English language learning strategies of secondary school students in Nigeria: A preliminary survey

This preliminary survey investigated the language learning strategies employed by ESL secondary school students in Nigeria. The respondents were 40 senior secondary school students (SS2) who have been studying English for a minimum of 10 years. In Nigeria English language is the sole language of instruction across the levels of education right from primary four, making English language proficiency a prerequisite to academic excellence. Using the strategy inventory for language learning (SILL) Oxford (1990), this study identified the language learning strategy use of Nigerian ESL learners, frequency of usage and differences of usage based on gender. The study found out that, all the six categories of language learning strategies were used at high level of frequency. The most employed strategy was the affective and the least employed was compensation strategies, female students used less strategies compared to their male counterparts.