Learning strategies

August 19

In order to prepare your Personal Plan of English Activities, take into account the following strategies:

Vocabulary

• Write the unknown word and its definition in English on individual cards or in your notebook. Include a sample sentence that illustrates how the word may be used in context.

* Use drawings to define unknown words so that you learn the concept not the translation

• Compose sentences with the words you are studying. Try different contexts, and check with your teacher.

• Use natural word associations, such as opposites. For instance cold and hot, brother and sister.

     

Grammar

• Be on the lookout for rules. Don't wait for someone to point out a rule. Look for it yourself.

• Learn the rules. Make sure that you understand how a particular rule works.

• Avoid repeated errors. Try to understand why you consistently make a certain kind of error. You are not clear about the rule? You have totally misunderstood the rule?

• Be patient. It is impossible to learn, much less remember all the rules in a limited period of time. Work on your grammar diligently. One rule at a time and lots of practice and reviewing are good operating principles.

Listening 

• Set yourself a goal. It's best not to aim too high, unless you have lots of time free to dedicate to your listening. Think of one or two aspects of your listening that you'd like to improve. 

• Choose a song that you like and try to transcribe it. Once you have done the transcription, compare your transcription with the lyrics of the song. How's it going?

• Listen to the song with a friend. You can later discuss what the song is about and help each other if you have difficulties in understanding any of it. You can use websites such as: http://www.lyricstraining.com/

* Watch your favorite TV shows or programs and movies with closed captions. It's interesting to watch your favorite programs in the original language, don't you think so?

Reading

• Read something short and easy to begin with, for example, news headlines, comics, or even signs you find in the streets and public places. 

• Read something with lots of pictures. 

• Read aloud some of the dialogues in your reading. Or ask someone to read aloud with you. You may find listening to the story more interesting. 

* Read and listen to one news daily. You can do it in: http://learningenglish.voanews.com/ and http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

Speaking

• Practice situations when you are alone, perhaps in front of a mirror. Imagine introducing yourself, disagreeing with someone's ideas, being interviewed or asking for information. If you can get someone to help, assign parts and do role - playing. 

• Make friends from English speaking countries. In order to do this, Visit the following website: http://www.sharedtalk.com/index.aspx

• Practise reading aloud - get someone to check your pronunciation and intonation, or record yourself on tape and analyse your own speech. 

• Visit a former English teacher or your tutor. Teachers like to hear how their students are doing.

     

Adapted from: http://lc.ust.hk/~sac/advice/english/speaking/S2.htm 

Writing

In order to improve your writing, you should make writing and reading part of your life. Why don’t you:

• Write a journal in English to record your daily life experiences.

• Write book reports, film reviews etc.

• Write whenever you want; bring a nice little notebook wherever you go 

• Imitate native speakers’ writing. For instance, in writing a response to a personal note, look at the format, the way in which the writer of the note addressed you, how he started and ended the note, etc.         

Task to do:

Write down in comments what your main English weaknesses are, what are the learning strategies you consider might work better for you and which resources you are going to use to achieve your objectives.

Adapted from: Rubin & Thompson (1994). How to be a more successful language learner. Boston:  Heinle & Heinle. Prepared by  Ana María Sierra.

Adapted by: Alejandra Jiménez and Deisa Gómez