The Learner



Why are some students successful at language learning whilst others are not?



How do learners differ?
•Age
•Levels
•Motivation
•Social background
•Abilities
•Learning styles
•
•Your situation at school?

VAK style
•Visual
•Auditory
•kinesthetic

Task: Create for your learners a FSW exercise
•Respect their:
•Age and interests
•Motivation
•Level
•Abilities
•Think of how to make it :
•Visual
•Kinesthetic
•Auditory
•
•
•
•FSW = find someone who

•Extrinsic motivation – integration into a foreign culture is necessary, language might be an
instrument for getting a better job
•Intrinsic motivation – physical conditions, method, the teacher, success
•

Motivational differences depend on age
•children
•Adolescents
•Adults – beginners, intermediate, advanced

http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~tbayston/eme6313/learning_pyramid.jpg



8 types of intelligences
•Linguistic
•Logical-mathematical
•Spacial
•Bodily kinesthetic
•Musical
•Interpersonal
•Intrapersonal
•Naturalist
•
•

What can we do about mixed ability classes?
•Divide them (placement tests)
•Introduce content-based teaching
•Use group and pair-work
•Support learners autonomy
•Use open-ended tasks (story-telling, drama)
•Use graded tasks