View Content #28203

The text below is an excerpt from CASLS's module on self-drected learning. Please feel free to use the entire module (or an excerpt) as the learners you work with adapt to new environments for learning. Each section includes various learner resources, including videos and materials to guide and inspire goal articulation, strategy selection, evidence creation and evaluation, and self-reflection.

What's my strategy?

Language learning can be approached in many different ways, but learners have to figure out what works well for them in order to be successful. This may require some shopping around, experimentation, and practice to figure out how they learn best. Have learners watch the video below to learn about various language learning strategies and how to choose a strategy that is going to work well for them!

Now that they've learned more about selecting strategies that work, have students use the Strategies Guide (linked below) to determine language strategies that they have used before and that they would like to try in the future. If they need more strategy ideas, check out the NCSSFL Strategies Menu! Learners can return to it for more ideas about language learning strategies that they might want to try in the future.

Strategies: Student Guide – Printable
NCSSFL Strategies Menu

How do I handle the language that comes my way?

Learners can watch the world around them and think about how others are using language. This is an important step in language learning. It will help them when they then try to use the language yourself! However, it may not be clear how to begin with this process. Have learners watch the next video to discover how to use observation and analysis activities to handle new language that comes towards them during goal completion.

Now that they've learned what observation and analysis activities are, have them use the following guide to walk themselves through observation and analysis of an example of someone else completing their goal.

Observation and Analysis: Student Guide – Fillable
Observation and Analysis: Student Guide – Printable
Observation and Analysis: Our Ideas

What resources can I use?

Language learning requires a whole tool belt of good language learning resources. But how do learners find these? And how do they know if they’re any good? Have students watch the following video to find out!

Now that they've watched the video, ask students to use the Resource Guide to think through what types of resources would be useful for them in their context. They will need to think carefully about what their goal is and what information they need to learn to achieve it.

Resources: Student Guide – Printable