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MUET Preparation

Language

Learning

Strategies
Yoong

Li

Kuen and Mohamed Amin Embi
(Universiti

Kebangsaan

Malaysia, Malaysia)



Abstract
The main objective of the study was to examine the English language learning strategies
(LLS) used by Lower Six students in secondary schools who are sitting for their MUET test.
It analyzed the language learning strategies that students use in order to prepare for the
MUET test. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire with 300 students. The
an adapted and bilingual questionnaire designed by Cohen, Oxford and Chi (2005) known as
Language Strategy Use Inventory. Forty items were analyzed and they comprised of the four
skills tested in MUET which is listening, speaking, reading and writing. Data were analyzed
by performing frequency analysis. The findings revealed that the listening skill is the most
frequently used, while the writing skill is the least frequently used. Only the listening skill has
high frequency of use, while the reading, speaking and writing skills fall under the range of
moderate frequency of use. There were variations in responses with regard to the use of LLS
among Form Six students in secondary schools. The findings had practical implications.

Background and rationale
The mission of the Ministry of Education (MOE) is to develop a world-class quality
education system which will realize the full potential of the individual and fulfill the
aspiration of the Malaysian nation. One of the major goals in education is to prepare the
and provide educational opportunities for all
Malaysians. Therefore, teachers should educate the students in using suitable strategies so
that these strategies will empower them in their lives as students as well as young working
adults.

Language learning strategies (LLS) are tools that empower students by enabling them to use
(Rubin, 1987, p. 22). Mohamed Amin (2000, p. 12)
doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.3n.1p.84
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at learners take to enhance the process of language
taken into account. Different learners have different views as to
what promotes effective language learning. Therefore, LLSs can be defined as conscious
attempts by the learner to facilitate or improve learning based on personal beliefs about the
learning process.

In this era of globalization, English is increasingly important in all areas of education and
academic exchange, science and technology, international travel, economics and business,
politics and diplomacy, infotainment and the internet. It is this view that has sparked the
immediate policy of learning Science and Mathematics in all schools in Malaysia in the year
2003. The then prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad foresaw that if Malaysia were to
be a developed country, its citizens need to be proficient and competent in English. Even the
Education Act of Malaysia (1996) states that the English Language (EL) is the second most
important language.

However, as much as a lot of emphasis is placed on English, it is common knowledge that
the standard of the English Language (EL) has declined drastically over the years. Tun Dr.
Mahathir stated that learners of English as a second language (ESL) still lack proficiency
based on a public examination (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, 2003). These students will need to
sit for the MUET examination (Malaysian University English Test) and must pass with at
least a Band 3 in order to secure a place at a local private or public university or college. An
analysis of the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) results indicates that university
learners are still weak in English language proficiency (Yoong, 2010).

A number of researchers have shown that good and successful language learners use different
strategies to be more self-directed so as to be more proficient (Wenden, 1991). In fact, a
number of studies on second language acquisition and its relationship with the language
, Oxford (1993) and
Rubin (1975).

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Theoretical perspectives
It has been more than thirty years since research into LLS began in the early 1970s.
According to Cohen and Macaro (2007), the arrival of LLS research formed part of a
fundamental shift of perspective in thinking about the process of language learning. Until the
1970s, language learning was seen essentially as a psychological phenomenon as was stated
by Stern (1983) that developments in cognitive psychology influenced much of the early
research on LLS. In most of the research in this area, the primary concern has been on
identifying what good language learners report they do to learn a second or foreign language,
or, in some cases, are observed doing while learning a second or foreign language (Wenden &
Rubin, 1987). Later focus and findings have developed into wider dimensions such as factors
that influence learners.

There are various definitions of LLS. One of the earliest figures, Rubin (1975) defined LLS
as the techniques or devices that learners use to acquire second language knowledge, while
Stern (1983) described LLS as general order higher approaches to learning which govern the
choice of specific techniques. Later definitions of LLS by Chamot (2004) regarded LLS as
most part unobservable, though some may be associated with an observable behaviour.

