Language Learning Strategies Employed By Engineering Students While Reading and Writing In English - A Sill Based Study

Abstract

The present investigation is descriptive-interpretative in nature. The purpose of the study is to describe popular language learning strategies (LLS) as reported by which Telugu ESL engineering students. Secondly to investigate the patterns of variations in frequency of students’ reported strategy use with reference to gender, medium of instruction at school, school type, and learners’ background (urban/rural), reading & writing proficiency and motivation. Thirdly to examine the relationships between frequency of students’ reported strategy use and the four independent variables. Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL version 7.0, Oxford 1989) is used as instrument to collect the frequency of strategy use reported by 492 Telugu ESL engineering students, ranging from overall strategy use to use of strategies at the individual level. Statistical methods such as independent sample t-tests, ANOVA, and Linear Regression analysis are used to help interpret the data. The paper also examined the relationships between frequency of students' reported use of strategies and reading and writing proficiency. The findings of the research show that Telugu ESL engineering students, overall, reported medium frequency of strategy use. The results of the data analysis also demonstrate that frequency of students’ overall reported use of strategies is influenced significantly by factors like gender, background, reading a& writing proficiency and motivation towards language learning and  variables like medium of instruction at school, and school type, first language and age did not have much relationship to students' choices of strategy use.