Chinese Language Learning Strategies Characteristic of Language Learners

The present paper analyzes the strategic choices for learning Chinese by 300 Hungarian university students. The survey summarizes the most often used Chinese language learning strategies and verbal language learning strategies of Hungarian language learners one by one. With the help of the method of multidimensional scaling, the survey got to the result that the preference of the general language learning strategies is characterized by a strong opposition. In the case of the choice and use of three strategies--the social, the meta-cognitive and the cognitive strategies, language learners prefer a combined choice or non-choice. While in the use of the emotional, compensation and memorization strategies, a strong opposition emerges. Those using memorization strategies less prefer the emotional and the compensation strategies. This is true vice versa as well, those using emotional strategies, use memorization and compensation strategies less often. While the relation of the general language learning strategies was characterized by a certain opposition, in the use of the verbal strategies a strict continuity could be detected. Hungarian language learners consider the use of almost all verbal strategies with few exceptions to be successful in their communication. The results of the Variables path analysis with Partial Least-Squares Estimation （LVPLS） model revealed all those connections that structurally exist among the three exogen background latent variables （language level, language learner style and the ascriptive background） and the two endogen latent variables （the language learning strategies and the verbal strategies）. All of these latent variables measured with several manifest variables of the second exogen background variables, the language learning style showed the biggest affect to strategy use, this variable influences the successfulness of the learning of Chinese most strongly.

Meta-cognitive Strategy Training and the Development of Learners＇ Autonomy in Language Learning

As the ultimate goal of education, autonomy in language learning has aroused a lot of attention from scholars at home and abroad. While in universities of China, students do not have strong autonomy in English language learning. The author tries to adopt specific meta-cognitive strategies to facilitate students＇ autonomy in learning by improving learners＇ capacities in study planning or management, monitoring and evaluating in learning to raise their consciousness and ability in autonomy, and lay a foundation for life-long learning.

Review on Learner Belief about Second Language Learning

Learner belief is attracting growing attention since it is regarded as one element of individual difference which account for learners' different achievements in second language learning. This article gives a review o studies of learner belief about second language learning concerning its properties, classifications, and majo approaches to investigation. Based on the review, the importance of the research in the field is emphasized.

What Motivates Us to Learn as We Grow?——A Research Review on the Relationship between Age and Motivation in Second Language Learning

Motivation is always a dominatant factor in second language learning and teaching. Dornyei once suggested his model of learners' motivation, which is, language learning attitudes and the Ideal L2 self. Certainly, this could bring some research interests to other researchers. In this paper, the author reviews a research carried among the Hungarians, where the research focus is clearly given on the relationship between age and motivation to test Dornyei' s theory and offer a new way to promote learner's motivation in second language learning.

Indirect strategies in language learning and teaching

How to learn foreign language effectively is an extremely important topic for both teachers and learners. Learning strategies may play a crucial role in helping learning process What＇s more, indirect learning strategies such as arranging, planning, evaluating, etc. are in some parts quite helpful. This paper provides some indirect learning strategies to both teachers and learners, which aims at arousing teachers and learners＇ attention for their importance and usefulness.

Motivation and Exposure in Language Learning

As one might expect, motivational theorists have attempted to explain motivation in different ways. This case study at-tempts to provide relevant evidence for the contribution of motivation in second language learning by looking at the success of Japa-nese study of an adult who learned Japanese at a later age 24, acquiring the target language over a 5-year period characterized bytotal exposure in Japan. The study shows that adult can still be successful to acquire second language if he is exposed to the envi-ronment and has strong motivation, and that the boundary of integrative motivation and instrumental motivation is not necessarilyclear-cut completely.

A Critical Review on Language Learning Strategies and Implications for College English Teaching

This paper reviews the current developments of language learning strategy researches in the world, both approval and critical voices on the issue of strategy instruction. Then it summarizes the current developments of learning strategy instruction in China. It indicates college English teachers should model learning strategy and make the instruction explicit. Students are advised to be active in seeking for strategies suitable for themselves through their own exploration and reflection.

The Effects of Integrating Language Learning Strategy into EFL Instruction for Non-English Major Students in Vocational Technical Colleges

Language learning strategies play an important role in language learning. Students in vocational technical colleges have been regarded as low English proficiency learners due to their weak foundation in learning English. To explore the solution, the present study employed a specific survey of language learning strategy use and tried to conduct a one-semester language learning strategy training, aiming to investigate the effects of integrating language learning strategy into EFL instruction for non-English major students in vocational technical colleges. We found after the instruction, the difference in the frequency of overall strategy use between the experimental group and the control group was significant indicating that the students could be trained with language learning strategies to enhance the frequency of their strategy use. After language learning strategy instruction, the experimental group didn＇t perform significantly better than the control group in terms of their English language proficiency. However, the results of this present study still supported this viewpoint that the strategy instruction had positive impacts to some extent if properly conducted, for it had positive effects on enhancing students＇ language learning strategy use.