A number of researchers have shown that good and successful language learners use different
strategies to be more self-directed so as to be more proficient (Wenden, 1991). Language
learning strategies are important because previous researchers (Chamot & Kupper, 1989;
Cohen, 1990) suggested that training students to use LLS could help them become better
language learners. Therefore, this study aims to find out whether better Form Six learners in
secondary schools use more strategies than others as claimed by previous researchers.
(Bremner, 1999; Faizahani, 2003; Mohamed Amin, 1996; Oxford, 1989) In Malaysia, the
history of LLS research is fairly new and was pioneered by Mohamed Amin (1996) through
his self-report Strategy Questionnaire (SQ) which was divided into three categories, namely
classroom language learning strategies, out-of-class language learning strategies and exam
language learning strategies.

Methodology
The main aim of this study is to determine the English language learning strategies (LLS)
used by MUET candidates in schools and the frequency of use. The data were collected using
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The data were analyzed using statistical procedures in order to exa
responses on their use of LLS.

The participants constituted a random sample of students from five secondary schools in
Melaka. The data were collected from three hundred students (n=300). The age range of the
subjects was 18-20 years.

Inventory was adapted and utilized to gather the data from the Lower Six students in the
secondary schools. The instrument used in this study is known as the MUET Preparation
Language Strategy Use Inventory. It is a bilingual inventory with the Bahasa Malaysia
translation done by the National Translation Institute of Malaysia. There were forty items
from the instrument that were analyzed and these were divided into four different components
based on the skills tested in the MUET test that is listening, speaking, reading and writing.
The instrument consists of Likert-scale items (a scale from 1-5) which used a forced-choice
format in which subjects were asked to select from one of the following choices: (1) never
true of me, (2) usually not true of me, (3) sometimes true of me, (4) usually true of me, and
(5) always true of me. In addition, the subjects were required to respond to question items
pertaining to demographic information such as gender, Science/Arts streaming and English
SPM results. A statistical program, i.e. the SPSS was utilized to process the data. Frequency


Findings
The results of this study are presented in terms of answering the five research questions. To
respect to listening, speaking, reading and writing were analyzed. Table 1 shows the mean
scores and frequency of LLS skills.
Table 1: Mean scores and frequency of LLS skills
Skills Category Mean Scores S.D. Frequency of Use Rank of Use
Listening 3.583 .529 High 1
Reading 3.493 .554 Moderate 2
Speaking 3.323 .555 Moderate 3
Writing 3.319 .619 Moderate 4
Overall Strategy 3.418 .479 Moderate


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To obtain the answer for this question, the mean scores for the four skills of listening,
speaking, reading and writing as well as for each individual strategy used by the candidates
were calculated. The results in Table 1 shows that the overall strategy use is M=3.418, SD=
.479 and it indicates that the Lower Six candidates are moderate strategy users. They also
reported having moderate to high frequently use of each of the four skills with mean scores
ranging between M=3.583 and M= 3.319; and with listening skill being the most frequently
used, while writing skill is the least frequently used. There is only one skill that is listening
which has high frequency of use while reading, speaking and writing skills fall under the
range of moderate frequency of use.

An interpretation mean score was used to determine the frequency of LLS use according to
onses were categorized into three broader
categories namely high, moderate and low frequency of use of language learning strategy.
The mean score for each item was tabulated and the frequency of strategy use for each item
was determined using the frequency ratings provided in Table 2. These ratings were adapted
from Oxford (1990, p. 336) scale rating for SILL.

