1 ‘ Here’s what you’re getting yourself into: Advice of Second-Year Students on Studying Less Commonly Taught Languages Anna Uhl Chamot Jill Robbins (thanks to Laura Blythe Liu, Kristen D’Avolio, & Candice Michalowicz) The George Washington University/ National Capital Language Resource Center Washington, DC

2 BACKGROUND National Capital Language Resource Center (NCLRC) is one of 15 foreign language resource centers in U. S. Since 1990 NCLRC has conducted research on language learning strategies, both identification and classroom applications studies. Learning Strategy Resource Guides produced for elementary immersion, high school, and university language teachers and students.

3 PURPOSE OF CURRENT NCLRC STUDY Explore how US college students learn ArabicChineseJapaneseKorean

4 RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY Our previous learning strategy research was on learning of Western languages. Good language learners (of Western languages) use similar strategies. What are the effects of non-Western writing systems on strategy use? What is the impact of unique grammar and non-cognate vocabulary? How are students using technology in language learning now?

5 PARTICIPANTS College learners of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. Low Intermediate (fourth semester) level at two U.S. universities. 11 students of Arabic. 10 students of Chinese. 6 students of Japanese. 4 students of Korean.

6 QUESTIONS What are the challenges in learning (language) ? What strategies do you use to overcome these challenges? What advice do you give to other students of this language? How are you learning the target language culture?

7 METHODOLOGY Record and videotape focus group interview protocols. Transcribe interviews verbatim. Analyze transcripts for learning challenges and responses. Identify student perceptions of effective and ineffective instruction.

8 FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEW STRUCTURE Writing task with think-aloud prompts. Questions on Speaking Reading Listening Vocabulary Culture Advice to a new student of the language.

9 Get to know the culture! Create your own immersion environment Non-heritage learners with native speaking friends: Get to know native speaking friends! Non-heritage learners w/o native speaking friends who have not spent time abroad: Study! Advice from heritage learners Advice from non-heritage learners

10 Devote time to both informal & formal study Get to know the culture! Have Chinese friends Go to Chinese table Advice from a heritage learner

11 ARABIC Do the work every day Be sure you know the vocabulary

12 ARABIC Go in with “a mission to learn” Understand that knowledge will improve your life Remember purpose - to get a profound sense of the Middle East

13 CHINESE Distributed Practice

14 CHINESE Using boxes for reading (chunk text)

15 CHINESE Make sure this is what you want to do; Actually study; you’ll get more out of class Make a work book - print & fill out in class

16 CHINESE Finish other languages first Be ready to spend forever learning it Start early (give children toys with characters)

17 JAPANESE Use flashcards while playing video games Watch movies in Japanese Make friends and get involved in martial arts and cultural exchanges Study radicals to understand kanji

18 JAPANESE It’s hard at the beginning - then you figure out the rules and how to apply them

19 KOREAN Meet the professor Make Korean friends

20 KOREAN Don’t translate - Use images to create language

21 NEXT STEPS Continue data analysis. Develop descriptions of learning strategy applications for each language. Produce resource guide for teaching learning strategies to students of Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean.

22 FUTURE RESEARCH Ways to teach learning strategies for language-specific challenges. Effects of strategies-based instruction (SBI) on student achievement/proficiency, attitude, and motivation. Instructional model for SBI for non-Western languages.

23 FOR MORE INFORMATION Please visit the NCLRC website for free resources on language learning strategies and other topics Please visit the NCLRC website for free resources on language learning strategies and other topics Special thanks to our transcribers: Laura Blythe Liu, Kristen D’Avolio, and Candice Michalowicz