A Study Of Vocabulary Learning Strategy Training

Since the 1970s, the research concern in language teaching and learning has shifted from teaching methodology to learner characteristics. And many learning strategies have been identified and classified, among which, vocabulary learning strategies have been widely researched. Meantime, vocabulary learning strategy training begins to draw the attention of some researchers in the hope that better training of such strategies will help learners improve their ways of vocabulary learning.For most learners in China, the main difficulty encountered in English learning is the learning of vocabulary. It is hypothesized that their trouble in terms of vocabulary learning may partly result from the lack of adequate and effective vocabulary learning strategies. Considering the fact that the task of vocabulary learning is often left to the individuals due to the shortage of English-teaching class hours, it is necessary to offer them guidance on how to learn vocabulary effectively and efficiently through strategy training.Based on such a background, the present research intends to investigate the effect of vocabulary learning strategy training on learners' vocabulary learning performance. It involves an experiment group of Grade One students in a vocational school undergoing a seven-week training project. The training covers selected metacognitive strategies and several cognitive strategies for vocabulary learning; yet, more attention is focused on the latter. Based on the training model proposed by O'Malley and Chamot (1990), the present four-step strategy instruction model is formed. Results generated from the research are:1. The students' awareness of strategy use in vocabulary learning has increased. Besides, students' beliefs in vocabulary learning indicate a positive change.2. The students' performance in vocabulary learning has been improved.3. The effect of strategy training is not uniform across all the trained strategy use. The study has provided positive implications for classroom teaching in vocabulary,and more attention is to be called on for further studies.