A STUDY INTO STUDENTS’ USE OF DIGITAL ENGLISH LEARNING STRATEGIES IN TERTIARY EDUCATION

The purpose of this study is to investigate EFL university students' learning strategies used in a digital English learning environment, and to analyze the interrelations between their use of learning strategies and individual learner factors, such as gender, English proficiency levels, learning experiences, and the duration of using the digital learning environment. The participants of the study were 400 students selected from two universities located in South Korea. A questionnaire was developed to examine the use of digital English learning strategies (DELS) based on Oxford's (1990) SILL and was distributed in an online survey form. Data collected in the present study was statistically analyzed to show that, first, the most frequently used strategy category was compensation strategies, and this was followed by memory and metacognitive strategies. Second, learner factors included in this study showed statistically significant relationships with the use of DELS, but the duration of using digital devices was not related to DELS usage. From these findings, the study concludes that understanding the learning process and strategy use patterns is very critical to make students strategic learners in a digital English learning context and eventually to develop students’ digital English abilities. The suggestions and implications for further study are also discussed.