Exploring Language Learning Strategies in Enhancing Writing Skills Employed by Secondary School Successful Learners

Abstract

Language learners require different strategies in language learning including in specific skills that they want to be good at. However, acquiring a language skill could pose some major challenges to some learners. In relation to that, this study aims to identify the most and least popular language learning strategies used in writing by secondary school successful learners. Purposive sampling was used in selecting 40 high English proficient students as the respondents from an urban secondary school in Sarawak. The Young Learners’ Language Strategy Use Survey by Cohen and Oxford (1990) was adopted which was further analysed by using a descriptive analysis method. It was found out that 31 participants preferred reading what they wrote to see if it is good enough as the most popular language learning strategy in writing. Meanwhile, the least popular language learning strategy selected by the participants is using words from their own language but adding new endings to those words. With advancement of technology used specifically for education, it is recommended that schools to provide electronic tools or gadgets to help students make their skill learnt all the way into their writing activities. It is hoped that this study will provide some meaningful insights to the language learning strategies used among successful learners to enhance their writing skills especially for the betterment of English language teaching and learning.