A Study on the correlation between Age and the Use of Language Learning Strategies by Adult Foreign Language Learners

Abstract

The field of language learning strategies has a long history of studies and research; however, very few scholars have studied the effect of age on the choice and use of language learning strategies. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate language learning strategies (LLS) used by adult language learners and explore the influence of age on the choice of learning strategies. Specifically, the objective is to understand whether strategy use is influenced by the more or less young age and, if is so, to identify the most and least used strategies for every age range (from the age of 18 to over-75). The thesis first provides a theoretical background about lifelong learning, adult foreign language education, and language learning strategies. In the second part, the research will be presented. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), an individual background questionnaire and several short-answer questions on cognitive and affective issues were administered to 163 Italian as a Foreign Language adult learners to collect data for the research.