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.

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.

Motivation in Second Language Learning and English Teaching

It is believed that individual learner variables influence learning outcomes.Thevariables have been categorized into cognitive variables,affective variables and personality var-iables.Of affective variables,motivation has been thought to play a most important role in L2learning.Therefore,a further study of motivation can really help a lotin English teaching.Thearticle states the information of motivation and its influence on English language teaching.

Sociocultural Factors and Foreign Language Learning and Teaching

Issues caused by different social cultures A clulture has a close connection with a particular language and plays an improtant role in the learn-ing and teaching of it.As we know,every nation has its own culture and the cultures of nations of theworld,generally,are different from each other.Owing to the disparities in culture,to people whospeak different languages,a word or phrase used to express good intention may surprise or irritate peo-ple;a common sentence can sometimes amuse one person greatly and cause laughter,but‘strange e-nough’,it can be too,dull enough in the eyes of another person with different culture background.

Language Learning and Teaching with You Tube in EFL Context

This paper aims to study the significance and impacts of You Tube on English language teaching and learning.On the basis of theoretical analysis,You Tube is discussed from the perspective of features and significant applications in the context of learning and teaching English as a foreign language(EFL).According to an experience of English learning through You Tube,its advantages and limitations are examined by the comparison with the existing traditional learning devices.Further,this study proposes the teaching plan for the pedagogical implications of You Tube,the strategies and recommendations about communicative activities for future study.

Cooperative Language Learning in Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling

TPRS(Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling)is becoming widely recognized and implemented in K-12 language classrooms across the nation.Cooperative language learning structures interactive group work for learners’language development.In communicative language classrooms,cooperative learning can be implemented in TPRS to encourage students’interaction and communication in collaborative tasks.This article explores the application of cooperative language learning in the TPRS Chinese classroom.Specific teaching methods are discussed in each step of TPRS,including establishing meaning,story asking,and story reading.Cooperative language learning in TPRS increases students’engagement and motivation in language learning and promotes their language acquisition and intercultural awareness for communicative competence in a diverse society.

Language Learning Strategies and Strategic Teaching in the Foreign Language Classroom

The results of a great deal of research have suggested that language learning strategies can be taught and that instructing learning strategies and integrating them into regular instruction can greatly facilitate the learning of a second/foreign language.The aim of this article is to draw the readers' attention to strategic teaching that should be introduced in the foreign language classroom in order to meet the demands of contemporary language education. In particular, it points to the necessity that teachers should change their attitudes towards the roles they play in the classroom to become truly responsible for their learning.

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.

The Application of Sociolinguistics Theory in Language Learning and Teaching

It is universally acknowledged that language is used for the purposes of communication. However, in traditional class language learning is treated as a process of acquiring knowledge, ignoring the most significant goal of language acquisition. Considering this situation, this paper mainly focuses on the theory which has shed some new light on language teaching and learning.In the beginning, the significance of the socio-cultural theory in language teaching will be introduced and then comes the main characteristics, finally, the implication of it on language learning and teaching.

The Role of Wikipedia in English Language Learning and Teaching

With the invention and development of computer,Computer-Assisted Language Learning(CALL)and multimedia have been made possible in English language learning and teaching throughout the world.Wikipedia is one of the most popularly used in English language learning and teaching.However,Wikipedia has not been widely used in China's Mainland up to now.This paper intends to introduce the ways of using Wikipedia in English language learning and teaching.

Intercultural Education in a Technology-Enhanced Foreign Language Learning Environment Implementing the TPACK Approach:Challenges and Possibilities

In the plurilingual and multicultural contemporary international setting,the educational systems opt for successfully meeting as well as adapting to the rapid social,economic,and technological changes.Based on the premise that intercultural communicative competence holds a significant potential for foreign language instruction,focus should throw into combining teachers’intercultural knowledge with pedagogy and technology.The prospect of introducing intercultural material within the context of teaching scenarios in the curricula of a technology-enhanced foreign language learning environment where the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge(TPACK)approach is implemented,can positively contribute to the teaching process.Under this perspective,cultural and digitally competent teachers can create a framework which will enable learners to fully develop their interactive and linguistic skills and to effectively communicate in a foreign language promoting its social and multicultural dimension whatever the intercultural context.

A Brief Study of Second Language Learning Strategies From the Perspective of Error Analysis

Language teaching is not a one-way process.It interacts with language learning in an extremely intricate way.To improve language teaching,we need to take the process of language learning into account.This paper tries to explore and understand what strategies the second language learners consciously or subconsciously adopt during their language learning process through the analyses of the linguistic errors they commit,so as to provide some insights into language teaching practice.

Secondary Chilean EFL Learners' Attitudes Toward English Language Learning, the English Language Itself, and the L2 Community

During the last three decades, attitudes have played a major role in second/foreign language learning research. Scholars have found that a more positive attitude towards the target language improves second/foreign language learning. In order to contribute to this area of research, this study focuses on Chilean EFL learners with different proficiency levels (i.e., beginner, intermediate, and advanced) and their attitudes toward learning English, the English language itself, and the L2 community. By gathering data through a questionnaire and analysing it using SPSS, significant differences were found among the learners' groups, and their attitudes toward English. These findings will be discussed further in this study together with previous research.

Teaching about Different Lifestyles in Second Language Learning

Cultural learning is an indispensible part in both first and second language learning.One cannot learn a language without learning the culture where it operates.This literature review aims to clarify the relationship between language and culture and arouse language teachers' consciousness of the benefits of integrating cultural teaching into language learning in second language classrooms by addressing the question:What are the benefits of combining language teaching and cultural teaching? Consequently it explains the nature of different lifestyles in different cultures and the process of second language learning.Also,it explores the significance of cultural awareness in second language learning and teaching and the strategies to incorporate lifestyles into second language teaching.The findings of this literature review strongly suggest the importance for second language teachers to incorporate culture into classroom teaching.Learning a second language cannot be separated from learning the target culture which facilitates successful language learning and reduces prejudice,misunderstanding and stereotyped notions towards the target language group.