Self-reflection paper (skype project)

From the video of Tim Doner until our skype projects we have been learning and analysing language learning strategies. Although it is not an easy task, I must say that I now I am much more aware of strategies that I did not pay attention to before, and that I try to deduce what kind of strategy that might be. Strategies are around us, not only when learning new language rules or vocabulary, but also in our daily lives. In fashion, for instance, wearing black trousers is a strategy if you want to look slimmer; but for a teenager saving 5€ per week from the pocket money they receive can also be a strategy to save some.

Nevertheless, strategies seem to be impossible to learn at school these days. They teach one (favourite of the teacher) at the most, when they should be teaching a whole range of varieties so as to fill and reach everybody’s needs in the classroom. Children are not the same among themselves, some are quite shy, some are very energetic, some others need constant coaching, etc. Then, how are we supposed to learn (as students and teachers) strategies and how to teach them all right?

According to many of the readings we have been looking at in class, educators must attempt to introduce new strategies each time so each student has its opportunity to see, do and apply them to their lives. We should not forget that we are lifelong learners and strategies will be part of our stages in life.

Through the skype project we had the opportunity to precisely do that: see, do and apply, strategies, but most important to be conscious of using them. Getting to know better our way of learning things or how our mind operates can give us a much clearer idea of what type of “lifelong” learner we are, and so apply that to other aspects.  By being aware of the way we operate we are able to improve our weaker skills in any areas of our lives. For example, the student in the skype project realised that she needed to improve her colloquial/spoken English because she spoke in a very academic way.

It is quite odd because precisely this evening I was having class with one of my adult students. He has been taking private classes with me since February or so. He is quite shy and because he is the only in the classroom, one can imagine how the interactions go. Quite boring and slow. However, he is really interested and makes an effort every day to keep track of what we are doing. All of a sudden, in the middle of the class he tells me he has thought of buying himself an audio book to listen to it while he commutes by car. I instantly thought “great! He found himself a strategy to improve the listening skills and to improve the pronunciation”. So I definitely recommended him to do as much as he could, and in class he could keep me informed each chapter. I immediately thought that having him explain the chapters to me each week would also be a communicative strategy, which was precisely what we needed. So, we will see how it all goes.

As I said before, being aware of our weaknesses and establish an internal analysis can benefit us in many ways. Last but not least, it is a must to teach all possible strategies to the children of the future.