Language Learning Strategies

November 1, 2007

Today’s goals…

• Goals and HW (2:00-2:05)• Warm-up (2:05 – 2:10)• Language Learning Inventory (2:10 –

2:30) • Motivation – temperature activity

(2:30 – 2:40)• Listening Strategies (2:40 – 2:50)• Vocabulary (2:50 – 3:15)

Homework for next time…

• SA pp. 173-201 (Review)• Complete the profile “Identifying

the Characteristics, Strategies & Techniques of Successful Language Learners”

Warm-up: Do you speak English?

• Write an equivalent US English sentence for each of the following:– Ben had been watching the telly since half

five and was starting to feel a bit peckish.– Evan is in a nark. He thought he was going

to get a pay rise at work, but instead he was made redundant.

– When Alex moved to London, all he could afford was a bedsit.

Language Strategy Use Inventory

• Look at your results from the LSUI -- SA pp. 21-28

• Go to the board and write down one strategy that you use and one that doesn’t work for you in each category

What is your motivation for language learning?

• Discuss in small groups:– How good do you perceive yourself to be at

learning languages in general?– How much do you like a particular language?– What is your affinity toward the people who

speak that language?– Describe your experiences (positive and

negative) as a language learner.– Describe your language teacher(s).– On a scale of 1 (extremely) – 10 (not at all),

how do you characterize your motivation for language learning?

Taking your Motivational Temperature on a language

task• SA pp. 170-172• Take Your motivational temperature• Think about your results….how might

you increase your motivation?• Remember that motivation is not

constant but fluctuates.• Motivation won’t guarantee success

at language learning but it may help you with your language learning!

Listening & Vocabulary Learning

• What activities could you do to improve your listening and vocabulary skills before you visit another country?

• With a partner come up with a list of 5 activities for each skill.

Listening• What activities could

you do to improve your listening skills before you visit another country?– Listen to the radio

on the Internet– Watch foreign films– Find music CDs or

download music from iTunes

– Find a conversation group

– Subscribe to podcasts

Vocab• What activities could

you do to improve your vocabulary skills before you visit another country?– List of high frequency

words– Purchase flash cards– Hang out with NS– Learn 10 new words a

day– Read online– Prepare possible

conversation in advance

Strategies to Become a Better Listening

• On the transparency you see different strategies….which ones have you used? Which ones might be most and least effective for you?

How do you learn vocabulary?

• Learning Aymara Vocabulary (Activity) which spoken in parts of Bolivia and Peru

• 5 minutes to learn 10 words!

How do you learn vocabulary?

• Learning Aymara Vocabulary (Activity) which spoken in parts of Bolivia and Peru

• Think about how you learned each word – did you use the strategies you mentioned or thought of earlier? Did they work for you?

How do you learn vocabulary?

• Together look at some of the association techniques on the handout

• Aymara exercise, part II (association techniques)