Louise Potter –
One of the important steps I pointed out in the previous blog referring to lesson planning was to include different learning skills in your class plan.
What are learning strategies?
They are conscious steps or behaviors used by language learners to enhance the acquisition, storage, retention, recall, and use of new information (Rigney, 1978; Oxford, 1990). Student’s strategies can be assessed in a variety of ways, such as diaries, think-aloud procedures, observations, and surveys. Research both outside the language field (e.g., Brown, Bransford, Ferrara, & Campione, 1983) and investigations with language learners (see reviews by Skehan, 1989; Oxford 1989; Oxford & Crookall, 1989) frequently show that the most successful learners tend to use learning strategies that are appropriate to the material, to the task, and to their own goals, needs, and stage of learning. More proficient learners appear to use a wider range of strategies in a greater number of situations than do less proficient learners, but the relationship between strategy use and proficiency is complex. Research indicates that language learners at all levels use strategies (Chamot & Kupper, 1989), but that some or most learners are not fully aware of the strategies they use or the strategies that might be most beneficial to employ.
(Source: ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics Washington DC)
I believe teachers should, first of all, try to understand their own learning strategies. Look back at your own learning process and see what kind of strategy worked for you and why. This way, you can help your students find what strategies work best for them. It is important to make your student aware that they all do have some kind of strategy. Some learners enjoy grammar drills and sentence analysis, some prefer to speak out in private. Others hate grammar drills but seek out social conversation in the target language happy with themselves if they get the general meaning without knowing every word. Some build a mental model or big picture of the language. Others pay more attention to the senses (movement, sound, sight, and touch) than to intuition. There is no right or wrong, but the learner needs to find out what works for him/her to have a successful outcome.
Different people learn in different ways:
Auditory Learners
These students learn by listening and speaking. They enjoy talking and interviewing. They enjoy reading out loud, choral reading, and listening to recorded books and music. Include the following tasks in your classroom for them to be successful:
- interviewing, debating;
- giving oral presentation;
- songs and videos
Visual Learners
Visual learners have the necessity to see things written on the board. They need to see in order to learn. They learn best by observing. Include the following tasks for these kind of students:
- Graphic organizers ( mind maps, diagrams, maps)
- Graphic novels
- cartoons;
- posters;
- web presentations
- Videos from You tube
- Photographs and flashcards
Tactile and Kinesthetic Learners
Students learn best by touching and moving. In order to learn they must be doing things and will learn best through realia. They enjoy acting out and manipulating objects. Think about activities that include:
- Role paying;
- Playing board games;
- Crafts;
- following instructions to make something;
- Mimicry and games that involve using your body.
Lesson planning and student learning walk hand in hand in the successful language classroom. If you take these points into consideration while planning your class, having at least two or three different learning strategies during one class, I am sure you will achieve your teaching goals.
