A Study Of English Vocabulary Learning Strategies Used By Secondary Vocational School Students

Many scholars have carried out extensive studies on English vocabulary learning strategies,and obtained marvelous achievements,but there are still some limitations.For example,many researchers focus purely on the training of students' learning strategies,but ignore their learning environment.The research subjects of most studies are college students,middle school students and primary school students,but rarely are secondary vocational school students.In order to find out the status quo of English vocabulary learning strategies used by secondary vocational school students,the author conducts a survey in a secondary vocational school with 148 students via test paper,questionnaire and interview.This study aims to answer the following three questions:(1)What are secondary vocational school students' beliefs of English vocabulary learning?(2)What are the differences in the use of English vocabulary learning strategies between the high-score group and low-score group?(3)What are the similarities in the use of English vocabulary learning strategies between high-score and low-score groups?From the analysis of the result,we can conclude that the English vocabulary learning strategies used by the secondary vocational school students are unsatisfying,and therefore their use of English vocabulary learning strategies need to be improved.To be specific:(1)Most students have correct English vocabulary learning beliefs.At the same time,they depend on their mother tongue,which to some extent reflects their deficiencies in English vocabulary learning.(2)The high-score group are better than the low-score group in the use of vocabulary learning strategies,especially on meta-cognitive strategies and contextual guessing strategies,dictionary-using strategies,note-taking strategies and encoding strategies.(3)Both groups are good at using association strategy and rehearsal strategies including oral repetition and visual repetition.During the interview,students explained that they need guidance on Englishvocabulary learning strategies;whereas teachers in secondary vocational schools emphasize the importance of individuality on English vocabulary learning strategies.In order to improve the students' application ability of English vocabulary learning strategies,teachers need overcome various difficulties,such as the limited teaching time,the poor knowledge base of the students,lack of learning resources and so on.All in all,in order to raise the level of English vocabulary learning strategies,teachers and students in secondary vocational schools have to abandon some old and traditional beliefs of vocational education.Students need to change their learning habits and teachers should adopt better teaching methods to improve students' use of English vocabulary learning strategies and further enhance class efficiency as well.