A Research On English Learning Beliefs Of Students In Junior Middle School

In the early 1970s,researchers started to study "how to learn" from "how to teach" on foreign language teaching research.Many Chinese scholars began to study the English learning beliefs,especially for college students.However,the study on junior high school students as the research object is unusual,especially the comprehensive study on junior high school students' English learning beliefs is rarer.But what is the present situation of junior middle school students' English learning beliefs?Are there any significant differences in English learning beliefs among students of different grades?Is there any difference in English learning beliefs between high achievers and low achievers?And why?Is there any correlation between English learning beliefs and learning strategies?What is the relationship between English learning beliefs and strategies?The author believes that these problems are worth exploring,not only for teachers to understand the students'learning ideas,but also to improve their learning strategies and improve the efficiency of teaching and learning.The students from a normal middle school named Loushan Middle School in Shanghai,who are from Grade 7,8 and 9,completed the questionnaire.The author used the English learning beliefs and learning strategies questionnaire which was designed by Wen Qiufang(2003).The author used descriptive analysis,correlation analysis and t-test by SPSS to collect and analyze the data.Then several substantial findings came into light.First,the whole condition of English learning briefs of junior middle school students was good.Second,there were significant differences among students in different grades only on mother-tongue reliance beliefs.Third,high achievers and low achievers students had significant differences in English learning beliefs and learning strategies.Fourth,there was significant correlation between learning beliefs and learning strategies.Finally,there was a correlation between learning beliefs,learning strategies and learning achievement.In a word,the study on English learning beliefs of junior middle school students helps teachers to develop students' confidence in learning English through various methods,and to form a positive learning concept.At the same time,it can also make students understand their own problems in the learning beliefs,and choose the correct learning strategies to improve the efficiency of learning.