Learning strategies What are learner strategies for?

Why are these important?

• “… they are tools for active, self-directed involvement, which is essential for developing communicative competence” (Oxford, 1990)
• “…help students become better language learners.” Graham (1997)

How Teachers Can Help

• Identify students’ learning styles and current strategies through surveys, interviews, etc.
• Help students discern the most relevant LLS for their learning style, tasks, and goals
• Aid students in systematically using them

LLS and the 3 Modes

• Interpersonal
• Interpretive
• Presentational
• & Culture!

Interpersonal Mode

Sample Activity	Strategy
Talk with a partner about things you do at home.	Cooperate: Work together to keep the conversation going. When you are trying to think of a word, let your partner suggest vocabulary you can use. If your partner has trouble, help by offering what you know how to say. Helping each other learn will make the process more fun.
Use new vocabulary related to school subjects to interview a classmate about likes and dislikes.	Look at the vocabulary list for cognates, words that are similar to the English names of school subjects. Check your understanding of the words with the glossary and ask your classmate about the classes they like or dislike. Notice how the words may have a different stress or pronunciation in the foreign language, so you won’t pronounce them the same way as in English.

Interpretive Mode

Sample Activity	Strategy
Listen to a dialogue about making a date.	Use what you know about dating to help you understand the dialogue. For example, there are different ways to ask if someone is free on a certain date in English. How do speakers of your foreign language handle the situation? Notice how the speakers make a request and respond to a request for a date
Read a travel brochure. Answer questions about the place in the brochure.	Begin reading the brochure and stop periodically to see if you are understanding what you are reading. Stop to monitor your progress frequently. If you don’t understand, access resources such as the glossary, your notes, or your dictionary.