Language Learning Strategies and Individual Learner Characteristics: Situating Strategy Use in Diverse Contexts

Product Description This innovative book focuses on the relationships among self-regulated language learning strategies, students' individual characteristics, and the diverse contexts in which learning occurs. It presents state-of-the-art, lively, readable chapters by well-known experts and new, promising scholars, who analyze learning strategy theory, research, assessment, and use. Written by a team of international contributors from Austria, Canada, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey, the UK and the USA, this volume provides theoretical insights on how strategic learning interacts with complex environments. It explores strategy choice and the fluidity and flexibility of learning strategies. Research-based but practical themes in the book include strategy-related teacher preparation; differentiated strategy instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners of different ages, cultures, and learning styles; and creative, visualization-based development of strategy awareness. Examining methodologies for strategy research and assessment, the volume explores narrative, decision-tree, scenario-based, and questionnaire-based research, as well as mixed-methods research and new assessment tools for young learners' strategies. It presents research on strategies used for foreign/second language pronunciation, pragmatics, listening, reading, speaking, writing, and test-taking. By providing a wide range of examples of strategies in research and action in a number of countries, cultures, and educational settings, and by offering incisive section overviews and a detailed synthesis at the end, this book enables readers to develop a holistic understanding of language learning strategies. With additional online strategy materials available for downloading, Language Learning Strategies and Individual Learner Characteristics is invaluable to all those interested in helping language students learn more effectively. Review An excellent resource for language learning researchers and teachers alike. It helps clarify critical methodological issues for researchers. It also provides practical pedagogical ideas for teachers to enhance language learners' strategic learning capacity.Xuesong Gao, Associate Professor, Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongThis collection represents the future for language learning strategy (LLS) research, building on solid theoretical foundations but looking ahead to new directions for the field. Drawing on a diverse set of studies and contexts, the chapters elaborate on our understanding of the critical role strategies play in language learning processes and how LLSs interconnect with many personal and contextual factors. While offering valuable theoretical, methodological, and empirical insights, it also impressively manages to keep the discussions connected to practice. This collection will be pivotal in defining future directions for the field and helping us to better appreciate the ways in which LLSs contribute to and connect with language learning processes.Sarah Mercer, Head of ELT, University of Graz, AustriaWith publication of this landmark volume, language learning strategies are fully established on the cutting edge of language teaching and research. It marks an evolution in the field from the conceptualization and applications of strategies to innovative research designs. The text features eminent researchers along with emerging voices that are taking the work on strategies in exciting new directions. The chapters will re-shape how students, teachers, researchers, and policy-makers think about strategies for language learning.Peter MacIntyre, Professor of Psychology, Cape Breton University, Canada About the Author Rebecca L. Oxford is Professor Emerita and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher at the University of Maryland, USA.Carmen M. Amerstorfer is Director, School of Education and Senior Scientist at Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt, Austria.