Learning style

Module 4: Current Directions in ELT
Styles and Strategies in Second Language Learning
&
Technology in ELT
Vũ Mai Trang
ELT Division, HULIS, VNU
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My two students
Minh
Long
3
Discuss
What is “learning styles”? Give examples.
Why do language teachers need to be aware of students’ individual learning styles?
Watch & Compare
(Prof Richards Felder, North Caroline State University, US)
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Learning styles: “An individual’s natural habitual and preferred way of learning”
Christison 2003
Learning Styles
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Find out what learning styles you own.
Do
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Some classical learning styles models
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (1965)
Grace Fernard’s VAKT (1943)
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory (1983)

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Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Extroversion vs. introversion
Sensing vs. intuition
Thinking vs. feeling
Judging vs. perceiving
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Fernald’s VAKT Method
Visual
Auditory
Kinesthetic
Tactile
(Reading)
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Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
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Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences
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In pairs, look at Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and work out some classroom activities that develop one or more of these intelligences.
Discuss
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Some other popular dimensions of learning styles
Field independence vs. dependence
Analytic vs. global processing
Cooperation vs. competition
Tolerance for ambiguity
Physical vs. sociological
Left-brain vs. right-brain
Leveling vs. sharpening of detail
Reflectivity vs. impulsivity
Constricted vs. flexible thinking
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Learning Strategies
Look again at Minh and Long: What do you think they would do to help their learning?
If you were their teacher, what learning ways would you teach them?
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“Learning strategies”: operations used by the learner to aid his/her learning
Learning Strategies
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Learning Strategies

(Oxford 1990)
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Match
Meta-cognitive
Cognitive
Social
Mnemonic
Compensation
Affective
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Motivation
Language learning environment
Learning style and personality type
Gender
Beliefs
Affective state
Aptitude
Culture or national origin
Career orientation
Age
Nature of the language task
(Ellis 1994, Oxford 2001)
What influences strategy choice?
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Work in pairs. Task 3. ELT1 Coursebook, p.81.
Do
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Learning styles
Natural, habitual, preferred, individual

Be aware of it => learning strategies, teaching styles/instruction
Learnable
Often conscious

Base on other factors, develop optimal ones
Learning strategies
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In groups, draw a portrait of a good English learner with his/her learning strategies
Do
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The Good Language Learner
Is a willing and accurate guesser
Has a strong drive to communicate
Is uninhibited and willing to make mistakes
Focuses on form by looking at patterns and using analysis
Takes advantage of all practice opportunities
Monitors his/her own speech and that of others
Pays attention to meaning
Learns to think in the language
Deals with affective aspects of learning
Combines strategies as needed

(Rubin 1975, Naiman et al 1975, Abraham and Vann 1987)
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Implications for Teachers
Find out learners’ learning styles
Assess learning strategies
Attune to learners’ needs
Balance your teaching instructions
Teach learning strategies
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Technology in ELT
Video/Recording
Computer programmes
Internet
Software programmes (E-English)
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Think of the lesson today
How did it attempt to address different learner’s learning styles?
What learning strategies did it involve?
How did it make use of technology?
Reflection