Teaching Additional Languages (IAE - IBE - UNESCO, 28 p.): 4. Learning strategies

Teaching Additional Languages (IAE - IBE - UNESCO, 28 p.)

		(introduction...)
		The International Academy of Education
		Series preface
		Introduction
		1. Comprehensible input
		2. Language opportunities
		3. Language practice
		4. Learning strategies
		5. Listening
		6. Speaking
		7. Reading
		8. Writing
		9. Grammar
		10. Comprehensible pronunciation
		Conclusion
		References
		Back Cover

4. Learning strategies

Students should be taught strategies that enable them to increasingly learn language on their own and from their classmates and others without their teacher’s help.

Research findings

Classes cannot allow enough time to teach everything about additional languages. If students are taught how to learn on their own, they can acquire vocabulary and language skills by themselves without their teachers. Successful strategies include taking a slow breath to reduce anxiety, raising pertinent questions about difficult points, and being sensitive to the difficulties of others. Other strategies are tricks to memorize words, guessing and then checking meanings, and maximizing opportunities for language practice.

In the classroom

Teachers can employ several techniques for encouraging language-learning strategies:

· Observe students to see which learning strategies lead to better learning.
· Instruct students in strategies that can help them successfully learn and which allow them to become independent.
· Be aware of learners’ emotions and use techniques to reduce their anxiety.
· Encourage students to share successful strategies with each other.
· Teach students strategies that can help them compensate when they do not understand or cannot think of a word or phrase

References: O’Malley & Chamot, 1990; Oxford, 1990; Wendon, 1991.