Formative assessment of language learning strategies

This article attempts to integrate language learning strategies into the theory and practice of formative assessment. It is argued that learners’ current language problems might have been a result of their strategic learning problems. As such, diagnosing the potential problems in language learning strategies and providing support in strategic learning(the ‘how’ of learning) will not only help locate the possible causes of language deficiencies but also help learners close the linguistic gap(the ‘what’ of learning). The article also illustrates how language learning strategies can be assessed formatively. Next, two implementation issues, the teacher’s pedagogical content knowledge and student engagement after assessment feedback, are highlighted for discussion.

Strengths and Drawbacks of Blended Learning for Second Language Learning

This paper discusses the strengths and drawbacks of blended language learning.There exists a great debate about what constitutes blended learning.By considering its advantages and disadvantages,we contend that there is a need for higher education to embrace blended learning in order to increase educational opportunities and improve learning outcomes.In order to support this argument,this paper addresses the transformative potential of blended learning based on recommendations for class redesign from previous studies.This paper then concludes by providing an agenda for further research.

FIRST LANGUAGE ACQUISITION AS A MODEL FOR SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: THE TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE APPROACH IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING

L1 and L2 acquisition, in some respects, are similar. Language development in children goes hand in hand with physical and cognitive development. Children learn their first language by imitation, but not always and not only by imitation. There seems to be some "innate capacities" that make children start to speak at the same time they do and in the way they do it. Adults learning a second language usually are controlled more by their motivation. But language input is important for both L1 and L2 acquisition. Though there are differences between CL1 and between CL2 and AL2, the way in which these learners acquire some of the grammatical morphemes is similar. This, together with some other evidence, shows that it is not only children who can acquire language. Adults can also acquire a language. But when adults acquire a language, they should also learn it. Some of the ways in which children acquire their language can be used as a model for L2 acquisition, even for Chinese students whose language is unrelated to English and whose culture is different. Learning the culture of the English-speaking countries will benefit the learning of the language. Like children, listening should also be well in advance of speaking in L2 acquisition. To train listening comprehension skills, Asher’s TPR approach proves more effective. TPR approach is at the moment limited to the beginning stage only. In order for students to gain all the five skills in a second language learning, namely, listening, speaking, reading, writing, and interpreting/translating, other methods should be used at the same time, or at later stages.

Investigating Affordance in Technology-Enriched Language Learning Environment Through Exploring Students’Perezhivanija

Preceding works tend to explicate affordance through supposing what is happening here and now.They seldom relate it to actual social,diachronic activities,such as foreign language learning.To tackle this issue,this study explores how students actualize affordances in technology-enriched language learning environment(TELLE)by examining their perezhivanija(lived and emotional experience),a term borrowed from sociocultural theory.Because an individual’s social life is a developing process or a perezhivanie2,it is necessary to base the research in a dynamic development of language learning to figure out how the affordances are actualized.Narrative interviews were adopted to collect data from three Chinese college students who learn English as a foreign language in a Northeastern university in China.The results showed that due to the students’different past perezhivanija in English learning,their present interpretations of the perceived affordances in TELLE varied.This influenced hugely in their actions taken during their English learning in college to actualize the affordances.The findings indicated that the actualization of affordances is historical,dynamic and developmental instead of static.It does not lie in the autonomy of the students or the teachers,but in the institutional and cultural legitimacy of technology use in student’s social life.The paper contributes to the application of affordance theory in foreign language learning and provides implications to language teaching practice in TELLE.

Study on the relationship between the reading anxiety and the reading strategy in foreign language learning

This study is concerned with the possible relationship between language anxiety and language learning strategies in reading process among the students of English as a foreign language （EFL）. Participants consist of a volunteer pool of 120 sophomore non-English majors. Versions of previously published measurement scales, the Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scales （FLRAS） and the Survey of the Reading Strategies （SOR）, were administered to the subjects as measures of foreign language anxiety and foreign language learning strategy preferences. Based on the collected data, the statistics descriptions were performed to investigate the students＇ anxiety state and strategy use level. The analyses suggest that most of students have the anxiety level above the mean, and the anxiety regarding the reading confidence is mainly responsible for the students＇ reading anxiety, and meanwhile, students use more cognitive strategies in their reading and the level of their language learning strategies are relatively low. Results indicate no significant differences between males and females on their anxiety level, as well as their strategy use. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation analysis reveals that, for the most learners, the anxiety state do hinder them from choosing effective strategies in their reading. The study explores the relationship between the reading anxiety and the reading strategy, demonstrates the effects of the anxiety reduction training on the strategy use, provides the implications for foreign language teachers that in reading comprehension teaching they should focus more on students＇ anxiety, especially their reading confidence anxiety, and encourage them more.

