An Investigation of Language Learning Strategies from the Perspectives of Social Cognitive Theory

Language learning strategies have long been acknowledged as a key element in fostering learners’ engagement, autonomy, and academic achievement in second and foreign language learning contexts. This study aims to understand the interralationship between Social Cognitive Theory factors; personal, behavioural and environmental and their influence on language learning strategies among 370 undergraduate students in public university. The instruments used consist four sections based on Bandura’s SCT factors measuring personal, behavioural and environmental as well as language learning strategies. The findings demonstrated moderate to high levels of personal, behavioural and environmental strategy use in language learning. In addition, significant and strong interrelationships were found among the factors, supporting Bandura’s concept of reciprocal determinism. Teachers must acknowledge and be aware that language learning happens through dynamic interaction across these factors; personal, behavioural and environmental. Therefore, teaching content, tasks, classroom practice and classroom environment should be designed and grounded in these factors.

Social Cognitive Theory, language learning strategies

1. Ab Rahim, N. R., Darwis, N. Z. W. M., Noh, N., Asfar, J., & Balqis, H. (2025). Exploring Learning Strategies through the Social Cognitive Theory. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ahmad, N., Alias, F.A., Hamat, M., & Mohamed, S.A. (2024) Reliability Analysis: Application of Cronbach’s Alpha in Research Instruments. SIG: e-L earning@CS, 114-119. https://appspenang.uitm.edu.my/sigcs/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Bandura, A. (1986). Social Foundations of Thought and action: A Social Cognitive Theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1985-98423-000 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York, NY: W. H. Freeman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Borhanuddin, R. I., Zaiton, S. N. ‘A. H., Ali, N. M., Salleh, S. M., & Rahmat, N. H. (2025). Exploring Learning Strategies among Students Using the Social Cognitive Theory. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(2), 2162–2175. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Calafato, R. (2023). Charting the motivation, self-efficacy beliefs, language learning strategies, and achievement of multilingual university students learning Arabic as a foreign language. Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education, 8(20). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40862-023-00194-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Carmichael, C., & Taylor, J. A. (2005). Analysis of student beliefs in a tertiary preparatory mathematics course. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 36(7), 713-719. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Chamot, A. U. (2005). Language learning strategy instruction: Current issues and research. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 25, 112–130. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0267190505000061 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Chamot, A. U., & Harris, V. (2019). Learning strategy instruction in the language classroom: Issues and implementation. Foreign Language Annals, 52(1), 7–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/flan.12385 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Ellis, R. (1994). The study of second language acquisition. Oxford University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Griffiths, C. (2015). What have we learnt from “good language learners”? ELT Journal, 69(4), 425–433. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/ccv040 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Hapsari, A. (2019). Language Learning Strategies in English Language Learning: A Survey Study. Lingua Pedagogia. https://doi.org/10.21831/lingped.v1i1.18399. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. He, L. (2024) The Application of SPSS Correlation Analysis in the Study if Precision Teaching of English in Universities. Applied Mathematics and Nonlinear Science, 9(1), 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/amns-2024-1371 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Kamarul Shukri Mat The (2009). Penggunaan Strategi Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab dalam Kalangan Pelajar Sekolah Menengah Agama. In Tesis Ijazah Doktor Falsafah. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Marenco Domínguez, J. M., & Marín Juanías, J. (2024). Language learning strategies research in English as foreign language contexts: A systematic literature review. Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn), 18(2), 471–479. https://doi.org/10.11591/edulearn.v18i2.21144 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Mohd Afandi, A. N., Zaini, A. R. ., & Norul ‘Azmi, N. A. . (2023). Strategi Kognitif Dalam Pembelajaran Kosa Kata Bahasa Arab Sebagai Bahasa Kedua: Relevansi dan Impak: Cognitive Strategies in Learning Arabic Vocabulary as a Second Language: Relevance and Impact. E-Jurnal Bahasa Dan Linguistik (e-JBL), 5(1), 63-74. https://doi.org/10.53840/ejbl.v5i1.130 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. O’Malley, J. M., & Chamot, A. U. (1990). Learning strategies in second language acquisition. Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Oxford, R. L. (1990). Language learning strategies: What every teacher should know. Heinle & Heinle. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Oxford, R. L. (2017). Teaching and researching language learning strategies: Self-regulation in context (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Rahmat,N.H., & Thasrabiab,T,.(2024) Exploring Motivation and Self-Regulation from the Social Cognitive View. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(1), 3276-3290. https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1.2021.112.88.97 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Rose, H., Briggs, J. G., Boggs, J. A., Sergio, L., & Ivanova-Slavianskaia, N. (2018). A systematic review of language learner strategy research in the face of self-regulation. System, 72, 151–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2017.12.002 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Schunk, D. H., & DiBenedetto, M. K. (2020). Motivation and social cognitive theory. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 60, 101832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2019.101832 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Schunk, D. H. (2003). Self-efficacy for reading and writing: Influence of modeling, goal setting, and self-evaluation. Reading &Writing Quarterly, 19(2), 159-172. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Teng, L. S., & Zhang, L. J. (2020). Empowering learners in the second/foreign language classroom: Can self-regulated learning strategies-based writing instruction make a difference? Journal of Second Language Writing, 48, 100701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2019.100701 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Teng, M. F., Wang, C., & Wu, J. G. (2023). Metacognitive strategies, language learning motivation, self-efficacy belief, and English achievement during remote learning: A structural equation modelling approach. RELC Journal, 54(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/00336882211040268 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Thomas, N., Schneider, J., & Zhou, S. (2024). Qualitative research on language learning strategies and self-regulation. AILA Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1075/aila.00059.tho [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Vandergrift, L. (2003). Orchestrating strategy use: Toward a model of the skilled second language listener. Language Learning, 53(3), 463–496. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9922.00232 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Vetter, T.R. (2017) Descriptive Statistics: Reporting the Answers to the 5 Basic Questions of Who, What, Why, When , Where, and a Sixth, so What? Anesth Analg, 12595), 1797-1802. https://doi.org/10.1213/ane.0000000000002471 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Warouw, D. S. & Neman, M. I. E. (2024). The Use of English Language Learning Strategies in Learning English as a Foreign Language. ELS Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities, 7(1), 32-42. https://doi.org/10.34050/elsjish.v7i1.32847. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Wenden A and Rubin J (1987) Learner Strategies in Language Learning. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Yusoff, F. K., & Mohd Said, N. E. (2024). Investigating Language Learning Strategies in an Online Learning Environment among Adolescent in an English as Second Language Setting. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 13(1). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. Zakaria, N.N., Idris, N., Isa, H. M., Ismail, S., Rahmat, N. H., Taib, N. A. M. (2024). Social Learning Strategies Used by Undergraduates to Learn Foreign Languages. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i11/22471. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. Zienefuss, J. Y., Casey A. E., Jennifer M. D., Meghan M. J., Thomas E. K, and Marna, C.. (2021) Impact of Demographic Survey Questions on Response Rate and Measurement: A Randomized Experiment. Survey Practice 14 (1), https://doi.org/10.29115/SP-2021-0010. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. Zimmerman, B. J. (2000). Attaining self-regulation: A social cognitive perspective. In M. Boekaerts, P. R. Pintrich, & M. Zeidner (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation (pp. 13–39). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. DOI: 10.1016/B978-012109890-2/50031-7 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Zulaikha Khairuddin, Mohd Daud, K., Amran, N. A., Sabri, S., & Rahmat, N. H. (2025). Integrating social cognitive theory into ESL writing pedagogy: A study of learners’ strategies and perceptions. Asian People Journal, 8(1), 1–15. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. https://journal.unisza.edu.my/apj/index.php/apj/article/view/822 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study