The Study Of English Vocabulary Learning Strategies From The Perspective Of Cognitive Psychology

Vocabulary plays an important role in language. Vocabulary learning is central to language learning whether the language is first, second, or foreign. Language skills, (such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing and translation, etc.) can never be separated from vocabulary (Lewis 1993). However, for Chinese learners, the time to learn English is almost only in class or school. The natural English environment is hardly available to them. As a result, the huge vocabulary seems to be a hard nut in their English learning.This thesis first reviews some language learning strategies and vocabulary learning strategies. Based on the analysis of the definitions, taxonomies of strategies, it continues to discuss the limitations of the strategies. Then the author tries to study the related vocabulary learning theory from the perspective of Cognitive Psychology: the information processing theory. This theory holds the view that active cognitive processing can improve learning effect. Vocabulary learning depends on learners'cognitive style and depth. The deeper the cognitive process to the information is, the better the memory effect will be. The more efforts learners take to process the information, the more they can retain it.If learners realized and knew the resemblances and similarity of words,then use the proper learning strategies fully, it will be very useful and helpful to improve their learning efficiency. In her study on this theory, the author elaborates attention and memory, which play more important role in vocabulary learning; and the functions of short-term memory and long-term memory.Finally, from the discussion about the process of vocabulary learning, the author tries to analyze the vocabulary learning strategies in the framework of cognitive psychology 1. memory strategies, which include (1) memorizing words by grouping them under various themes, (2) memorizing words by analyzing their affixes and roots; (3) mnemonic techniques. 2. cognitive strategies which include repetition and rehearsal. 3. inferencing strategies. The author hopes to offer a little enlightenment to the Chinese learners on theories and strategies.