Table 2: Frequency ratings for strategy use
Frequency of Use Responses Mean Scores
High ALWAYS TRUE of me 4.5-5.0
USUALLY TRUE of me 3.5-4.4
Moderate/ Medium SOMETIMES TRUE of me 2.5-3.4
Low USUALLY NOT TRUE of me 1.5-2.4
NEVER TRUE of me 1.0-1.4


e according to the listening skill?
with respect to the items under the listening skill were analyzed. Out of the ten items, seven
items fall under the high frequency of use. Table 3 shows the frequency analysis of the items
under the listening skill in terms of the rank of use from the highest rank (number 1) to the
lowest rank (number 7) in terms of high frequency of use. As can be seen in Table 3, seven
items fall under the high frequency of use. It was found that most of the subjects (63.3% i.e.
34.3% usually true and 29% always true) listen to people who are speaking in English to try
understand it the first time around, of which 41% and 17.7% indicated
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results also revealed that 57% (37% usually true and 20% always true) of students try to
understand what they hear without translating it word-for-word.

Table 3: Frequency of use according to the listening skill
No Question Items Never
true
Usually
not true
Sometimes
true
Usually
True
Always
True
A2 Listening to people who are speaking in
English to try to understand what they are
saying.
.7% 4.0% 32% 34.3% 29%
A9
it the first time around.
1.3% 9.3% 30.7% 41.0% 17.7%
A8 Ask speakers to repeat what they said if it

3.3% 10% 28% 37.3% 21.3%
A7 Try to understand what I hear without
translating it word-for-word.
2.3% 9.3% 31.3% 37% 20%
A1 Listen to talk shows on the radio, watch
TV shows, or see movies in the English
language.
1.7% 5.3% 45% 24.7% 23.3%
A10 Draw on my general background
knowledge to get the main idea.
1.3% 7.7% 40.3% 31.3% 19.3%
A4 Pay special attention to specific aspects of
the language (e.g. the way the speaker
pronounces certain sounds).
1.7% 12.7% 37% 29.7% 19.0%

It was found that many of the subjects (48% i.e. 24.7% usually true and 23.3% always true)
listen to talk shows on the radio, watch TV shows, or see movies in the English language.
Many of the students draw on their general background knowledge to get the main idea, of
which 31.3% and 19.3% indicated
Nearly half of the respondents, with 29.7% usually true and 19% always true pay special
attention to specific aspects of the language (e.g. the way the speaker pronounces certain
sounds).

ccording to the speaking skill? frequencies
with respect to the items under the speaking skill were analyzed. Out of the ten items, three
items fall under the high frequency of use. Table 4 shows the frequency analysis of the items
under the speaking skill in terms of the rank of use from the highest rank (number 1) to the
lowest rank (number 3) in terms of high frequency of use. As can be seen in Table 4, only
three items fall under the high frequency of use. The data revealed that 58% of the subjects
encourage others to correct errors in their speaking, with 33.3% usually true and 24.7%
always true. More than half of the participants (56%) indicated that they ask for help from
their conversational partner, specifically 39.7% usually true and 16.3% always true. Majority
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of the respondents, with 34% usually true and 17.7% always true plan out in advance what
they want to say.

Table 4: Frequency of use according to the speaking skill
No Question Items Never
true
Usually
not true
Sometimes
true
Usually
True
Always
True
B8 Encourage others to correct errors in my
speaking
3.0% 10.3% 28.7% 33.3% 24.7%
B9 Ask for help from my conversational
partner
7% 12.0% 31.3% 39.7% 16.3%
B5 Plan out in advance what I want to say 3.0% 8.7% 36.7% 34.0% 17.7%

frequencies
with respect to the items under the reading skill were analyzed. Out of the ten items, six
items fall under the high frequency of use. Table 5 shows the frequency analysis of the items
under the reading skill in terms of the rank of use from the highest rank (number 1) to the
lowest rank (number 6) in terms of high frequency of use.

