scholarly journals Understanding Cognitive Language Learning Strategies

Author(s):  
Sergio Di Carlo

Over time, definitions and taxonomies of language learning strategies have been critically examined. This article defines and classifies cognitive language learning strategies on a more grounded basis. Language learning is a macro-process for which the general hypotheses of information processing are valid. Cognitive strategies are represented by the pillars underlying the encoding, storage and retrieval of information. In order to understand the processes taking place on these three dimensions, a functional model was elaborated from multiple theoretical contributions and previous models: the Smart Processing Model. This model operates with linguistic inputs as well as with any other kind of information. It helps to illustrate the stages, relations, modules and processes that occur during the flow of information. This theoretical advance is a core element to classify cognitive strategies. Contributions from cognitive neuroscience have also been considered to establish the proposed classification which consists of five categories. Each of these categories has a different predominant function: classification, preparation, association, elaboration and transfer-practice. This better founded taxonomy opens the doors to potential studies that would allow a better understanding of the interdisciplinary complexity of language learning. Pedagogical and methodological implications are also discussed.Keywords: cognitive processes, cognitive neuroscience, information processing, second and foreign language acquisition, Smart Processing Model

Author(s):  
Ervin Kovacevic

This study examines the hypothesis that language learning strategies (LLS) partly account for the level of L2 proficiency (i.e. the level of L2 lexical complexity produced in the written output of English language learners). To test the hypothesis, 152 English-proficient freshman students of Bosnian L1 linguistic background were surveyed utilizing the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) designed by Rebecca Oxford (1990). Their lexical output was collected through short essays that were written during formal exams held in English for Academic Purposes undergraduate courses at the International University of Sarajevo. The written samples were converted to an electronic format and analyzed with the Web-based Lexical Complexity Analyzer (Lu, 2012; Ai & Lu, 2010). Relationships between six SILL subscales and twenty-five lexical complexity (LC) measures were assessed through applying the principles of correlational design. The results confirmed the hypothesis. Statistically significant correlations were found between memory strategies and three LC measures, cognitive strategies and twenty LC measures, compensation strategies and nine LC measures, and affective strategies and three LC measures. It is concluded that the relationship between LLS and LC levels is mostly conditioned by LLS types.


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.


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.


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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mongkol Charoento

This study aimed to investigate what language learning strategies were frequently used by English as a foreign language undergraduates at a public university in Bangkok, Thailand and the significant differences in the use of language learning strategies based on individual differences, including gender and self-rated English proficiency. The research was conducted with 392 Thai undergraduates through administering a quantitative method. Instruments for the study included a demographic questionnaire and Oxford’s Strategy Inventory for Language Learning. The findings revealed that research participants reported a low-to-medium use of language learning strategy. The strategies most used by learners were compensation strategies while the least were cognitive strategies. Regarding gender differences, female participants used the all six strategy categories more than did the male counterparts. The results also demonstrated that participants with different English proficiency employed learning strategies at different levels with a statistical significance at .05 in almost six strategies, except affective strategies. Research participants who were good at English most used metacognitive while social strategies were most used by participants with less English proficiency.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Sidrah Afriani Rachman

The purpose of this study is to find out the students’ strategies in learning English. This research is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach and was conducted at the Faculty of Education UNM Campus VI Watampone in the academic year 2019/2020. The researcher involved 25 first semester PGSD students with TOEFL prediction score ≥ 400 as subjects in this study. To measure the use of students' English learning strategies, researchers used the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning - SILL version 7.0 designed by Oxford. The results of this study reveal that the language learning strategies that are often used by the students are memory strategies and cognitive strategies with an average of 3.74 and 3.71 that fall into the high category. Compensation strategies, metacognitive strategies, affective strategies and social strategies are in the medium category that is sometimes used.


2022 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-269
Author(s):  
Nurul Ain Othman ◽  
Mimi Nahariah Azwani Mohamed ◽  
Nor Fadhilah Ahmad Powzi ◽  
Suzilla Jamari

The aim of this paper is to investigate the language learning strategies employed by 22 technical university undergraduates in Malaysia, particularly in oral presentation skills. The study employed focus group interviews and the data gathered were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically based on O'Malley and Chamot's (1990) taxonomy. The findings showed that the participants used more metacognitive and cognitive strategies compared to the social and affective strategies. The study highlights that students' preferred language learning strategies may not always be effective. Hence, educators have to identify effective language learning strategies for their students and scaffold students' learning into using appropriate strategies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. 819-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Naci Kayaoğlu

Despite the fact that personality factors and learning strategies are of great importance in success with language learning, the link between extroversion and introversion and language-learning strategies has received little attention from researchers. Therefore, I investigated whether or not there is any correlation between these personality traits and language-learning strategies. Participants in the study were 106 extroverted and 94 introverted students. The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Strategy Inventory for Second Language Learning (SILL) were employed. The findings indicated that, with the exception of communicative strategies, introverted learners used a greater range of metacognitive and cognitive strategies than did extroverted learners.


2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-72
Author(s):  
Taufik Hidayah

          The present study aims at investigating the patterns of language learning strategy use employed by the sixth semester students of English language education program at the University of Muhammadiyah Jember. To achieve this objective, Oxford’s Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) (1990) along with a background questionnaire (a modified version of Oxford’s background questionnaire) were administered to the participants. The findings indicate that the research participants use language learning strategies at a high rate (more than 60%), but with differences in type and frequency of the individual learning strategies. The students reported a high frequent use of metacognitive and cognitive strategies. Other types of language learning strategies are also used by the students, although the frequency is lower than the previous two strategies. Based on the findings of the present study, some pedagogical implication were suggested to encourage students to reflect on their own strengths  and weaknesses in skills and content courses  and self-regulate learning so as to make progress with teachers’ assistance. Keywords:  language learning strategies  (LLS);  Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL);  memory strategies; cognitive strategies; metacognitive strategies; socio-affective strategies; compensation strategies.  


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