12 - APPLICATIONS OF LEARNING STRATEGIES BY STUDENTS LEARNING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

Abstract

This chapter discusses the applications of learning strategies by students learning English as a second language (ESL). It describes two studies designed to examine the usefulness of learning strategies for second language learners. The first study was a descriptive analysis of strategies used by students learningESL and the second was an experimental study in which ESL students were trained to use learning strategies on different academic language tasks for vocabulary, listening, and speaking. The first investigation involved the design and implementation of a descriptive study undertaken in a public school setting. The basic intent of this study was (1) to determine the types and range of strategies used by high school students for language learning tasks found typically in ESL classrooms and in the daily experiences of these students and (2) to determine if strategy use interacts with the type of language task or activity and the level of English proficiency of the students. The purpose of the training study was to evaluate the effectiveness of learning strategies training among intermediate level ESL students for vocabulary learning, listening comprehension, and academic speaking tasks.