Table 5: Frequency of use according to the reading skill
No Question Items Never
true
Usually
not true
Sometimes
true
Usually
True
Always
True
C5 Read a story or dialogue several times
until I understand it
2.3% 8.3% 29% 34.3% 26%
C9 Guess the approximate meaning by using
clues from the context of the reading
material.
.3% 6.3% 32% 44% 17.3%
C10 Use a dictionary to get a detailed sense of
what individual words mean
4.3% 10.7% 31% 30.3% 23.7%
C3 Find reading material that is at or near my
level
1.3% 11.3% 31.7% 40.3% 15.3%
C4 Skim any academic text first to get the
main idea and then go back and read it
more carefully.
5.0% 10.7% 29.7% 35% 19.7%
C2 Try to find things to read for pleasure in
the target language.
1.7% 12.7% 35% 34% 16.7%

As can be seen in Table 5, six items fall under the high frequency of use. It was found that
most of the subjects (60.3% i.e. 34.3% usually true and 26% always true) read a story or
dialogue several times until they understand it. Majority of the students guess the
approximate meaning by using clues from the context of the reading material, of which 44%
and 17.3% indicated
the respondents, with 30.3% usually true and 23.7% always true use a dictionary to get a
detailed sense of what individual words mean. The results also revealed that 55.6% (40.3%
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usually true and 15.3% always true) of students find reading material that is at or near their
level. It was found that many of the subjects (54.7% i.e. 35% usually true and 19.7% always
true) skim any academic text first to get the main idea and then go back and read it more
carefully. Many of the students try to find things to read for pleasure in the target language,
of which 34% and 16.7% indicated

with respect to the items under the writing skill were analyzed. Out of the ten items, three
items fall under the high frequency of use. Table 6 shows the frequency analysis of the items
under the writing skill in terms of the rank of use from the highest rank (number 1) to the
lowest rank (number 3) in terms of high frequency of use.

Table 6: Frequency of use according to the writing skill
No Question Items Never
true
Usually
not true
Sometimes
true
Usually
True
Always
True
D5 Find a different way to express the idea
(e.g., use a synonym or describe the
idea).
2.0% 10.3% 31% 41.7% 15%
D6 Review what I have already written before
continuing to write more.
1.3% 12.7% 31.0% 40.3% 14.7%
D7 Use reference materials such as a glossary,
a dictionary, or a thesaurus to help find or
verify words in the target language.
3.0% 17% 26% 33.7% 20.3%

From Table 6, only three items fall under the high frequency of use. The data revealed that
correct expression (e.g., use a synonym or describe the idea), with 41.7% usually true and
15% always true. More than half of the participants (55%) indicated that they review what
they have already written before continuing to write more, specifically 40.3% usually true and
14.7% always true. Majority of the respondents, with 33.7% usually true and 20.3% always
true use reference materials such as a glossary, a dictionary, or a thesaurus to help find or
verify words in the target language.

Discussion and conclusion
It can be seen that th
preparing for the MUET test. With regard to the use of the individual strategy, out of 40
items, the descriptive statistics indicated that 19 individual strategies comprising of listening,
speaking, reading and writing were high frequently used with the mean scores ranging from
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3.51 to 3.87. The other 21 individual strategies were moderately used with the mean scores
ranging from 2.95 to 3.47. Out of 19 high frequency use of individual strategy, 7 listening
skills, 6 reading skills, 3 speaking skills and 3 writing skills were most frequently used.
However, there were no items that fall under the range of low frequency of use in this study.

Among the listening strategies that fall under the range of average frequency of use were
say based on what has been said so far
phonetics and they do not know how to listen for key words. These students do not know how
to use LLS to help them become more competent users of the language. They may not even
be aware of the existence of language learning strategies that can empower them.

As the primary aim of ESL syllabus in schools is to enable learners to achieve proficiency
and competency at the highest level, it is proposed that training in the use of LLS should be
included in the ESL syllabus. According to Wenden (1991), by focusing on learner-centered
practices, teachers would change the learners to become better learners. These learners would
benefit from instructions in developing LLS by becoming more competent users of the
language. It is hoped that learners would be able to identify, choose, adopt and practice these
strategies so as to be able to participate effectively and move towards learner autonomy. In
other words, the learner will learn to take full responsibility for their learning (Cook, 2001;
Radha, 1996). In a secondary school context, these findings could be considered during the
review of the present ESL syllabus.


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