Autonomous Learning Of English Majors Under MCALL Environment

Multimedia computer assisted language learning had obviously shown its advantagesand distinctiveness since the spread of the reform and pilot project of university Englishteaching. Learning strategies were specific styles and actions learners took in theirlanguage learning, with the aim to make language learning easier, faster, and moreefficient. Learning strategies are also expected to help students become better learners inautonomous learning and help them adapt to new environment easily.A number of previous researches showed that learning strategies would have apositive effect on learners’ computer-assisted English autonomous learning. In view of this,the author investigated120English majors from a comprehensive university in the east ofShandong Province about their learning strategies and computer-assisted Englishautonomous learning through a survey method.The author found that the average use of learning strategies was at a medium level asa whole. Among the six strategies, compensation strategies were used the most whileaffective strategies were used the least. Significant gender differences were found inEnglish majors’ use of memory strategies in their computer-assisted English autonomouslearning. Results also indicated that male students’ cognitive strategies had positivecorrelations with achievement and contributed a lot to their computer-assisted Englishautonomous learning. Both cognitive strategies and memory strategies of female studentshad positive correlation with achievement and contributed a lot their computer-assistedEnglish autonomous learning.Based on the results and findings, the author suggested that English learners shouldget more accustomed to using cognitive strategies to assist themselves and try to reinforcethese strategies in their future computer-assisted English autonomous learning. Besides,teachers should also organize some cognitive strategy trainings, or arrange cognitivestrategy trainings as part of curriculum, in order to instruct students to strengthen theirabilities in their computer-assisted English autonomous learning.