Use of English Language Learning Strategies in an Online Setting among High School Learners in Cameroon

Learning and acquiring English requires time, effort and commitment, under the best of circumstances. This language acquisition must go through stages. For speakers of other languages, especially those in secondary and high school, there is usually not enough time. In the context on online learning, the difficulties and challenges encountered by these learners are sometimes insurmountable. These learners need strategies and structure. This paper investigated the English language learning strategies that high school ESL learners use during online instructions and interactions. The respondents are secondary students at Government Bilingual High School, Santchou, a rural commune in Cameroon. During the Covid-19 pandemic, schools transitioned to online teaching. One hundred and eight (108) respondents completed a strategy inventory for language learning (SILL) questionnaire. The research used both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Analysis of the data collected shows that there is no significant difference in the use of English language learning strategies of the respondents in an online setting when grouped according to profile variables. In an online setting and studying on their own, the respondents rely on memory, cognitive, meta-cognitive, affective, and social and compensation strategies to various effects. The overall mean is 3.35. Compensation Strategies and Meta-cognitive Strategies are highly used, at 3.48 and 3.44 respectively. The least used were Social Strategies. The researcher concludes that there is a relationship between second language learning and acquisition and strategy inventory for language learning. The study hopes to improve English language curriculum, instruction, and teaching methods in an online setting. There should be a conscious effort to integrate learning strategies consistently during daily instructions. Future research should focus on online English language learning that integrates language-learning strategies.