the questionnaire and the interview. Hopefully the study may facilitate the development of medical English vocabulary learning and teaching.