A Study Of English Vocabulary Learning Strategies In The Vocabulary Memorizing Software

Vocabulary is one of the key elements of language. The depth and width ofvocabulary has an important effect on communicative ability of language learners. InChina, vocabulary still puzzles a lot of English learners. Although a great variety ofvocabulary memorization methods are tried, the students can’t get what they reallywant. Meanwhile, plentiful researches about vocabulary learning strategies at home andabroad are conducted and multiple learning strategies are proposed in an effort to solvethe issue that puzzled English learners. Many study results demonstrate that effectivelearning strategy was an important factor for success of second language acquisition.In recent years, with the flying development of communication industry andadvancement of multimedia technology, a great number of English learning softwareswere made in succession. VMS (Vocabulary Memorizing Software) is a programwhich contains affluent vocabulary information, distinct interface for English learnersto learn vocabulary easily. It is simple for users to operate and convenient for users tolearn vocabulary at any time, because it can be installed on mobile devices, such assmartphone, tablet personal computer etc. VMS has attracted considerable Englishlearners within short time. At present, there are various VMSs in the market，each ofthem has special functions. In comparison with traditional printed vocabularymaterials, VMS is more portable, interesting and easier to get the favor of Englishlearners. However, whether VMS can assist English learners to achieve betterlanguage acquisition is still unknown. The aim of this thesis is through investigationof the users of VMS, the strategies employed by the users in the vocabulary learningprocess, and the correlation between vocabulary learning strategies and learning achievement to test the efficiency of VMS and vocabulary learning strategies.Theoretically, this thesis made a comprehensive description about learningstrategies and vocabulary learning strategies based on theories and results of previousresearches in China and abroad; in practice, the author made a research on920vocabulary learners of WMGH. Through questionnaire survey, vocabulary test andstatistical analysis, it is found that most users consider that the VMSs are helpful fortheir vocabulary acquisition, especially can enlarge their vocabularies in short period.However, the overall satisfaction about the VMS is relatively low, there are manyfunctional problems for the VMS to resolve. Strategies like pronunciation rules,making plan, self-management, plan adjustment, and affective control are mostfrequently used, vocabulary exercise is least used. Meanwhile，the employment ofvocabulary learning strategies is restricted by the English learners with differentproficiency levels. There is no significant correlation between the vocabulary learningstrategies and learning achievement in the study due to many reasons, whereas theeffects of learning strategies on vocabulary learning can’t be ignored.In short, an excellent learning software likes a sharp weapon which can helplearners learn language well, while the success of language learning depends on that thelearners adjust learning strategies based on their own situation. The author of this thesistries to make an attempt to study the VMS and its relationships with vocabularylearning strategies hoping to help English learners of VMS get a better means toachieve vocabulary acquisition and make a few contributions to the study of vocabularylearning strategies.