Language Learning Strategies and Grammatical Competence of the English-Major Students in Zamboanga del Norte HEIs

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https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v2i04.99

Keywords:

language learning strategies, grammatical competence, metacognitive strategies, word formation, syntax

Abstract

Language learning requires strategies that increase our competence in communication. This study identified the language learning strategies and the grammatical competency level of the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) English major students at Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU), School Year 2017-2018. This research is mixed methods since it determined the language learning strategies mostly used by the students and identified the grammatical competency level of the respondents. The researcher triangulated the data from the survey using the focus group discussion through semi-structured interviews. It further examined whether there is a significant relationship between language learning strategies and the grammatical competence level of the BSED-English. The respondents of this study were the 138-3rd year BSED-English major students of JRMSU chosen through simple random sampling by the lottery technique. The students took the Strategy Inventory of Language Learning (SILL) survey questionnaire, developed by Oxford (1990), and the grammatical competence test. Twelve students from the group participated in the focus group discussion. The data were checked, tallied, and analyzed utilizing the weighted mean, ranking, and percentage. The researcher employed Spearman's Rho test to find the relationship between language learning strategies and grammatical competency levels. She then transcribed and coded the data from the focus group discussion. The results of this study showed that language learning strategies usually used by the BSED-English major students were metacognitive, social, cognitive, affective, and compensation strategies. In addition, it showed that the overall grammatical competence level of the students is competent, which revealed their higher competence level in word formation and syntax but less competence in spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary. The results showed a significant relationship between language learning strategy use and grammatical competence level, indicating that the more language learning strategies are mostly used by the students, the higher their grammatical competence level.

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Author Biography

Elmira C. Rodriguez, Associate Professor 2, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Philippines

Elmira L. Colicol-Rodriguez is an Associate Professor II and Instructional Materials Development (IMD) Unit Head of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University – Tampilisan Campus (JRMSU-TC), Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines. She is a faculty member of the College of Education at JRMSU-TC. She earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education major in English (BEED-Eng.) at the Mindanao State University – Tawi-Tawi College of Technology and Oceanography (MSU-TCTO), as Magna cum Laude in 2003. In 2006, she finished her Master of Arts in Education major in Reading Education (MAED-RE) at the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) as a Faculty Grantee of MSU-TCTO Academic Personnel Development Program (APDP). She obtained her Master of Arts in English (MA-Eng.) in 2019 at ADZU as a Faculty Scholar under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) K-12 Transition Program. She has also earned units in Doctor of Education (EdD) from JRMSU-Main Campus, Dapitan City. As a passionate teacher in her field of specialization, she has attended instruction-related seminars, trainings, and conferences, both local and international. She has also published research in both national and international peer-reviewed journals. She is also involved in the school extension programs and just concluded the JRMSU-TC Project INSPIRE (Insights on Notable Search for Personal Development through Reflective Examples). She is the primary author of the JRMSU BEED Practicum Manual and co-author of Campus Journalism Workbook and Citing Sources Using the 7th Edition APA Style, which are copyrighted instructional materials, and has written flexible learning materials that qualified for external review. Her recent designations include Internal Auditor for International Operation Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 and Vice-Chair for JRMSU-Tampilisan Campus Communications Team. Currently, she is enrolled at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJR), Cebu City, leading to the degree Doctor of Philosophy in English major in Language (PhD.ELang).

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Published on: 07-04-2023

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Rodriguez, E. (2023). Language Learning Strategies and Grammatical Competence of the English-Major Students in Zamboanga del Norte HEIs. Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(04), 27–42. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v2i04.99
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