LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES OF IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS: ARE GENDER AND EDUCATIONAL LEVEL IMPORTANT?

This paper investigates language learning strategies used by Iranian students. It also strives to find if there are any differences between male and female students and undergraduate and BA ones in terms of strategy use. The sample consists of 376 university students. Oxford (1990) SILL inventory was used to determine strategy use of students. The findings revealed that students mostly use meta-cognitive strategies compared with other strategies. On the other hand, affective strategies were the least used ones. Furthermore, males used more strategies in comparison with females. It also revealed that there is a significant difference between strategy use of undergraduate and BA students. The findings have implications for students, teachers, and curriculum developers who are to develop a curriculum compatible with the needs of language learners.