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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

Examining Language Learning Strategies (LLS) Through the Lens of Gen Alpha ESL Learners

Anis Fakhira Khirzani, Sally Sia Yin Yin, Noraini Md Said, Ranmeet Kaur Sidhu Paritam Singh, Harwati Hashim

http://dx.doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v13-i7/17755

Open access

The ability to communicate with others in English is pivotal in this digital era, thus it is only natural to expect the digital natives like Generation Alpha to have proper English skills as it is a common language used in technology and communication. While numerous studies had been conducted to identify the preferred language learning strategies (LLS) by the English as Second Language (ESL) students, there is a paucity of studies on the LLS used by Generation Alpha, thus this study aims to shed some lights to the teachers on how they can offer assistance for their learners so that they can autonomously choose the best method that can help them refine their speaking skill. 50 primary students aged nine to twelve were selected using a purposive sampling method; they are all good language learners. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) was adapted and modified to assess the frequency of use of LLS. The results of the descriptive analysis revealed that metacognitive and social strategies are the most dominant LLS used by Generation Alpha while affective strategy was the least used by them in enhancing their speaking skill. Future studies should consider finding the correlation between the use of digital tools and Generation Alpha’s preferred LLS as digitalisation has apparently shifted the education paradigm. It is imperative that teachers are provided with clearer apprehension on how they can develop more effective teaching strategies for Generation Alpha based on the LLS that the pupils are gravitated to.

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In-Text Citation: (Khirzani et al., 2023)
To Cite this Article: Khirzani, A. F., Yin, S. S. Y., Said, N. M., Singh, R. K. S. P., & Hashim, H. (2023). Examining Language Learning Strategies (LLS) Through the Lens of Gen Alpha ESL Learners. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 13(7), 629 – 644.