Language Learning Strategies Used by Extrovert and Introvert Students in English as a Foreign Language Speaking Classes

Abstract

The students in Indonesia are from different cultures, languages, and personality traits (extrovert and introvert). Therefore, recognizing students’ personality traits and their language learning strategy may be effective to help teacher design an effective teaching strategies. The study, therefore, intends to find out the typical language learning strategies used by the extrovert and introvert students in English speaking class. The participants of this study were the fourth semester students in English Department of Gorontalo State University. This research used two models of questionnaire. They were the McCroskey’s introversion scale by Richmond & McCroskey (1998) to determine the personality type for each subject and Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) by Oxford’s (1990) to see their learning strategy. The findings were explained by using the theory of language learning strategies by O’Malley and Chamot (1990). The result shows that the extrovert students used more language learning strategies highly frequently than introvert students with 12 items compared to introvert students with only 10 items. The most strategies used by extrovert students were cooperating and empathizing with others with 66.7% in always used, while the most strategy used by introvert students was note taking with 66.7% in often used.

Problems and Strategies of Introvert Students in Speaking English

“…That is, introverted students work with other people or friends in the process of learning to speak English. This is in line with Yusuf, Basalama & Bay (2021) which says that students use empathy for others and ask for corrections. It can be said that introverted students use strategies of practicing with friends, asking other people or practicing to involve a lot of interaction with other people or friends.…”

“…And to find out the problems and causes of introverted students in speaking English, researchers adapted the questionnaire from Oktavia, Suryatiningsih & Mabaroh (2022) and Ayu (2018) which was based on the theory from Scott Thornbury and Ur in Siti Ratna Ayu's 2018 research. Then, to find out introvert students' strategies in overcoming English speaking problems, researchers adapted the questionnaire from Yusuf et al (2021) which is based on the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) theory by O' Malley & Chamot (1990).…”

“…Therefore, introverted students are more likely to use metacognitive strategies. This is supported by Yusuf, Basalama & Bay (2021) who said that the reason introvert students use selfevaluation as a way to improve their speaking skills is because they are better at managing or controlling their emotions.…”

“…Also found six strategies for overcoming the problems of speaking English for introverted students. The other previous research conducted by Yusuf, Basalama & Bay (2021) discusses the strategies used by introverted and extroverted students in learning to speak English. The results of this study state that extroverted Putri, Syafryadin, Fadhli Problems and Strategies of Introvert Students in Speaking English students tend to use cooperative and empathetic strategies in language learning while introverted students often use note-taking strategies.…”

“…Moreover, this study uses a variety of learning strategies based on the theory of O' Malley and Chamot (1990) in Yusuf et al (2021). There are three strategies that can be used to overcome problems speaking English, namely cognitive strategies, On the cognitive aspect, most of the introverted students used the strategy of practicing English pronunciation (2,79).…”