Modern Journal of Language Teaching Methods (MJLTM) Vol.4, Issue 3, September 2014 Page 196 LEARNING STRATEGIES INSTRUCTION AND IRANIAN EFL LEARNERS’ ACHIEVEMENT IN SUB-SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AT JUNIER HIGH SCHOOL Mona Mahnani Department of English, Abadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadeh, Iran Mona_136772@yahoo.com Seyed Jamal Abdorrahimzadeh Department of English, Abadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadeh, Iran sjaamir@yahoo.com Mohammad Rostampour Department of English, Abadeh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Abadeh, Iran abdrostampor@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Learning strategies play an important role in the process of learning English as a foreign language. Good learners use a variety of learning strategies in order to internalize the target language better. In order to determine how language learning strategy (LLS) training affects junior high school students’ sub -skill development, cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies were instructed to a group of 15 EFL students at a junior high school along with their English study as their public education. The performance of the experimental group in sub-skill tests was compared with that of the control group on two occasions just after the treatment and overtime to check for long-term retention. Findings of a questionnaire on patterns of strategy use administered before and after the treatment show that teaching of cognitive and metacognitive strategies had the greatest effect on the use of metacognitive strategies followed by cognitive and memory strategies. Social and compensation strategies were two other strategies self-reported as being used by the participants in the experimental group follow the mentioned strategies and teaching these two strategies had least effect on affective strategies. In sub-skill development which was the major focus of the study, students in the experimental group had the most improvement in pronunciation and the least performance in grammar section in comparison with other two sections. KEY WORDS: Learning strategies; sub-skill development 1. Introduction Learning strategies play an important role in the process of learning English as a foreign language. Good learners use a variety of learning strategies in order to internalize the target language better. What is required for success in this respect is persistence on the part of learners in practicing and using a whole battery of strategies for language learning, whether learners are in a regular language classroom or working on a self- study program. When learners are taught how to look at themselves and how to capitalize on their talents and experiences, they learn lessons that carry them well beyond any language classroom. In EFL contexts, much of language learning takes place in formal classroom environments. Learners should be familiar with learning strategies and how to use them in order to do satisfactorily when they are engaged in activities within the classroom learning environment but out of the classroom also. 1.1. Statement of Problems A large number of students in this educational milieu are beginners and an English class in its curriculum provides them with the first occasion to experience working with a foreign language. Students in grade one and