Discussion Committee:
Dr. Fawaz Aqel- Supervisor
Dr. Suzanne Arafat- Internal Examiner
Dr. Abdelrahim Barham- Internal Examiner
Dr. Awad Qishtah- External Examiner
Authors:
Yaser Mohammad Mustafa Hamed
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the language learning strategies used by the eleventh grade students who are learning English as a foreign language in governmental and private schools in Nablus city in Palestine. It also aimed at examining the effects of gender, proficiency, major of study, tutorial lessons and visiting English speaking countries on the use of language learning strategies among the eleventh graders in Nablus city in Palestine. This study was conducted on the eleventh grade students who are learning English as a foreign language. The whole population consisted of (1955) students, (965) males and (990) females. The researcher randomly chose a sample that consisted of (20%) of the population. The sample consisted of (390) students (264) males and (126) females. The study attempted to answer the following questions: 1) What are the language learning strategies (LLS) that are more frequently adopted by the eleventh graders in Nablus city in Palestine? 2) Are there any statistical significant differences at (α = 0.05) in using language - learning strategies (LLS) by the eleventh graders in Nablus city due to gender / students' proficiency / major of study / receiving tutorial lessons or visiting English speaking countries variables? For data collection, the researcher used a questionnaire devised by (Oxford, 1990) entitled by (Strategy Inventory for Language Learning) (SILL) as an instrument for assessing the frequency of the use of language learning strategies by students. Results revealed the following:
1. The level of using language learning strategies (LLS) of the eleventh grade students who are learning English as a foreign language in Nablus city in Palestine were moderate in general.
2. There were statistically significant differences among language learning strategies (LLS) domains.
3. There were statistically significant differences in language learning strategy use among the eleventh grade students in Nablus city in Palestine in the affective strategies domain due to gender variable in favor of male students.
4. There were statistically significant differences in language learning strategy use (LLS) among the eleventh grade students in Nablus city in Palestine due to proficiency variable generally in favor of more proficient students.
5. There were statistically significant differences in using language learning strategies (LLS) among the eleventh grade students in Nablus city in Palestine due to the major of study variable in cognitive strategies domain in favor of the scientific stream students.
6. There were statistically significant differences in using language learning strategies (LLS) among the eleventh grade students in Nablus city in Palestine due to receiving tutorial lessons variable in favor of students who did experience those tutorial lessons.
7. There were no statistically significant differences in using language learning strategies (LLS) among the eleventh grade students in Nablus city in Palestine due to visiting English speaking counties variable.