An Investigation of the Use of Language Learning Strategies of Bangladeshi Learners: Secondary Schools in Focus

Abstract

As a global language the growing demand of English is noteworthy. To survive as a global citizen in this global world English is indispensable. Countries as well as people all around the world are now paying special attention to learn English. Knowing English allows people to communicate with the whole world. In this modern technological era, the whole world is in our grip. To take advantages of technology, knowing English is inevitable. Realizing the crucial demand of English, like other counties, Bangladesh is also aware of learning English. The reality is in spite of making English a compulsory subject from grade one to grade twelve and pouring a lot of money into English, the national English proficiency level is not developing. It is proved with numerous research works that employing language learning strategies in the process of learning second/foreign language is a fruitful way. Learners of all the countries and all the levels do not use the same set of language learning strategies. It varies according to a number of variables such as age, gender, motivation, proficiency level, aptitude, background, culture and so on. So, to make language teaching and learning effective, it is essential to know the types of strategies which are used by the learners frequently in their process of learning. Research studies are being conducted on this issue throughout the world. Asian countries are also in the list but in Bangladesh it is very few in number. For this reason, English instructors cannot employ proper Language learning strategies in their teaching materials. This study aims at measuring awareness as well as dig up a common set of language learning strategies employed by the secondary school students in Bangladesh. The researcher hopes that it will help to change the scenario of ELT in secondary schools in Bangladesh. This study used the most accepted and the most reliable instrument as the research questionnaire developed by oxford (1989) titled Strategy Inventory for Language learning commonly known as SILL (ESL/EFL version). In almost all the Asian countries the Sill has been translated into the native languages to enhance the success rate of the research. The researcher of this current study could not find any reference of conducting research by translating the questionnaire (SILL) into Bangla. The researcher translated the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) into Bangla so that the result of the research can be more reliable. While translating the SILL, the age level and the understanding level of the participants were kept in consideration. The study was conducted in two phases. The first one was quantitative phase using the SILL and the second one was qualitative phase using an open ended questionnaire. From these two phases of investigation, the awareness of using language learning strategies among the secondary school EFL learners has been measured and a list of commonly used language learning strategies of secondary school students in Bangladesh has been developed.