Learning Strategies

Activity 2: Exploring the characteristics of an effective language learner
Objective: to raise participants’ awareness about their strengths and weaknesses in language learning
Time: 17 min
Materials: Worksheet 1 (a copy for each learner)
Procedure:

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   (2min) Distribute Worksheet 1 to each learner and say that this is a list of the characteristics of an effective language learner. Ask participants to tick the boxes relevant to them and add more if they can think of any others.
  
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   (10 min) Put participants into pairs to interview each other.
  
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   (5min) Invite random answers. Summarise the activity by suggesting that knowing their own characteristics can help them to work out useful strategies to ease the learning process.
  

Activity 3: Identifying language learning strategies
Objective: to encourage learners to experiment with a range of language learning strategies
Time: 30 min
Materials:

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  Papers A4 (one for 3-4 learners)
  
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  Markers (one for each learner)
  
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  Worksheet 2 (a copy for 3-4 learners)
  

Procedure:

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   (5 min) Ask learners to think about the following question: “What should a learner do in order to become a more effective language learner?” Elicit several answers and establish that in order to become an effective language learner one should use various strategies.
  
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   (10min) Put learners in groups of 3-4. Distribute Worksheet 2, markers and A4 paper for each group. Ask each group to read the case studies in Worksheet 2 and suggest several learning strategies to solve the problem described there. Say that each group should write their suggestions on their A4 paper.
  

Possible strategies: