The Relationship between EFL Learners’ Use of Language Learning Strategies and Self-Perceived Language Proficiency

khabiri, mona; azaminejad, mahdieh

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	The Relationship between EFL Learners’ Use of Language Learning Strategies and Self-Perceived Language Proficiency
Article 6, Volume 2, Issue 5, Summer and Autumn 2009, Page 130-159 PDF (206.03 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
Authors
mona khabiri^* ; mahdieh azaminejad
Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate whether there was a relationship between EFL learners’ use of language learning strategies and their self-perceived language proficiency at the two levels of intermediate and advanced. A total of 67 subjects (39 intermediate-level and 28 advanced) were selected to participate in this study based on their scores on a piloted language proficiency test. They were asked to respond to two questionnaires: one assessing their self-perceived language proficiency and the other the strategy inventory of language learning. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between the two variables among advanced-level subjects while no such relationship existed among intermediates. Thence, as learners reach higher stages of language proficiency, they become more capable of assessing their language abilities and also use their learning strategies more often. Further analysis also revealed that subjects did not change their attitude in using strategies as they reached higher stages of proficiency except for memory and social strategies. Finally, the results showed that the most frequently used set of strategies among both intermediate and advanced learners were cognitive while the least were affective.
Keywords
Language Learning Strategies; language proficiency; self-assessment; Self-Perceived Proficiency


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