THE USE OF DIFFERENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES BY IRANIAN FEMALE UNIVERSITY LEVEL LEARNERS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS A UNIVERSITY MAJOR BASED ON PERSONALITY TRAITS

1. Ph.D. Thesis – Seyed Hossein Fazeli
Email: fazeli78@yahoo.com
THE USE OF DIFFERENT ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING
STRATEGIES BY IRANIAN FEMALE UNIVERSITY LEVEL LEARNERS
OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS A UNIVERSITY MAJOR BASED ON
PERSONALITY TRAITS
ABSTRACT
This study began with the premise that there was a relationship between personality traits and
second/foreign language acquisition. In this way, the researcher aimed to explore the relationship
between personality traits and Language Learning Strategies (LLSs) of the Iranian female
university level learners of English language as a university major with examine what this
relationship has for teaching of EFL in Iran.
After review the issues of terminology, definition, and classification of both LLSs and
personality traits, the theoretical underpinnings of their concepts were discussed.
In order to investigate this relationship, 213 participants as representative sample of the
EFL population were chosen. The participants, were female university level learners of English
language as a university major, who study in third year of B.A. degree.
Data was collected using Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as a English
proficiency test, and three questionnaires namely Strategy Inventory for Language Learning
(SILL), NEO-Five Factors Inventory (NEO-FFI), and A Background Questionnaire, between
September 2010 and November 2010 in Iran. Four statistical tests were used to measure the
relationship between personality traits and LLSs: Statistical Descriptive, Pearson Correlation,
Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Multiple Regression Analysis.
The results of this study revealed significant relationships between personality traits and
LLSs in some cases. The results also indicated that some traits of personality could predicate the
choice and use of LLSs.
This thesis concluded by bringing together the key results and suggestions for further
research.