scholarly journals Effects of Proficiency and Motivation on the Choices of Language Learning Strategies

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 179
Author(s):  
Attapol Khamkhien

The objectives of this investigation were twofold: 1) to identify language learning strategies commonly used by Thai EFL learners, and 2) to determine the roles of three variables contributing to their strategy use: language proficiency and motivation. A set of questionnaires consisting of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was given to 1,405 Thai university students studying English. The analysis revealed that, in general, memory strategies were found to be the most common learning strategies, whereas social strategies were the least common. Motivation was reported to be the most significant variables affecting their choices of language learning strategies. The analysis revealed certain elucidating facts that can be utilized in future planning of English language teaching to improve the English performance of Thai learners.

Vocabulary learning is one of the problems in language learning skills. Tackling such problems is to provide useful and effective strategies for enhancing students’ VLSs. Therefore, this study aims to survey vocabulary learning strategies (VLSs) utilized among English as a Foreign Language learners (EFL) in Baghlan University of Afghanistan, and to study the high and least frequently used VLSs that contributes to the learners’ vocabulary knowledge. This study utilizes a descriptive quantitative research method with 67 EFL learners who participated in the survey questionnaire adopted from Oxford (1990) taxonomy of VLS from different faculties of Baghlan University. The findings indicated that EFL learners preferably utilize VLSs at a medium level, and the highly used vocabulary learning strategies are the social strategies through which they ask the native speakers, teachers, and classmates for the meanings of new words in English language conversation. Determination, cognitive, and memory strategies are respectively followed by the learners. Whereas, metacognitive strategies are the least used strategies among EFL learners, the reason is that they only focus on the materials related to examination; explore anything about the new words for learning, and rarely think of their improvement in vocabulary learning.


Author(s):  
Ali Al-Issa ◽  
Ali Al-Bulushi ◽  
Rima Al-Zadjali

As a high-stakes international language proficiency benchmark, the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requires different and special Language Learning Strategies (LLS), which pose numerous challenges to its takers. Some Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) majoring in English Language Teaching (ELT), have therefore, failed to achieve an overall score of Band 6 on the IELTS as a language proficiency requirement and a condition mandated by the Ministry of Education for selecting English language teachers among. This qualitatively driven hermeneutic phenomenology study, hence, discusses this issue from an ideological perspective. The study triangulates data from semi-structured interviews made with six fourth-year ELT Student Teachers (STs) at SQU and the pertinent literature. The critical discussion revealed various ideologies about the powerful impact of the IELTS on the STs’ English language development. The findings have important implications for the practices of the teachers in the Omani ELT school system and elsewhere.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 59
Author(s):  
Qusay Mahdi Mutar

To learn English language, there are some language-learning strategies, which learners need to be familiar with. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the language learning strategies used among Iraqi sixth-grade preparatory students, and how could gender and proficiency level effect on using language-learning strategies. To analyze the collected data, SPSS software version 20 included Independent sample T-Test Besides, one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD have been used. A total of 210 sixth-grade preparatory students were chosen randomly from four-different secondary schools for the academic year 2016-2017 at al-Karkh side of Baghdad city. The study sample consisted of (105 females and 105 males). The findings revealed that EFL learners have shown medium use of language learning strategies, besides, no statistically significant differences between male and female students in the frequency of using LLSs. the findings also showed Cognitive and memory strategies were the most frequent used categories comparing to the compensation strategies that scored the least frequent category. As for language proficiency, the result showed that students with high proficiency used all six categories of learning strategies more than medium and low-proficiency students.


Author(s):  
Wagdi Rashad Ali Bin-Hady ◽  
Abdu Al-kadi ◽  
Ali Abbas Falah Alzubi ◽  
Hassan Saleh Mahdi

This chapter reports on the Yemeni and Saudi EFL learners' use of language learning strategies (LLSs) in technology-mediated language learning contexts. The study examines whether nationality and gender play a significant role in using LLSs on electronic platforms. The study adopted a correlative design in which 100 Yemeni and Saudi university students were recruited to respond to an online close-ended questionnaire. Drawing on Oxford's classification of learning strategies, the findings of this study showed that metacognitive and cognitive strategies were used more frequently compared to the other LLSs. Moreover, the findings of t-test showed a significant difference in the use of LLSs attributed to nationality in favor of the Saudi learners and no significant difference in the choice of LLSs attributed to gender. The study provided some suggestions for EFL learners to benefit from technology in their English language learning.


