Abstract:
The objective of this study is to investigate how Pekanbaru senior high school
students learn various language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing, as well as
vocabulary and structure). One of the definitions of language learning strategies is defined
by Oxford (1990b). She states that language learning strategies are specific actions taken
by the learners to make learning easier, faster, more enjoyable, more self-directed, more
efficient, and more transferable in new situation. The needed data were collected by
interviewing l0 selected students from five ethnic groups (Malay, Minangkabau, Javanese,
Batak, and Chinese) at various senior high schools in Pekanbaru. The respondents were
asked to answer the following question: If you are asked to increase the four language
skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing as well as vocabulary and structure), what do
you do? Inter-rater reliability was used to judge the answers of related respondents in the
interview by the qualified inter-raters that are master’s degree in TEFL. The inter-raters
modified the respondents' responses in casual English into acceptable written English
without changing the concept of the expression. The highest frequency has been
acknowledged. There are 67 strategies identified as the most-preferred strategies employed
by the respondents to increase the language skills as well as vocabulary and structure. The
use of these strategies can be grouped into once-mentioned, twice-mentioned, and more than
twice-mentioned. Examples of strategies mentioned more than twice for improving
speaking skills, preparing as much vocabulary as possible (four times); and for improving
writing skill, the strategy of writing procedurally (three times). Suggestion for further study
are those the successful learners. less successful learners, and gifted learners should also
be taken into account as crucial factors to investigate in the near future.
