This study investigates the use of language learning strategies among EFL university freshmen and its relation
with English learning motivation. The findings indicate that participants with high English proficiency
level displayed a significantly higher level of strategy use than their counterparts at lower and intermediate
levels. Compensation strategies were used most often by students of lower English proficiency levels, while
metacognitive strategies were used most by students of higher-proficiency abilities. Among the six categories
of strategies, metacognitive and cognitive strategies were found to have higher correlations with motivation,
while compensation strategies had lower correlations. The frequency of strategy use had a highly significant
and positive correlation with motivation. Strategies involving audio and visual elements were found to be
favored by the research participants. Pedagogical implications and suggestions drawn from the current study
were presented to enhance the sustainability of English language learning and the effectiveness of English
language teaching.