Factors Affecting Language Learning Strategies used by a Greek Female Learner of English

Authors

  • Yi Du North China Electric Power University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v9i8.1959

Keywords:

learning strategies, motivation, gender, personality.

Abstract

Not much research has examined variables influencing learning strategies used by study-abroad ESL learners. This paper reports on an investigation of English learning strategies used by a Greek female university student based in the UK. It aims to explore what strategies she used and how her choice of strategies was affected by other individual difference variables. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews, and a combination of both inductive and deductive approach was employed in the qualitative analysis to generate interpretations. The findings showed a clear relationship between the learner’s strategy use and three factors: motivation, gender and personality. Her strategy use varied according to the evolution of her learning motivation over time, and her preference of using social strategies seemed to be closely tied to integrative motivation. Gender was a crucial factor as the female learner used more social strategies as compared to a male student and she only used those strategies suiting her gender role. The learner was also found to choose strategies corresponding with her extroverted personality. Pedagogical implications of these findings are drawn and presented to enhance the effectiveness of her English language learning.

References

Brown, J. D., Robson, G. and Rosenkjar, P. (1996) Personality, motivation, anxiety, strategies and language proficiency of Japanese students. University of Hawaii Working Papers in ESL, 15(1), 33-72.

Chamot, A. U. (1987) The learning strategies of EFL students. In Wenden, A. and Rubin, J. (eds.) Learner strategies in language learning. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Chang, C. H. and Liu, H. J. (2013) Language learning strategy and language learning motivation of Taiwanese EFL university students. Electronic Journal of Foreign Language Teaching, 10(2),196-209.

Cohen, A. D. (2014) Strategies in learning and using a second language (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge.

Cohen, A. D. and Aphek, E. (1981) Easifying second language learning. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 3(2), 221-235.

Cook, V. (2008) Second language learning and language teaching (4th ed.). London: Hodder Arnold.

Ehrman, M. and Oxford, R. L. (1989) Effects of sex differences, career choice, and psychological type on adult language learning strategies. The Modern Language Journal,73(1), 1-13.

Ehrman, M. and Oxford, R. L. (1990) Adult language learning styles and strategies in an intensive training setting. The modern language journal, 74(3), 311-327.

Ellis, R. (1994) The study of second language acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Gardner, R. C. (2010) Motivation and second language acquisition: the socio-educational model. Germany: Peter Lang.

Griffiths, C. (2003) Patterns of language learning strategy use. System, 31, 367-383.

Gu, P. (2002) Gender, academic major, and vocabulary learning strategies of Chinese

EFL learners. RELC Journal, 33(1), 35-54.

Gu, P. (2008) Listening strategies of upper primary school pupils in Singapore. Paper presented at the conference of the International Association for Applied Linguistics. Essen: Germany.

Hong-Nam, K. and Leavell, A. G. (2006) Language learning strategy use of ESL students in an intensive English learning context. System, 34, 399-415.

Horwitz, E. K. (2008) Why student beliefs about language learning matter : Issues in the development and implementation of the beliefs about language learning inventory. In H. J. Siskin (Ed.) From thought to action: exploring beliefs and outcomes in the foreign language program. USA: Thomson Heinle.

Jung, C. G. (1971) Psychological types. London: Routledge.

Lan, R. (2008) Language learning strategies of young Taiwanese learners of EFL. Paper presented at the conference of the International Association for Applied Linguistics. Essen: Germany.

Liyanage, I. J. B. (2004) An exploration of language learning strategies and learner variables of Sri Lankan learners of English as a second language with special reference to their personality types. [online]. Available from

http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/uploads/approved/adt-QGU20040716.112300/public/02Main.pdf [20 Dec.2005]

Merriam, S. B. (2009) Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Mills, A. J., Eurepos, G. and Wiebe, E. (2010) Encyclopedia of case study research. (Vol. 1). USA: Sage.

Mochizuki, A. (1999) Language learning strategies used by Japanese university students. RELC Journal, 30(2): 101-113.

Naiman, N., Frohlich, M., Stern, H. H. and Todesco, A. (1996) The good language learner. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters.

O’ Malley, J. M., and Chamot, A. U. (1990) Learning strategies in second language acquisition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Oxford, R. L. (1986) Development and psychometric testing of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL). ARI Technical Report 728. Alexandria, VA: Army Research Institute. Appendices as ARI Research Note 86-92.

Oxford, R. L. (1990) Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. New York: Newbury House.

Oxford, R. L. (2011) Strategies for learning a second or foreign language. Language Teaching, 44(2), 167-180.

Oxford, R. L. (2017) Teaching and researching language learning strategies: Self-regulation in context. 2nd edition. New York: Routledge.

Park, G. P. (1995) Language learning strategies and beliefs about language learning of university students learning English in Korea. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Texas at Austin.

Peer, W. V., Hakemulder, J., and Hakemulder, F. (2012) Scientific methods for the humanities. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Seidman, I. (2013) Interviewing as qualitative research: A guide for researchers in education and the social sciences (4th ed.). New York: Teachers College, Columbia University.

Schmidt, R. and Watanabe, Y. (2002) Motivation, strategy use, and pedagogical preferences in foreign language learning. In Dornyei and Schmidt (eds.) Motivation and second language acquisition. (2nd ed.) USA: University of Hawaii Press.

Spradley, J. P. (1979) The ethnographic interview. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Stern, H. H. (1983) Fundamental concepts of language teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Stern, H. H. (1975) What can we learn from the good language learner? Canadian Modern Language Review, 31, 304-318.

Wakamoto, N. (2009) Extroversion/introversion in foreign language learning: Interactions with learner strategy use. Germany: Peter Lang.

Wharton, G. (2000) Language learning strategy use of bilingual language learner in Singapore. Language learning, 50(2), 203-243.

Downloads

Published

2020-08-30

Issue

Section

Article

Similar Articles

21-30 of 208

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.