The Preferences of in-Service Elt Teachers' Language Learning Strategies in Their Own Language Learning Process

Abstract

As a still popular research area, Language Learning Strategies (LLS) researches need to be enhanced, since it consists of different phenomenon such as age, gender, individual differences and learning environment. At a glance, previous studies in the literature state that most of LLS researches are conducted in just learner-contexts in schools or at universities. Consequently, the use of LLS and LLS preferences of both adults and young learners have been tried to determine via these studies, however the concept of teachers' own LLS usage and preferences has been ignored by researchers; yet if teachers are aware of their own LLS use, then they can be more helpful for their learners in terms of LLS. Thus, the current study investigates English Language Teaching (ELT) teachers'own language learning strategies in a language teaching and learning context. Since LLS use of young learners has been a growing area, in this study, teachers who have been teaching young learners in public primary and secondary schools are determined as participants. Data is collected from 81 in-service ELT teachers via a questionnaire namely Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) designed by Oxford (1990) and a semi-structured interview which is formed by the researcher's herself. As a result of the study, LLS usage of in-service ELT teachers are identified as moderate frequency level; additionally, taking Oxford's (1990) classification as a basis, the mostly used strategy group of ELT teachers is seen as social strategies whereas the least one is affective strategies; moreover, it is indicated that there is no mean difference on the LLS preferences of ELT teachers in terms of their genders, ages and teaching experiences.