3 Learning strategy factors on vocabulary acquisition 3.1 Studies on Vocabulary Learning Strategies in China A great number of researches have taken place concerning
vocabulary learning strategies since 1990s in China.
Gu and Johnson (1996) provided a general picture of vo-
cabulary learning strategies used by Chinese college stu-
dents. They conducted a survey with 850 sophomore non-
English majors from Beijing Normal University in order to
find out the vocabulary learning strategies adopted by them
and the relationship between their strategy use and language
proficiency. It was found that Chinese college students gen-
erally used more meaning-oriented strategies than memori-
zation strategies that were considered as the most popular
vocabulary learning strategies among Asian learners. It also
concluded that Chinese college English learners employed
a wide range of strategies, such as dictionary use, guessing,
repetition, and note-taking strategies.
Wu Xia and Wang Qiang (1998) adopted O'Malley and
Chamot's classification and investigated vocabulary learning
strategies used by non-English majors in Beijing Normal
University. This study revealed that Chinese college students
employed a variety of strategies including cognitive and
metacognitive strategies in their vocabulary learning; vo-
cabulary learning strategies were closely related to both the
quantity and quality of their knowledge of English. Further
more, there existed significant differences in the use of vo-
cabulary learning strategies between successful learners and
less successful ones.
Zhang Ping (2001) studied the vocabulary learning strat-
egies used by non-English major postgraduate students and
found that all the four strategies at metacognitive dimension
and eight strategies at cognitive dimension were closely re-
lated to the general academic English vocabulary learning
while three of four strategies at metacognitive dimension and
five of eight strategies at cognitive dimension were closely re-
lated to the professional English vocabulary learning.
Chen Hua and Zhang Yifang (2001) studied 225 sub-
jects, including 22 kindergarten children, 211 elementary
pupils and 22 junior middle school students. The results re-
vealed that all the subjects had used memorization strate-
gies. Some of them depended on the meaning while others
depended on pronunciation. Compared with college stu-
dents, these younger learners seldom used metacognitive
strategies.
Generally speaking, compared with other learning strate-
gies, studies on vocabulary learning strategies are relatively
comprehensive. But some problems still exist. Few studies
concentrate on the relationship between vocabulary Teaming
strategies and individual learner differences, particularly on
gender differences.