What kind of language learner are you?

  1. Tick the three activities you think are most similar to language learning, ans say why. Do you think learning a language is like learning:

To ride a bike

To play the piano

To play chess

To walk

Words in a play

Mathematical formulae

To swim

Dates for a history exam

To play cards

  1. Try to number the sentences in order: 1=most useful way fro me 2=least useful way for me. Which do you think are the best ways to learn English?

Learning lists of vocabulary by heart

Writing down the translation of every new word or phrase

Learning grammar rules, with example sentences

Reading as much as possible in or out of class

Speaking as much as possible in class

Writing everything down in a notebook and learning it

Forgetting about grammar and listening to people talking instead

Doing lots of written grammar exercises

Doing lots of oral grammar exercises

Getting the teacher to correct you every time you say a sentence

Trying to think in English and not translate into your own language

Writing essays and getting tem corrected by the teacher

  1. What aspects of language do you feel you need most help or practice with? Number them in order: 1=need to practise most 2= need to practise least

Grammar

Vocabulary

Reading

Listening

Speaking

Writing

Pronunciation

  1. How do you think the following people can help you best?

Your teacher

Your family

The other people in your group

People in the street, in shops, etc

Yourself

Learning a language: experience and expectations

Think about your previous experience of learning a language. Tick the sentences that are true for you:

  1. learning a language:

involves hard work

is interesting

is difficult

is frustrating

is painful

is confusing

is boring

can be fun

is easy

comes naturally

requires a lot of memorization

  1. when I am speaking a foreign language, I feel:

shy

frustrated

stupid

confident

challenged

happy

embarrassed

tongue-tied

as if I am a different person

  1. learning a language in class involves

reading texts and answering questions

translating texts

reading literature

writing grammar exercises

doing a project

learning about British and American culture

learning grammar rules

dictation

listening to the teacher

acting a play or dialogue

making a TV or radio programme

reading aloud

learning lists of vocabulary

frequent tests

role play, mime and drama

following a textbook

making a newspaper

letter writing

practising speaking in pairs or groups

listening to a tape or CD and answering questions

games

repeating in chorus

practising pronunciation

songs

class discussion and debates

writing stories or essays