Language Learning Strategies: A Comparative Study of Young and Adolescent Cambodian Learners

Abstract

Various aspects of second language learning such as motivation, social contexts, personality, learning styles or learning strategies should be taken into consideration when it comes to teaching and learning a new language. in this respect, one of the most overlooked factors is a language learning strategy. Language learners should be aware of “how to learn a language” to be a successful language learner. As language learning strategy has been recognized as the important factor in learning a second language (O'Malley & Chamot, 1990; and Oxford, 1990), this study therefore investigated language learning strategies employed by young and adolescent learners of English in Cambodia context. The data were collected through a questionnaire, developed by Oxford (1990) from 152 students. The findings showed that students mostly used cognitive, metacognitive and social strategies. In addition, when examining if young learners use different learning strategies from adolescent learners, no statistical difference was found, except for two learning strategies, namely, cognitive and compensation strategies used more frequently by young learners.