A Study of Understanding Taiwanese College Students' English Language Learning Strategies Based on GM(0,N)

The main purpose of this paper is to apply GM(0,N) model to weigh problem on the topic of the relationship between Taiwanese student's English learning strategies and student's learning effects. Different students have different degrees of success in learning English as a Foreign Language. “Learning Strategies” which have been neglected by teachers in general, may help students achieve higher learning outcomes and develop students' self-directed learning skills. Therefore, exploring how well students know English language learning strategies and investigating the strategy use frequency among students attract l a lot of attention. First, this paper designs a research structure a and creates a questionnaire based on the O'Malley & Chamot strategy inventory (1990). This paper divided the questionnaire into 3 input blocks (28 factors). A cluster sampling of 525 students participated in the research. Second, apply GM(0,N) model to help the calculation of the whole data. Also, a Matlab toolbox has developed to weigh the problems. Finally, this paper got two results. One is factor 14 - I use material in English that I'm interested in, like hobbies to help me study - influences the students' learning effects most. This may result from the social environment, educational system or the subculture mindset of youth. The other is factor 24 - I relate new information to other concepts in memory - influences the students' learning effects least. This may due to Taiwanese traditional philosophy which emphasize mechanic model, discourage students from individual creative, associative learning. This may indicative of teachers' attitudes toward classroom learning method. Then, this paper adopts a new approach, and can extend it into other relative fields.