necessary in vocabulary learning. The thesis comes up with some practical, interesting and efficient strategies of vocabulary learning called conventional ways and neat tricks, which will stimulate the students’ imagination and their interest in English learning and finally enlarge their vocabulary. Though some neat tricks may lack scientific theories, they are easy and highly effective for students to memorize the words. If students know about them and are willing to use them, they will find the process of learning new words enjoyable. More importantly, they can find some new methods suitable for them. Anxiety will be lowered and confidence will be boosted. Thus, vocabulary learning will be both effective and efficient.
2. Theoretical Background
2.1 Current Research Findings of Language Learning Strategies (LLS)
It’s viewed that second language learning strategies can play a rather pervasive role in second language learning, and research has progressed beyond simply counting the number of strategies.
Research into the area of language strategies began in the 1970s. And second language learning strategies have been defined in various ways. “Stern tries to distinguish between strategies and techniques in second language learning. According to him, strategy refers to general tendencies or overall characteristic of the approach employed by the language learner while ‘learning technique’ refers to particular forms of observable learning behavior, more or less consciously employed by the learner.” “In the process of identifying and categorizing language strategies, many learners dealt indirectly with strategies specifically applicable to vocabulary learning.” In fact, training research on learning strategies for the second languages has been limited almost exclusively to cognitive applications with vocabulary tasks. Also, “Cohen points out that language learning and language use strategies can be defined as those processes which are consciously selected by learners and which may result in action taken to enhance the learning or use of a second or foreign language, through the storage, retention, recall, and application of information about the language.”
Despite the fact that there are so many language strategies, few neat tricks of individual vocabulary strategies have been researched, except for main strategies being guessed from content and certain mnemonics, such as associating mnemonic, repeating mnemonic and mechanical mnemonic. For example: “common way for learners to deal with vocabulary is using the books to recite and spell the words again and again.
They can remember the pronunciation, spelling and meaning quickly. But they can’t get the relative knowledge, such as background and usage of the words. The words can be remembered quickly shortly, but it can also be forgotten easily.” “Nevertheless, combining the results from general learning strategy research with those from more vocabulary-specific studies allows us to derive a number of tentative general conclusions about vocabulary learning strategies.”
2.2 Why Are Vocabulary-Learning Strategies Important
The importance of vocabulary suggests that it is significant for learners to acquire vocabulary in large quantity and good quality. Present research into vocabulary study focuses mostly on memory work based on psychology and empirical experiments，like strategies of memorizing vocabulary, such as memorizing words by the way of affixes, roots, sense relations, using riddles, jokes, stories etc. In fact, in addition to these，more creative research on vocabulary learning is worthwhile.
Vocabulary learning strategies are effective tools for developing communicative competence as well as English learning. Appropriate strategies can help to improve proficiency and build up great self-confidence in vocabulary learning. Faced with a large vocabulary, they need some tricks to make the process more enjoyable and profitable.
“Stress should be laid on the importance of adopting both individual and social strategies for enhancing linguistic proficiency. The former might include watching or listening to English regularly, jotting down new vocabulary or comprehension problems, and reading for pleasure. The latter is concerned with maximizing opportunities to use English. ” For example, learners had better join in the English corner and try to communicate with others as often as possible.
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