Results and Discussion

Six returns were invalid for various reasons; the results are based on the remaining 82 usable questionnaires.

Table 2:Natural Order of Acquisition vs. Student Usage of EDs

Rank Order   Natural Order     Student Usage of EDs

             of Acquisition    

----------  ---------------    ---------------------

  1         Listening          Reading

  2         Speaking           Writing

  3         Reading            Speaking

  4         Writing            Listening

If learners are trying to master English for communicative purposes, as many claim to be, then using their ED's counter to the natural order of acquisition is like swimming upstream.