ABSTRACT

Vocabulary memorization and the accumulation of English vocabulary both are very important in English learning. Without accumulation of vocabulary, students cannot find a good supporting point for practical application. But how to effectively memorize becomes a major problem for most of students in English vocabulary leaning. In college study, college students spend a large amount of time to memorize vocabulary, but the result is below expectation. Some students remember vocabularies quickly but forget soon, which causes Chinese college students’ vocabulary size is small and seriously impacts on the development of comprehensive ability in English.

Based on the phenomenon, taking Chongqing University of Science and Technology as an example, the present survey aims to explore the overall patterns of memorization of English vocabulary of college students from Micro level and Macro level, to further probe whether there exist difference in different aspects of vocabulary. The main tool to investigation are questionnaire survey and interview. 

Through analyzing the status quo of students’ vocabulary memorization, the author find that most of college students particularly memorize English vocabulary’s Micro level but do not focus too much on the Macro level. Spelling is uppermost in most of college students’ minds. However, most of college students’ performance on the vocabulary’s form of spoken language and written language is the worst. The reasons for the results include traditional ways of education, students’ interests on English learning, and so on. Based on the conclusion, some suggestions for English vocabulary memorization are put forward in order to promote the English vocabulary learning and improve students’ English.

Key words: Vocabulary Size  Vocabulary Memorization  Micro Level  Macro level

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

中文摘要

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 BACKGROUND INFORMATION-1

1.2 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY-1

CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW-3

2.1 THEORY OF ENGLISH VOCABULARY MEMORIZATION-3

2.1.1 The Classifications of Memory-3

2.1.2 The Process of Memory-3

2.1.3 The Influencing Factors on the Memory-4

2.2 REVIEW OF THE STUDIES ON ENGLISH VOCABULARY LEARNING ABROAD-5

2.3 REVIEW OF THE STUDIES ON ENGLISH VOCABULARY LEARNING AT HOME-6

2.4 SUMMARY-7

CHAPTER THREE ON THE MEMORIZATION OF ENGLISH VOCABULARY-8

3.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS-8

3.2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY-8

3.2.1 Subjects of the Study-8

3.2.2 Instruments of the Study-9

3.3 RESULTS OF THE STUDY-10

3.3.1 The Result of College Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary in the Micro Level-10

3.3.2 The Result of College Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary in the Macro Level-12

3.3.3 The Contrastive Result about Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary Between Micro Level and Macro Level-15

3.4 ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY-16

3.4.1 The Analysis of Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary in the Micro Level -16

3.4.2 The Analysis of Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary in the Macro Level -18

3.4.3 The Contrast about Students’ Memorization of English Vocabulary Between Micro Level and Macro Level-19

3.5 SUMMARY-19

CHAPTER FOUR CONCLUSION-21

4.1 MAJOR FINDING-21

4.2 LIMITATIONS-21

4.3 SUGGESTIONS-22

BIBLIOGRAPHY-23

Appendix 1-25

Appendix 2-26