Teachers' Room

Helping Students to Become More Effective Learners

by Michael Harris

Synopsis
The process of learning a foreign language can be long and frustrating for secondary students. One of the reasons is that learning a language is very different from other kinds of learning that students are doing in the secondary school context (such as science/history etc). This article firstly examines ways of helping students by making them more aware of what is involved in foreign language learning. It then presents activities that try to develop students' responsibility for their own learning and make them more active learners. Finally, the article looks at some tasks that focus on studying outside the class.

Contents
Part 1: The Process of Learning

Part 2: Thinking about learning
Activity 1 - Learning Experiences
Activity 2 - Your Learning
Activity 3 - Learning Styles
Activity 4 - Beliefs about Learning

Part 3: Self assessment
Activity 5 - Initial Self-assessment of Speaking
Activity 6 - Initial Self-assessment of Listening
Activity 7 - Initial Self-assessment of Reading and Writing
Activity 8 - Initial Self-assessment of Grammar
Activity 9 - Your Attitudes

Part 4: Setting Goals
Activity 10 - Prioritising Your Needs
Activity 11 - Consultation of Objectives/Topics

Part 5: Classroom Contracts
Activity 12 - Classroom Contracts

Part 6: Learner Diaries
Activity 13 - Learner Diary (1)
Activity 14 - Learner Diary (2)

Part 7: Self-study
Activity 15 - Doing Your Homework
Activity 16 - Learn Outside the Class
Activity 17 - The English Around You
Activity 18 - Pop Songs

Reflection/Bibliography

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