Language Learning Strategies & Graphic Organizers Dr. Latricia Trites Academic Advisor Fulbright Yilan Project 2008-2009

Language Learning Strategies As you arrive, please read the article by Pat Beckman that is in the front of your handout. Make a list of the things that you did to help you learn a second or foreign language.

What do good language learners do? Rubin & Thompson (in Brown, 2007, pp. 259-260) provide a list of good language learner characteristics: Take charge of their learning. Organize information about language. Experiment with the language’s grammar and words. Create opportunities to practice using the language. Learn to live with not understanding every word. Use mnemonics and other memory strategies. Make errors work for them. Use linguistic knowledge (even from the L1) to work for them. Use context clues. Make intelligent guesses. Learn formulaic language chunks. Learn tricks to keep conversations going. Learn production strategies to fill gaps in conversations. Learn to vary their language.

Types of Learning Strategies Rebecca Oxford (1990) lists six major types of learning strategies: Cognitive Strategies Metacognitive Strategies Memory-related Strategies Compensatory Strategies Affective Strategies Social Strategies

Cognitive Strategies “enable the learner to manipulate the language material in direct ways,…” (Oxford, in Celce-Murcia, M. (2001), p. 363). Note taking Summarizing Outlining

Metacognitive Strategies “identifying one’s own learning style preference and needs,…” (Oxford, in Celce-Murcia, M. (2001), p. 364). Gathering and organizing material Arranging study space and schedule Monitoring mistakes Evaluating task success

Memory-related Strategies “helps learners link one L2 item or concept with another,…” (Oxford, in Celce-Murcia, M., (2001)., p. 364). Rhyming Mental images Linking words with pictures TPR Flashcards Mneumonic devices

Compensatory Strategies Compensating when the learner doesn’t know a word or expression in language use. Guessing meaning from context Circumlocution Gestures Pausing Avoidance

Affective Strategies Strategies a learner uses to lower anxiety during language performance. Identifying mood Talking about feelings Rewarding good performance Positive self-talk Deep breathing

Social Strategies Strategies that help the learner adapt to and understand the target culture. Asking questions to get clarification Asking for help when performing a task Talking with a NS conversation partner Exploring cultural and social norms

Things that Affect Learning Strategies Age Motivation Learning Style Gender Culture

Video Watch Video, looking for the following: Any strategies that were listed in the readings. Language specific strategies that the students used. Affective factors that the teacher planned for or used. Discuss with a partner the following: How would you categorize the strategies that you listed at the beginning of the workshop? Are you aware of any strategies that your students use in your class? Which are used most frequently? Opp-Beckman, L., & Klinghammer, S. (2006). Module 7: Learning strategies. In Shaping the way we teach English: Successful practices around the world. Washington, DC: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Implications for the Classroom No one strategy works for every student. Strategies must be taught directly to many students. Strategies must be tuned to students’ learning styles and learning needs.

What Are Graphic Organizers? Communication tools that express ideas and represent connections or relationships between these ideas or concepts. Often called concept maps, mind maps, advanced organizers, etc.

Why Should We Use Them? They encourage students to think about the information presented in a different way. They help students identify main concepts and supporting details. They remove linguistic load of texts. They help students become more strategic learners.

When Should We Use Them? Use before instruction to prime students’ background knowledge of information to be presented. Use during instruction to isolate critical information. Use after instruction to construct students’ understanding of information, represent relationships among concepts, and encourage elaboration.

Which Graphic Organizer Should Be Used? Choose a graphic organizer that best represents the relationship among the information presented. http://www.graphicorganizers.com/resources.html Hierarchical Linear Cause/Effect Sequential

Examples of Common Graphic Organizers www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_go.html#types www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/students/learning/lr1grorg.htm http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/graphicorganizers/index.html http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/graphic_organizers.htm http://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/ http://www.makeworksheets.com/samples/graphicorg/index.html

Subject Related Graphic Organizers Textual Organizers www.englishcompanion.com/Tools/notemaking.html Math Organizers www.sw-georgia.resa.k12.ga.us/Math.html Science Organizers www.graphicorganizers.com/sciencenew.htm

Essential Issues about Graphic Organizers No ONE organizer suits all learners Learning curve for using organizers can be large. Students must be explicitly taught how to use organizers effectively. Graphic organizers allow you to teach more than just content – processing skills, patterns of information, analytical & critical thinking skills, etc.

Who Should Create Them? Both Teachers & Students Teachers design them first, use with content Teachers & students co-construct graphic organizers. Groups of students construct graphic organizers. Individual students construct graphic organizers. (www.GraphicOrganizers.com)

Additional Resources Amin, A.B.M. (2004). Using graphic organizers. Paper presented at the ITE Teachers’ Conference 2004. Institute of Technical Education, Singapore. Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://edt.ite.edu.sg/ite_conf/edu_tech/tc04et02.pdf Ellis, E. (2004). Q&A: What’s the big deal with graphic organizers? Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://www.GraphicOrganizers.com “Graphic organizers.” Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic73.htm. “CAST: Graphic organizers.” Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://www.cast.org/publications/ncac/ncac_go.html “Guidelines for designing graphic organizers.” Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from www.wm.edu/ttac/articles/learning/graphic.html “Lesson: Using graphic organizers for sensemaking” Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/21stcent/lgraph.html “What is mind mapping?” Retrieved, March 1, 2008 from http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk/glossary/mind-mindmapping-software.htm

References Brown, H.D. (2007). Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy (3rd ed.). White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman. Opp-Beckman, L., & Klinghammer, S. (2006). Module 7: Learning strategies. In Shaping the way we teach English: Successful practices around the world. Washington, DC: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Oxford, R. (2001). Language learning styles and strategies. In. M. Celce-Murcia, Ed. Teaching English as a second or foreign language (3rd ed.). USA: Heinle & Heinle.