Use of language learning strategies by Indian learners of Spanish as a foreign language

Abstract

Learning a foreign language in a non-native context is both a challenging and difficult task. This learning encompasses many processes and follows different trajectories. One of the offshoots of these processes is the strategies used by the learners in their learning route. During the last forty-five years, the research in the learning strategies field has grown many folds and has contributed to our understanding of how learners use these tools in their learning path. This article examines some of the common language learning strategies (LLS) employed by the students while learning Spanish as a foreign language (SFL) at two major Central Universities of India. The present study is carried out by using a mixed-method under the descriptive framework in which the common learning strategies have been analyzed and discussed. In terms of the higher proficient group, the result shows no statistically significant differences in the use of LLS, on the contrary, concerning the year of study, there were statistically significant differences in the use of LLS among the three groups. Finally, regarding the effectiveness of the use of LLS among the participants, the results underlined a need for explicit or implicit strategic training.