21ST-CENTURY LEARNING: UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES WITH TECHNOLOGY LITERACY AMONG L2 LEARNERS

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The study concerns investigating the learning of English in the 21st-century when digital learning platforms were used in assigning writing activities to students. Specifically, the use of the media was related to the Language Learning Strategies (LLS), namely metacognitive, cognitive, and social strategies classified by O'Malley et al. (1985) with the learning in the 21st-century.    Methodology: The study employed a qualitative research design to collect responses from 72 engineering students studying at a technical university on the East Coast of Malaysia. An open-ended questionnaire was used to collect the responses from the participants and was validated by the researcher's colleague. Reliability was also taken care of in that verbatim reporting was observed in writing the current study's findings. Data were analysed using codes and themes formulated before they were reported.    Findings: The study found that students used metacognitive strategies to check their language in the writing tasks. It was evident that Grammarly, Quillbot, and Google translate, to name a few, were used to check their writing. It was also reported that they linked new information to visual concepts in terms of cognitive strategies. Specifically, they used deduction methods to ensure they understood the sentences they composed. For social strategy, digital platforms, namely WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Discord, were among the common platforms used by the students. The study confirmed that the students demonstrated strong technology literacy as they could use multi-digital platforms to complete the writing tasks.   Contributions: The study identifies the LLS employed by English as a Second Language (ESL) learners in 21st-century-learning. Also, it contributes to providing techniques that English practitioners can use in their writing classes.   Keywords: 21st-century learning, Language Learning Strategies (LLS), technology literacy.   Cite as: Ali, Z. (2022). 21st-century learning: Understanding the language learning strategies with technology literacy among L2 learners.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 7(2), 202-220. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol7iss2pp202-220