Preferred Language Learning Strategies for Speaking Skills among Female Secondary Students

Abstract

Speaking skills play a vital role in communication as it is a tool for acquiring English language elements, including other language skills. However, language learning strategies are crucial for students' speaking skills, especially the young ones. Gender has proven to have a significant influence on the language learning approaches utilized. Female students use more strategies than male students; they also use different strategies and have distinct language learning preferences. Hence, this study aims to identify Language Learning Strategies employed by female students of a convent school in Selangor to improve their speaking skills and to identify their preferred language strategies for speaking skills. This study used a questionnaire, and data were analysed using frequency and percentages. The findings showed that female students preferred cognitive and social strategies to enhance their speaking skills. This study implies that further research on the preferred learning strategies should also include the teacher's perception of the efficient learning strategies that significantly impact the student's learning.