ABSTRACT:Informal and Incidental Learning plays an important role in extracurricular learning. It can effectively improve the students' learning ability in extracurricular learning, and get more knowledge. Taking questionnaire survey and in-depth interview, the research intends to explore the use of Informal and Incidental Learning situations among the English majors, and analyze the effective factors in Informal and Incidental Learning of extracurricular learning. The research data collected from their questionnaire survey and in-depth interview with adopting a quantitative and a qualitative method. It indicates that use of Informal and Incidental Learning would increase the students’ level of English and raise their ability of thinking. Most of the students hold a very positive attitude on Informal and Incidental Learning. Using Informal and Incidental Learning can improve their English ability on extracurricular learning. Therefore, results of this study will also support the argument that Informal and Incidental Learning can promote their extracurricular English learning.

Keywords: English Majors; Informal and Incidental Learning; Extracurricular learning

TABLE OF CONTENTS

摘要

ABSTRACT

1 INTRODUCTION-1

1.1 Research Origin-1

1.2 Research Purpose-2

1.3 Research Questions-3

2 LITERATURE REVIEW-4

2.1 Theoretical Background-4

2.2 Review of the Literature-5

2.3 Summary-6

3 METHODOLOGY-8

3.1 Research Method-8

3.2 Subjects-8

3.3 Instruments-9

3.3.1 Questionnaire-9

3.3.2 In-depth interview-9

3.4 Ethical and Integrity Issues-10

3.5 Data Collection Procedures-10

4 DISCUSSION-12

4.1 Data Analysis-12

4.1.1 Students’ attitude towards on extracurricular learning and learning 

methods-12

4.1.2 Students’ extracurricular learning environment, the quantity of the extracurricular activities-16

5 FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS-17

5.1 Main Findings-17

5.2 Implications-18

5.3 Limitations-19

6 CONCLUSION-21

REFERENCES-22

APPENDIX Ⅰ-23

APPENDIX Ⅱ-24

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS-25