Grammar Learning Methods and Grammar Learning Strategies: Are They Related?

Abstract

This study responds to numerous calls for research on Grammar Learning Strategies (GLS), an area that has been neglected for years. The research sheds light on the relationship between grammar learning or instructional approaches and students' utilization of GLS assigned to develop explicit and implicit knowledge of grammar. Two sub-categories of Pawlak's (2018) Grammar Learning Strategy Inventory (GLSI) were employed to assess GLS use in these two sub-categories by students who prefer explicit grammar learning and those who prefer implicit grammar learning. A Pearson correlation coefficient test was conducted to examine this relationship. The study revealed a moderate use of GLS for developing explicit and implicit grammar knowledge. Furthermore, it found an insignificant, fragile, and negative correlation between grammar learning or instructional approaches and GLS used to develop explicit knowledge of grammar. Similarly, an insignificant, very weak, and negative correlation was reported between grammar learning or instructional approaches, and GLS used to develop implicit knowledge of grammar. The study discusses factors influencing language learning and GLS use and highlights the limitations.