scholarly journals Gender Differences in Language Learning Strategies

Author(s):  
Sumarni Sumarni ◽  
Noor Rachmawaty

This study investigates the application of language learning strategies by different gender of university students. To do so, memory, cognitive, compensation, metacognitive, affective, and social language learning strategies were investigated. To collect data, the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL; Oxford, 1990) was administered to male and female student. They, then, were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The findings of the study indicated that students used a wider range of learning strategies and different from those often preferred by their gender. Both female and male often use social strategies while the lowest frequency strategy use both them were different. The results of this study can be useful for language teachers instead of raising their awareness on reducing the gap between the students' language learning strategies and their teaching technique preferences.

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Abbas Falah Alzubi ◽  
Manjet Kaur Mehar Singh

Language learning strategies (LLS) and learner autonomy (LA) are believed to achieve a sustainable long-life learning process leading to a more reading competence (O’malley & Chamot, 1990; Oxford, 1990). LA is a pedagogical imperative inasmuch as language is largely an autonomous activity (Kumaravadivelu, 2006). This study examines the improvement of LA through the explicit use of LLS in EFL reading in a mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) environment among English as a foreign language (EFL) readers enrolled in Preparatory Year program at Najran University in Saudi Arabia. To this end, a questionnaire adapted from Oxford’s (1990) Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), was administered to 32 students to measure their reading strategy use mediated by smartphones in EFL reading context. The data analysis revealed moderate averages (60%) of LLS (memory, cognitive, compensation, metacognitive, affective, and social strategies) among EFL undergraduates in EFL reading context. Consequently, these results may restrain the improvement of LA in virtual learning environments, mostly teacherless platforms, where learners need to have these strategies to help them control and manage their own language learning in almost independent learning settings, freedom in time, place, access to resources, and material choices. It is recommended that LA be improved through a strategy use instruction mediated by smartphones in EFL reading context.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ag. Bambang Setiyadi ◽  
Muhammad Sukirlan ◽  
. Mahpul

<p>Numerous studies have been conducted to correlate the use of language learning strategies and language performance and the studies have contributed to different perspectives of teaching and learning a foreign language. Some studies have also revealed that the students learning a foreign language in Asian contexts have been proved to use different learning strategies compared to students that learn the same language in Western countries. The present study was conducted with 73 students of the seventh semester of an English Department in Indonesia. The subjects had been employing learning strategies in an EFL setting in the Indonesian context. The data in this study were collected by administering a questionnaire of language learning strategies and a test of language proficiency. With the Cronbach’s alpha of the measurement at .92 and the alphas of the skill–based strategies at .78, .75, .79 and .77 for strategies for listening, speaking, reading and writing respectively, the criteria on reliability of internal consistency for the 80 items of the measurement were very high so that the strategies were justified to be grouped into a scale. The empirical data in this study shows that different language skills were significantly correlated with the use of different learning strategies. The skill-based categories of language learning strategies introduced in this study, which cover cognitive, metacognitive and social strategies in each category, can be used to portray learners’ use of language learning strategies when learners learn the four language skills of English as a foreign language in Indonesian context. The findings suggest that language teachers need to condition the process of teaching and learning in order for their students to use effective learning strategies according to the language skills that leaners are learning.</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasma Suwanarak

<p>This research aims to understand language learning strategies of Thai adult learners and factors affecting their strategy use. The participants are forty officers of General Service Division of the Council of State of Thailand, attending an English training course for developing their work potential. The data were collected through the questionnaire adapted from the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). To further explore personal views about their experience in learning strategies and factors influential on their strategy use, fifteen participants were selected for individual interviews. Findings revealed that the learners reported an overall preference for the use of social strategies. Analysis of the qualitative data confirmed most of the SILL responses and revealed additional strategies and factors affecting the strategy use. Individual learners chose strategies suitable for the achievement of their goals and take account of their affective needs and work context. Overall, this study has emphasized the necessity of having qualitative data which can enrich and illuminate the findings of quantitative data and could be valuable resources for considering appropriate ways in which English proficiency of Thai adult learners could be developed. Implications are drawn regarding the language learning strategies of adult learners and their strategy use as professional engagement as well as recommendations for future research.<strong></strong></p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 67-82
Author(s):  
Rizka Nurul Atika

