Language Learning Strategy Usage among BS English Students at University of Sindh Jamshoro: A Quantitative Analysis of Strategy Preference and Education Level of ESL Learners

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine which language learning strategies are most frequently employed by ESL students enrolled in BS English program at university of Sindh Jamshoro as well as to investigate the differences in preferred strategies between students in different academic years. Lack of awareness and application of effective language learning strategies causes many students to struggle in attaining desired proficiency levels in English. Thus, in last decades second language acquisition (SLA) research has placed a great deal of emphasis on language learning strategies. Using the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) data were gathered from 100 undergraduate ESL students and 80 valid responses were examined through SPSS 20. The results show that metacognitive, compensatory and cognitive strategies are commonly employed by students. It was found that junior students favored cognitive strategies while senior students used metacognitive strategies more frequently. Future studies may carry out and assess focused educational interventions that take proficiency and demographic variables into account in order to improve the use of efficient language learning techniques.