Language learning strategies and the importance of cultural awareness in Indonesian second language learners

This study examined the foreign/second-language learning strategies employed by eight Indonesian learners learning different languages (English, Chinese, and Arabic) and the role cultural awareness played in determining these strategies. The strategy inventory for language learning was used to record the participants’ learning strategies, and in-depth interviews were conducted to determine their cultural awareness acquisition when learning the foreign/second language and the effects this cultural awareness had on determining their language strategies. It was found that six main learning strategies were being used by the participants, and the interview data revealed that participants became more aware of the cultural aspects of their languages when reading authentic texts, communicating with native speakers, and attending their language courses. Cultural awareness was found to encourage participants to be selective learners when choosing learning materials and when using certain learning strategies. The results of this study broaden the insights of education practitioners and can guide foreign/second language teachers/lecturers in directing their students to use certain learning strategies