Many studies have investigated isolated dimensions of learning styles (e.g. field independence/dependence) for their role in foreign language learning, but relatively few studies have used a comprehensive learning styles instrument to determine predictors of language learning strategies used by students. Hence, employing the descriptive and correlational method, this study aimed to identify students’ minor, major, and negligible learning styles, students’ usage of language learning strategies, the difference in the learning styles and language learning strategies based on gender, and the relationships among those three variables. A total of 30 students enrolling in the first year of senior high school were given two kinds of questionnaire, the Indonesian version of PLSQ and SILL. The result revealed gender differences only occurs in compensation strategy, in favor of female students. Furthermore, the correlational study revealed significant relationships between visual style and cognitive and metacognitive strategies; between auditory style and cognitive and compensation strategies. Moreover, social strategies are correlated with tactile, group, and individual styles. These findings are useful for both teacher and student to employ strategies suitable with their learning styles.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Lee Pui Weng ◽  
Melor Md Yunus ◽  
Mohamed Amin Bin Embi

Research on language learning strategies in Malaysia has been carried out extensively since mid 1990s. However, these studies have not covered the language learning strategies among native pupils in suburban primary school in Mukah, Sarawak. The main objective of the study was to identify the language learning strategies used by English as Second Language (ESL) learners. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire with 20 outstanding Year 5 ESL Iban learners in one of the suburban schools in Mukah, Sarawak. The instrument used in this study include a Language Strategy Use Questionnaire adapted from Language Strategy Use Inventory by Cohen, Oxford and Chi (2002). The adapted version of Language Strategy Use Questionnaire consists of 60 statements concerning the four major English language skills, namely listening, speaking and reading as well as acquisition of vocabulary and grammar. Data was analyzed through mean, frequency, percentage and standard deviation. The findings revealed that these learners were moderate users of listening, reading, writing, grammar and vocabulary strategies and low users of speaking strategies. There were variations in responses with regard to the use of language learning strategies among primary school learners. The pedagogical implications of the findings are also discussed. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Eugenia Guapacha Chamorro ◽  
Luis Humberto Benavidez Paz

This paper reports an action-research study on language learning strategies in tertiary education at a Colombian university. The study aimed at improving the English language performance and language learning strategies use of 33 first-year pre-service language teachers by combining elements from two models: the cognitive academic language learning approach and task-based language teaching. Data were gathered through surveys, a focus group, students’ and teachers’ journals, language tests, and documentary analysis. Results evidenced that the students improved in speaking, writing, grammar, vocabulary and in their language learning strategies repertoire. As a conclusion, explicit strategy instruction in the proposed model resulted in a proper combination to improve learners’ language learning strategies and performance. 


Author(s):  
Muhammad Iksan ◽  
Dirham Dirham

The aims of this research were: (1) to investigate the students’ motivations, (2) to investigate the language learning strategies (LLSs) that are used by the students, (3) to investigate the level of students’ LLSs usage, and (4) to investigate the influence of the students’ motivations and the level of students’ LLSs usage towards their English competence. This research gave descriptions about the students’ motivations, LLSs that are used by the students, and the level of students’ LLSs usage. The sample of this research was 111 students that were taken from three classes of the first year students from three study programs, i.e. Ilmu Ekonomi, Manajemen, and Akuntansi. This research revealed that the students were categorized into high motivated to learn English where 70 students (63%) had high motivation, 25 students (23%) had very high motivation, 13 students (12%) had medium motivation, and 3 students (3%) had low motivation. This research also found that the students were dominantly used metacognitive strategies (44%), followed by compensation strategies (18%), affective strategies (14%), social strategies (10%), cognitive strategies (8%), and the least used strategies were memory strategies (6%). For the level of the students’ language learning strategies usage, the researcher found that the students level were categorized into medium, where 78 students (70%) mediumly used the LLSs, 30 students (27%) highly used the LLSs, 2 students (2%) lowly used the LLSs, and 1 student (1%) very highly used the LLSs.


