Teaching Strategies for Autonomous Learning

Teaching Strategies for Au-tonomous Learning

David Hutchinson

Autonomous Learning

“the ability to take charge of one’s own learning”

– Henri Holec

What is autonomy?

Autonomous Learning

take responsibility for their learning have their own goals understand themselves as learners know and use a variety of strategies critically evaluate what is taught

Autonomous learners …

Autonomous Learning

Learners can focus on their own needs Learn at their own pace Improved motivation Active participation Engage in the culture through their interests

Benefits:

Autonomous Learning

Is it for everyone?

The Teacher’s Role

Encourage independence Help students reflect Teach and practice strategies and skills Show the students opportunities to use the language Complement self-study

in autonomous learning

Conversation Strategies:

Beginning & Continuing Conversations

Where are you from?

How do you spend your free

time?

What’s your major?

1. Meeting someone for the first time2. Talking to someone you know3. Follow-up questions4. Saying more than “yes” or “no”.

Did you do anything on the

weekend?

How’s school?

How do you spend your free time?

I like hiking …

Where have you gone hiking?

Pronunciation Strategies:

Terror Words

Terror word: a word that a learner is reluctant to use because of (perceived) difficulty in pronunciation.

Pronunciation Strategies:

How students deal with terror words

Avoid using them Say them softly or mumble

Pronunciation Strategies:

Dealing with terror words

Identify them Practice them Speak them loudly

Vocabulary Strategies:

Vocabulary Building

Vocabulary notebooks Writing example sentences Word webs Comparing similar words

Word Webs

HotMeaning

덥다

뜨겁다

맵다

Part of Speech

adj.

Phrases

hot pink

hot air

hot potato

Inflections

hotter

hottest

Derived Words

hot-blooded

hothouse

Word Webs

Meaning

Part of Speech

Phrases

InflectionsDerived Words

Work

Comparing Similar Words

Word Meaning Examples

win(p.t. won)

verb; win a game, etc. but not win a team.

e.g. Korea won the soccer match.Korea won England.Korea won against England.

defeat

as noun: means loss.as verb(타동사 ): win, object is losing team.

The game ended in England’s defeat (=England lost).Korea defeated England (=Korea wins, England loses).

victorynoun (no verb form) Korea’s victory advances them to the

semi-finals.

Comparing Similar Words

Word Meaning Examples

Online Resources

for autonomous students

Online Resources

for autonomous students

lang-8.com quizlet.com newsinlevels.com esldiscussions.com forvo.com wordpress.com

More Strategies Genre writing Glossing while reading Selecting words to learn Shadowing Communication strategies

Discussion Questions

Vocabulary Building

1. Do you teach any strategies in class?2. What strategies do you use to learn

languages? Are they teachable?3. Do you have any other ideas for

strategies you could teach your students?

Contact Information

David HutchinsonEmail: hutchinson@hoseo.eduWebsite: david-hutchinson.ca