EFS 689E - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Learning English on Your Own
Syllabus
EFS 689E: Learning English on Your Own
Week 6:
Course Conclusion
I.
Summary of the course Part I. Signup for
continuing contact
II. Phil's Presentation
III. Student presentations
IV.
Summary of the course Part II. Some
principles to remember (below)
V. The end, but not good-by: I'll be in touch requesting progress reports!
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SOME PRINCIPLES FOR
LEARNING ENGLISH ON YOUR OWN
Preparation
- Find good "models" (native & non-native)
- Learn more about language
learning
- Learn more about how you learn
best
Planning
- Set goals/objectives: immediate & long term
- Assess needs
regularly
- Create a timetable
- Collect materials
- Describe useful procedures
- Execute according to the timetable: make it high
priority
- Evaluate and review progress regularly (build this into your
plan)
Finding material
- Familiar materials are usually better for learning
- Become a search engine expert
- don't limit yourself to our course materials (add ESL or EFL to searches
for dedicated language learning sites)
- Collect & identify material for later use
Execution
- Focus on one thing at a time
during a lesson when possible--avoid multi-tasking except for special
purposes (e.g., note taking)
- Use variety in procedures - experiment! Keep in mind
the need to focus on the form-meaning-use linkage
- Speak and write monologues or keep an oral journal.
Use stories, descriptions, opinions: for topics go to
http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com/infowrite/res_topc.htm
- Monitor yourself during activities
- Use meaning technologies (online dictionaries,
transcripts, captions, translations, etc.) wisely
- Make time for consolidation
(connecting pieces of what you've learned into a coherent system)
- Try to associate, not just remember: think deeply
Management
- Monitor and renew your motivation regularly
- Review and revise your plan regularly
- Look for partners: language is for communication
(e.g.,
www.mylanguageexchange.com)
Outside time
- Monitor your production in real situations whenever possible;
make a note of what you have trouble saying or writing
- Observe others constantly, both native and non-native
- Try to capture useful words and language chunks
- Build language contact on comfortable situations, but
allow yourself to be uncomfortable when needed
- But sometimes, just use the language and don't reflect
Last modified August 9, 2011, by Phil Hubbard