Assessing Students’ Use of Language Learning Strategies and Their Impact on Study Year

Abstract

Language learning strategies become the main factor that determines how and how well students learn a second or foreign language. They are essential tools for enabling students to learn successfully in acquiring the desired knowledge and skills. However, students' proficiency and achievement in English language at different educational levels are not as expected from them. Therefore, this study attempted to assess the language learning strategies which were used by English major students of Addis Ababa University. The study employed mixed approach. The type of research method was descriptive survey. The total numbers of participants were 37 English major students of Addis Ababa University. The data were collected through questionnaire and interview. SPSS version 24 software was utilized to mainly analyze the quantitative part. For the qualitative part, Open code software was used. The result indicated that students were medium user of language learning strategies. The order of strategy use from the most used to the least used was as: metacognitive, social, affective, compensation, cognitive and memory respectively. All strategy type did not indicate Low range use. Statistically a significance difference was reported between second year (M=3.62, SD=0.44) and third year students' score (M=3.05, SD=0.75) in using strategies in general, t (30)=2.552, p=0.016. Thus, Study year, had an impact on students' use of strategy in the study. So as to increase strategies use, language learners are recommended to become familiar with language learning strategies. Finally, factors such as, motivation, proficiency level and learning style need to be further investigated.