Five decades of language learning strategy research: a bibliometric review and research agenda

As of 2024, almost fifty golden years have passed since the language learning strategy (LLS) concept was first brought to wide attention in 1975. This study analysed 2,580 publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection over the past five decades using bibliometric analysis and science mapping visualisation techniques to delineate the burgeoning scholarly discourse on LLSs regarding the leading researchers, countries, institutions, and sources. Author keywords were also analysed to explore the main research topics and h-classics publications were reviewed to understand the key focuses of the most impactful publications in LLS research. The findings reveal that research on LLSs is extremely vibrant despite facing severe competition from the self-regulation front in recent years. The USA, the PRC, England, and Taiwan dominate the production of knowledge in this field, and Rebecca Oxford, Ernesto Macaro, Suzanne Graham and Lawrence Jun Zhang have the highest average citations in their publications about LLSs. Further, System, Modern Language Journal and TESOL Quarterly have been the leading venues of publication for the most impactful outputs. The review of the 55 h-classics gave insight into future directions for LLS research theoretically, methodologically, and/or pedagogically.