Language Learner Strategies for Building EFL Learners’ Autonomy

• Main Authors: Hooshang Khoshsima, Forouzan Rezaeian Tiyar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lasting Impressions Press 2015-11-01
• Series: International Journal of English Language and Translation Studies
• Subjects: language teaching and learning; language learner strategies; EFL learners; foreign language learning; learners’ autonomy
• Online Access: http://eltsjournal.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/6-3-4-15.pdf

The critical discussions and matters in enhancing students’ learning performance, knowledge, and language proficiency have received a remarkable degree of attention in educational contexts. This study was undertaken to encourage learners to build the required competence in the foreign language by utilizing learning strategies so that they could become autonomous learners. Language learners' learning difficulties while learning a foreign language were identified in this study. With regard to problems which language learners faced in learning a foreign language, the teachers are able to recognize and to utilize appropriate language learning strategies in order to develop autonomy in learners who conceptualize and use those strategies in the foreign language. The research design adopted for the present study was survey method. The data for the study were collected with the use of a questionnaire. This questionnaire was administered to a total of 60 EFL learners who were selected from a university in Iran. It was used to assess learners’ awareness and perceived use of strategies and to provide data on their best utilized strategies. Results have been driven through statistical analysis. The analyzed data reveal the students’ styles and assist teachers to take part in shifting the strategies and heighten language learners' autonomy. The findings support the claim that knowing and making language learners aware of the most appropriate strategy would assist learners to improve their autonomy and to enhance their learning.