2019 ◽  
pp. 136216881987615
Author(s):  
Mirosław Pawlak

Major advances have been made in research on language learning strategies (LLS) since it was triggered by good language learner studies (e.g. Rubin, 1975). Numerous accounts of strategy use have been compiled, key classifications have been proposed, some progress has been made towards furthering our understanding of the complex relationship between LLS use and attainment, an array of factors impacting strategy use has been investigated, some evidence has been gathered for the beneficial role of strategies-based instruction, and new data collection tools have been developed (see e.g. Cohen, 2011; Cohen & Griffiths, 2015; Cohen & Macaro, 2007; Griffiths, 2018, 2019; Griffiths & Oxford, 2014; Oxford, 2017; Oxford & Amerstorfer, 2018; Pawlak, 2011; Pawlak & Oxford, 2018). While acute problems related to the definition of LLS, their characteristics, their separation from regular learning activities or their actual utility have surely not disappeared, some promising solutions have been proposed (Griffiths, 2018; Oxford, 2017) and calls to abandon the concept have been countered (Dörnyei, 2005). This said, a question arises as to what can be done to move the field forward. Following a brief overview of existing research, the article tackles this issue with respect to the following areas: (1) foci of future research, (2) methodological choices, and (3) consideration of how research findings can inform pedagogy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 477-478 ◽  
pp. 1541-1544
Author(s):  
Yong Hong Sun ◽  
Xiao Wei Jiang ◽  
Ling Zheng ◽  
Xiang Dong Xu

This research aims at investigating language learning strategies of students of English as a foreign language in China. Using the questionnaire SILL as an instrument, qualitative and quantitative research methods are used. 33 valid questionnaires of university students of Engineering Design Specialty have been collected. The data have been analyzed using SPSS Version 20. The results show that the university students of Engineering Design Specialty sometimes use the English learning strategies at medium level. They sometimes use Compensation strategies, Cognitive strategies, Metacognitive strategies, Affective strategies and Social strategies, and they generally do not use Memory strategies.


Author(s):  
Diani Nurhajati ◽  
Alfianti Azizah

Most of the students get difficulties when they want to communicate to others. It is caused many factors including the limited students’ vocabularies, pronunciation, the idea that they are delivered, and knowledge of grammar. To increase the students’ speaking ability, they usually apply certain strategies in learning. This research aims to investigate what strategies and how they are applied to solve the difficulties in speaking and increasing the ability of speaking.The subject of research is a student in second grade of SMK Pelita Nusantara Kediri. She is the best student of second grade and she always gets the best ranking. The writer did some observations and interview to get the data. There are two kinds of learning strategies that applied; they are direct strategies and indirect strategies. Direct strategies are language learning strategies that directly involve the target language, and indirect strategies are language learning strategies that support and manage language learning without directly involving the target language. Direct strategies that are applied are memory strategies that reflect very simple principles such as arranging things in order, making association, and reviewing, cognitive strategies that most important strategies are practicing, and compensation strategies which intended to make up for an adequate repertoire of grammar and, especially, of vocabularies. In indirect strategies that are applied are metacognitive strategies which provide a way for learners to coordinate their own learning process, affective strategies that help to regulate emotions, motivations, and attitudes, and social strategies that can help all learners increase their ability to empathize by developing culture understanding and becoming aware of others’ thoughts and feelings.It can be found that the strategies mostly  used were cognitive strategies and social strategies. Cognitive strategy used was practicing by repeating, recognizing and using formula and patterns, and practicing naturalistically. Social strategies used were asking questions and cooperating with others.


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