Input Of Non-English Majors From The Perspective Of Generative Learning Theory

Being the prerequisite for language learning, appropriate language input with both quantity and quality combining the constant accumulation, active understanding and digestion of the learners themselves can lead to the learning in real sense. Stephen D. Krashen stressed in his Input Hypothesis that the language input, particularly the comprehensible input dictated the language learning. American psychologist, M. C. Wittrock put forth the Generative Learning Theory (GLT) and also the Generative Learning Model (GLM), explaining the essence of learning. This theory holds that learning is a process of generating new meaning of the input through the interaction of the learners previous knowledge and new information received and learning depends on the existing experience, as the learners always generate understanding of the sensory information by relating to it. Moreover, learners are not passive receptors of input, instead, they understand and construct meaning in an active way by selectively choosing some information and make inferences form it. And during the generating process, learners actively pay attention to some information and construct meaning for it through the interplay between their pre-existing cognitive structure and new input.However, traditional way of input in English teaching and learning featured by the learners passive reception of the limited and somewhat dull input from the teachers and insufficient active understanding and construction on the learners part undermine the results of English learning. This paper analyzes the quantity and quality of the language input as well as the active construction of the language input among non-English majors by questionnaire based on GLT and, concerning how to get access to more sound language input for better language learning, make such proposals for teachers as providing more pertinent information, creating better environment for language use, setting fixed task over a long period and changing traditional teaching method. And suggestions like more and better language input, fuller play of autonomy are also put forth for learners.