Using the sill instrument to identify negative enhancement in learning among UiTM MDAB students: An intervention study / Sharifah Zakiah Wan Hassan … [et al.]

This study aimed at investigating and improving vocabulary knowledge of students enrolling in the 'Mengubah Destini Anak Bangsa Programme' (MDAB) in UiTM Sarawak. It proposed a six point language learning strategy (LLS) adapted from Oxford's (1990) classifications to be taught to the students from the intervention groups. The study also tried to determine whether LLS can be used to help improve the MDAB students' vocabulary knowledge.
This study set out to demonstrate that if we taught them the LLS, students would pick up valuable learning strategies and if they continue using these strategies, they will be on the road to mastering the English language. The sample utilised in this study comprised 30 MDAB students from one class from the January to April 2011 intake at UiTM's Samarahan campus. The research design in this study is experimental and descriptive in nature. The quantitative data from Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) survey questionnaires were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The common learning variable of strategy 'usage' was measured quantitatively by Mean (range 1 - 5). A strategy rating scale of 'high use' and 'low use' as has been employed by Mohamed Amin Embi et al (2001) was used in this study.