Learning Strategies for Oral Communication1

This is a report on several aspects of a research study designed to investigate the learning strategies in oral communication employed by Chinese EFL students in the People's Republic of China. Sixty graduating (fourth year) English majors in a tertiary level language institute were given an oral test as well as learning strategies questionnaire. In order to obtain more in-depth information, interviews were done with the ten highest and nine lowest achievers on the oral communication test. The results support the critical role of functional practice in language learning as previously suggested in Bialystok (1978, 1979). Reading practice also stood out as the most significant predictor of oral proficiency when examined along with speaking and listening practice.