Interpretative study on metaphor＆ metonymy and their influence on foreign language learning

This paper aims to introduce two phenomena--metaphor and metonymy, and analyzes the relationship between them. It＇s analyzed that they play an important role in foreign language learning. Metaphor and metonymy competence should be included in foreign language learning so as to alter students＇ thought models in learning foreign language.

Learner Beliefs of Language Learning Revisited

Learner beliefs of language learning are of critical importance to the success or failure of any student＇s efforts to master a foreign language. In this paper, some recent researches on learner beliefs about language learning have been reviewed and summarized. The learner beliefs in Chinese context are also discussed. It is suggested that it is premature to determine learner beliefs in Chinese context and to conclude that cultural differences have great influences on learner beliefs. More researches need to be conducted by means of more various research methodolozies.

The Analysis of Gender Factor in Second Language Learning

This paper focuses on the factor of gender in Second Language Learning, with the analysis of the different aspects of showing: self-esteem, oral work, reflectivity, pair and group work, skill preference.

The Study of Language Learning Strategies of Non-English Majors

This paper, from the educational and psychological point of view, explores EFL college students＇ language learning strategies in the Chinese context. The subjects under study involve 106 non-English majors from Hohai University at its Changzhou Campus. The approach is used for the research through two questionnaires to investigate the learners＇ language learning strategies. In the study, it is found that students use compensation strategies most frequently, while metacognitive strategies less and social strategies the least. Findings of the present study also indicate that the different strategies are respectively emphasized for the male and female students, students of arts and science and engineering.

Second Life in Language Learning: A Literature Review of Journals from 2012 to 2016

As a platform based on virtual reality(VR), Second Life(SL) is drawing much attention abroad because of its immersive environment. However, the number of research related to VR or SL assisted language learning is not large and this domain needs to be analyzed further.This paper aims to analyze the applications and research of SL in language learning, based on the journals in web of science from 2012 to 2016, and trying to find out hints for future research and implications for teachers and researchers with a summary of previous studies. By searching key words"Second Life"and"Language Learning"in web of science from2012 to 2016, 15 papers were selected finally. Mind maps and summary tables are used to demonstrate and analyze papers. It is found that most SL research is employed at universities, and research themes are varied from interaction to students' learning attitudes. Mixed research methods are used in both qualitative study and quantitative study. In terms of pedagogy, technical problems should be eliminated in order to optimize learning environment, and activity design is also important in SL for teachers to teach languages.

Factors Influencing Foreign Language Learning

For many years, scholars have been studying the factors that influence foreign language learning. Generally speaking,the factors that influence foreign language learning can be divided into internal and external factors. Whether internal or external factors, they are interconnected in playing their different roles in learners' process of acquiring a foreign language. Internal factors are things like learners' age, intelligence, language aptitude, attitude, personality, etc while design of curriculum, teachers' instruction, the status of target language culture, and access to native speakers can be categorized into external factors influencing learners' foreign language learning.

The Influence of Combining Computer-Assisted Language Learning With Instruction on Chinese College Students’L2 Pragmatic Ability

In the area of computer-assisted language learning(CALL),although a number of studies have adopted various CALL-based devices(e.g.,blogs,gaming,and synthetic environments)to foster second language(L2)acquisition,the vital component of instruction has received little attention.The present study explored the usefulness of CALL-based communication in conjunction with instruction on EFL learners’L2 pragmatic development.Sixty-two EFL students from a university in China were recruited for the current research.The experimental group communicated with a native English speaker through synchronous messaging via Skype and had two instructional sessions pertinent to compliment responses,while the control group interacted with a native English speaker via Skype without having the teaching intervention.Findings from an independent samples t-test demonstrated that the experimental group produced significantly more proper compliment responses in the immediate posttest than the control group(p<.001).Moreover,a significant difference(p<.001)was found for the experimental group between the preintervention and delayed post-intervention mean scores,suggesting that CALL coupled with teaching intervention had a long-term impact on learners’L2 pragmatic development.These findings enrich our understanding of the beneficial and lasting influence of combining CALL with instruction on EFL students’pragmatic development.In addition,pedagogical implications for deploying CALL paired with L2 pragmatics instruction are provided.