Anne Van Marsenille – EdD student – Open University Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
Setting: Higher Education institution where I am currently working Languages: Dutch (second language) - English (foreign language) This study: learning of English - learning methods and strategies>to transfer to other languages. Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
->insights of learners in Higher Education> informal learning of English, in relation to formal learning. - >individual methods and strategies for good foreign language learning. Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
.- What are language learners in Higher Education institutions in Brussels’ perceptions of informal learning? -Are students motivated to learn a foreign language informally? -Do learners reflect upon the informal language learning process? Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-Qualitative inquiry -Experiential approach > human lived experience > students’ experience -Naturalistic research > learning situations through the eyes of the participants Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
in my Higher Education institution in Brussels > to transfer to other Higher Education institutions Insider and outsider researcher: -at my Higher Education institution -not my students Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-questionnaires : initial study: 10 students > main study: 80 students -interviews: initial study: 2 students and 1 teacher > main study: 16 students and 4 teachers -self-reports (adapted ELP biography): main study: 4 students Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-French (mother tongue): not about the knowledge of English > about the language learning process Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-Main study: use of self-reports (adapted ELP biography) -Revision: neutral outsider (English Professsor in Foreign Language Teaching at the University of Brussels) Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
Formal learning: - questionnaires (see graph): more importance > reading - interviews: more importance > speaking - self-reports (main study) > discussions and reading - > Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
Informal learning: -questionnaires (see graph): use of Internet and speaking -interviews: use of Internet (to be considered by the teacher) -self-reports (main study): speaking English mainly abroad and in Brussels Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-questionnaires (see graph) : ‘integrative motive’ : good disposition > language community -interviews: ‘instrumental motive’: knowing English > to have a good job -self-reports (main study): to be with the language community Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-questionnaires (see graph) and interviews: -use of a dictionary (teacher: grammatical structures and vocabulary) – not heard about the ELP (European Language Portfolio) (teacher knows but > time-consuming) -self-reports (main study): use of a dictionary and paying attention to the pronunciation Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012
-Research questions > questions in questionnaires and interviews, later in the self-reports -Initial study: small sample > no conclusions > in depth in main study (some findings through the self- reports and similarities between the initial and main studies): reading (formal learning) - speaking (informal learning) – motivation through the language community – reflection about the vocabulary (use of a dictionary). Anne Van Marsenille - Open University - Edinburgh, July 2012