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.


2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tran Quoc Thao ◽  
Nguyen Chau Hoang Long

Self-regulation of learning plays a vital role in improving second/foreign language learning as it can encourage the development of autonomous learners. It is seen that, nevertheless, ESL/EFL learners in different contexts are not fully aware of the importance of self-regulated language learning (SRLL) strategies in their English language learning. The present study, therefore, aims at investigating the use of SRLL strategies by English-majored students at a university in Bac Lieu province, Vietnam. This study involved 100 English-majored freshmen in answering a closed-ended questionnaire. The results showed that students sometimes used SRLL strategies, and they used SRLL strategies for keeping and monitoring records and seeking social assistance more often than for other purposes. The findings imply that students lacked knowledge of how to use SRLL strategies and get engaged in using SRLL strategies. This study recommends that students’ awareness of SRLL strategies should be seriously taken into account in order to facilitate their learner autonomy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Mohammed Mahib UR Rahman

Language learning strategies (LLS) play a significant part in learning a second or foreign language. These strategies support and simplify the process of language learning for students. Hence, this study endeavors to investigate LLS applied by students at the Department of English Language and Translation, Qassim University in learning English language as a foreign language. The present study applied “Strategy Inventory for Language Learning” (SILL), which was established by Oxford (1990) to collect data. 30 students from level four took part voluntarily, and later data was analyzed to provide means, distribution of frequencies, standard deviation, percentages, and total scores of data set. The study discloses that EFL students were accustomed to the whole six LLS groups. Moreover, the study also reveals that some students used more LLS than other students, although the difference was significant across all students. These LLS groups are; “compensation, social strategies, affective, cognitive, metacognitive, and memory with a medium level of frequency use for over-all strategies (M = 3.49)”. The most repeatedly applied strategies by students of level four from these six strategies are as follows from the top “metacognitive, compensation, social, memory, cognitive, and affective strategies”. The findings would help teachers and students to be aware of LLS while in teaching and learning English as a foreign language.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 655
Author(s):  
Noor Rachmawaty ◽  
M. Basri Wello ◽  
Mansur Akil ◽  
Syarifuddin Dollah

Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is believed as an additional type to the existing forms of intelligence (IQ, EQ). It also explains why some individuals are more effective than others in culturally diverse situations. Studies have documented how successful language learners seem to use wider variety of language learning strategies than unsuccessful learners. Having these two important aspects in relation to the successfulness of acquiring foreign language thus this study is intended to explore the relationship of Cultural Intelligence, Language Learning Strategy and English Language proficiency. The study involved 87 second-year students of English Department, Mulawarman University. Data were gathered using The Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS), The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) and TOEFL. Descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 20 were used in the process of data analysis. The result reveals that CQ level of the students is medium (M=51.984) with metacognitive and motivational as dominant factors for both male and female students. The data shows that there is a significant relationship between CQ and LLS (F= 13.082, p= 0.001). This result confirms the previous studies that culture influences the frequency and type of LLS use. As for strategy categories, metacognitive is the most frequently used strategy (M=3.704) and affective is the least frequently used (M=3.080). The students’ proficiency level is ranging from elementary (25.29%) to advanced (8.05%). The dominant level is low intermediate. The data recorded that there is no correlation among cultural intelligence, language learning strategies and English language proficiency (F=1.208, p= 0.304).


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-36
Author(s):  
Nur Afni Syamaun ◽  
Usman Kasim ◽  
Asnawi Muslem

Learning strategies are ways employed by learners to enhance their learning. An active use of language learning strategies helps learners in control of their own learning by developing language skills, increasing confidence, and motivation in learning process. This study aims to investigate the dominant language learning strategies used by science students. It focused on listening, speaking, reading, and writing strategies that was studied using descriptive qualitative method. The subjects of this study were 56 eleventh-grade science students from the senior high boarding school of Darul Ikhsan. The questionnaire developed by Rubin and Thompson (1994) was distributed and the data was analyzed by looking at the highest frequency of students’ choice. The results indicated that the students employed cognitive strategies, metacognitive strategies, affective strategies, compensation strategies, and social strategies. However, the students used dominantly cognitive learning strategies across the four language skills. The findings recommended that students should be trained to use learning strategies properly. In addition, English teachers should consider the learners’ strategies by asking their intentions and use appropriate teaching methods.


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