LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES EMPLOYED BY PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Research on language learning strategies in Malaysia has been carried out extensively since mid 1990s. These studies address learning strategies among secondary and under graduate students in Malaysia. These studies have not covered the language learning strategies among primary school students. The main objective of the study was to identify the language learning strategies used by language learners in primary schools. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire with 60 students from two classes of primary 6. The instruments used in this study include a background information questionnaire and a bilingual Language Strategy Use Questionnaire adapted from Language Strategy Use Inventory by Cohen, Oxford and Chi (2002). The adapted version of Language Strategy Use Questionnaire consists of 40 bilingual statements concerning the four major English language skills, namely listening, speaking, reading and writing. Data was analyzed through mean, frequency, percentage and standard deviation. The findings revealed that primary school students were high users of reading and writing strategies and moderate users of listening and speaking strategies. There were variations in responses with regard to the use of language learning strategies among primary school students. The pedagogical implications of the findings are also discussed.