AN INVESTIGATION INTO ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY THE FIRST YEAR ENGLISH MAJOR STUDENTS AT SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES, THAI NGUYEN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The study investigates language learning strategies (LLSs) employed by first year English major students at School of Foreign Languages (SFL), Thai Nguyen University (TNU) and examines differences in the use of LLSs among students with different language learning experiences measured by years of learning English. Two data collection instruments used are a questionnaire adapted from the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) (Oxford, 1990) and an interview. The study was conducted with the participation of 100 first year English major students at SFL, TNU. The results of the study indicate that all the LLSs were used by the 100 participants. In addition, there were a number of variations in the employment of LLSs among students with different language learning experiences. It was found that the more experienced students used LLSs much more frequently than the less experienced ones.