Language Learning as a Reflective Activity By Jane Jones
Good Teaching-what does it look like? z The ‘P’ factor Purposefulness z The ‘C’ factor Challenge z The ‘V’ factor Variety z The ‘P’ factor Progression z The ‘M’ factor Memorability
Good Learning What is involved? z Active engagement in the task z Making connections-transfer of learning z Strategic competence- strategy use z Reflexivity-being self-critical z A successful learning outcome-moving form A-B zNB The most effective language learners use more strategies and more effectively. Graham 1997
A Good Task z Worthwhile z A real context z Appropriate z High transfer value z Challenge - food for thought
My Bonnie lies over the ocean My Bonnie lies over the sea My Bonnie lies over the ocean Oh bring back my Bonnie to me Bring back, bring back Oh bring back my Bonnie to me to me! Bring back, bring back Oh bring back my Bonnie to me!
Strategy Training The teacher’s perspective z Part of the lesson plan z Teacher modelling z Opportunities to practise z Evaluation and critiquing z Learner diaries - thinking about learning z Thinking aloud and rehearsal z Test-taking strategies - getting test-wise
Listen!! z Identify cognates and known expressions z Hold sounds in your head z Write sounds down z Paralingual clues and context
Read!! z Identify grammatical categories z Informed guess (infer?) from the context z Use orthographic references z Repeat efforts to decode
Speak!! z Keep it simple z Use all purpose words ‘whatsit’ ‘truc’ z Circumlocution z Mime, gesture, facial expression
Write!! z Use your favourite chunks z Recycle what you have in front of you z Use resources z Make it ‘fancy’
Being strategically competent - Be smart z Metacognitive – Thinking about the learning task e.g. self-monitoring z Cognitive – Interacting with the materials/task e.g. substitution z Social and affective strategies – Interacting with another person e.g. Pooling info or using affective control e.g. Reduce anxiety
Jabberwocky: a reflective task z Listen z Look z Imagine z React z Connect z Reflect z Consolidate z Enjoy
In the town where I was born Lived a man who sailed the sea And he told us of his life In the land of submarines So we sailed on to the sun Till we found the sea of green And we lived beneath the waves in our yellow submarine We all live in a yellow submarine yellow submarine yellow submarine we all live in a yellow submarine yellow submarine yellow submarine
And our friends are all aboard Many more of them live next door And the band begins to play In our yellow submarine We all live etc
As we live a life of ease Everyone of us has all we need Sky of blue and sea of green In our yellow submarine We all live etc