INTRODUCTION TO
LANGUAGE LEARNING
Basics to get you started
Principles for Effective Language Learning
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Definition of language learning: What it is and isn’t
Self Directed learning: What is it?
The Role of the Language Coach
Importance of journaling for reflection & self
awareness in language and cultural acquisition
Developing A Personal Motivation Plan
Use of Self Reports & Learning Contracts
Definition of Language Learning
Discussion:
How can you
keep from
thinking of
language as a
commodity or
a task to be
completed?
What are
some ways our
learning
process can
benefit us in
future ministry
tasks &
relationships?
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Second Language Acquisition: The process by which
people learn a language which is not their native
language. (Macmillan Dictionary)
But it is more than this! “Language learning is
fundamentally a function of social behavior and not
a commodity” –Lonna Dickerson
The process of language learning is about so much
more than just learning vocabulary. It is NOT just
about being able to speak well, although that is a
goal. It is also about personal growth and
development as well.
In learning a second language and acculturating, we
can learn life principles that will later transfer to
other areas of life and ministry.
Self Directed Learning
Discussion:
Break down
the definition
of SD. Talk
through each
of the 4
components.
What will that
look like in
your learning
context?
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Because language acquisition is
individualized & is truly a part of “doing
life”, the process must become self
directed by the learner.
What is self direction? “A set of conditional
freedoms which, in a given context, make it
possible for individuals to: 1) determine
their objectives 2) define the content &
process of their own learning, 3) select
their own methods & techniques, 4) monitor
and evaluate their own progress &
achievements.” –David Little
SD Learning: Why its important
Discussion:
Why do you
feel that
being self
directed is
important for
your learning
process?
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Autonomy is a defining characteristic of
ALL sustained learning.
Being self directed is the means by
which learners transcend the limitations
of their learning situations.
Self direction teaches you how to apply
your learning in the day to day.
What Does a Self Directed Learner Look Like?
Self directed
learners are
life long
learners!
Lessons of
planning, goal
setting,
intentionality
and
maintained
motivation
extend well
beyond the
language
learning
process and
can determine
success in life &
ministry!
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Takes responsibility for own learning
Set their own learning goals
Make intentional plans and implement
strategies to accomplish these plans
Adapt to changing situations
Don’t wait to be told what to do
Don’t lose hope of ever achieving their
goals of proficiency. Don’t give up!
Life Long Learning
Discussion:
What area(s)
of self
direction do
you feel most
confident in?
What area(s)
do you feel
you need
additional
help or
training in?
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Self directed learners are life long learners!
Lessons of planning, goal setting, intentionality
and maintained motivation extend well
beyond the language learning process and
can determine success in life & ministry!
Please visit the following website and take the
“7 Attitudes of Learning Test” Be prepared to
discuss the results at your next coaching
session.
http://www.selfdirectedlearning.com/becomin
g-self-directed/activity-17-successfulattitudes.html
Role of the Language Coach
Discussion:
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What are
your
expectations
of your coach?
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What should
your coach
expect of you?
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Primary responsibility is to encourage
the language learner.
The coach works with the language
learner to co-create activities &
methods and to mutually discover what
works for the student.
Coach helps the student to set goals
and maintain motivation to reach them.
Journaling for Self Reflection
Discussion:
What is your
past
experience
with
journaling?
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“The unexamined life is not worth living.”Plato
Even if you are not reflective by nature, it
can be developed like anything else.
Collecting experiences & cultural
observation does not go deep enough into
helping you understand they whys of the
culture and your responses to it.
Without self reflection, you cannot become
self directed. Without self direction you
will not develop habits for life long
language learning.
Journaling: What am I reflecting on?
Journaling in
this sense is
not “diary”
keeping. It is
observation,
documentation
and reflection.
All three of
these are
necessary for
effective
planning, goal
setting, self
correction and
sustained
learning.
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Assessing current needs (both language &
lifestyle) and setting goals.
Example: Out in the neighborhood & not able to say
something. Make a note & find out!
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Evaluating resources: What is working well?
How can I get more of that? What am I
missing? Where can I find that?
-Go beyond books! TV, radio, internet, social media
etc
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Choosing activities & techniques
-Reflect on what is working in community practice as well as
in the classroom.
Journaling: What am I reflecting on?
Discussion :
Ideally,
people would
reflect on
these concepts
daily. What
is a realistic
weekly
journaling
goal for you?
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Monitoring the Process
-What am I learning about myself? How am I responding
to my circumstances? How are people responding to me?
Etc.
-What is working well in my language learning situation?
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Evaluating Progress
-What can I do now that I couldn’t do last week? What do
I want to be able to do next week? Next month? 6 months?
Developing a Personal Motivation Plan
Did you know?
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Motivation is
one of the
MAIN
determining
factors in
success in
developing a
second or
foreign
language!! It
determines the
extent of
active,
personal
involvement in
the learning.
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When we think about motivation, it is
helpful to think of it in 3 categories:
mega-motivators, mini motivators, and
de-motivators.
Examples of Mega-motivators:
“A desire to change my identity and
become a member of a new culture.”
“A need of this language for long term
social or work relationships.”
Developing A Personal Motivation Plan
Discussion:
See your
“Developing a
Motivation
Plan
Worksheet”
and begin
working on
your own list
of motivators
& demotivators.
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Examples of Mini-motivators:
“I need this language to survive in daily life”
“I’m enjoying my activities.”
“God called me to minister in this culture” “Other
people want me to learn this language.”
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Examples of De-motivators:
“I don’t want to change my identity.”
“I don’t like the way I have to learn” “Language
learning involves making a lot of mistakes; it
involves big laughed at & I am an adult!”
Developing a Personal Motivation Plan
Discussion:
Beyond just
managing the
emotional side
of motivation,
our physical
health
contributes to
this as well.
What areas of
physical health
will be
important for
you to address
in maintaining
motivation?
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Motivation is something you manage
like money or energy.
Part of being a self directed learner is
discovering how to manage your
emotions and your motivation.
The overall key to maintaining
motivation is to make sure the
motivators are winning out over the demotivators.
Self Reports
Discussion:
Familiarize
yourself with
the
“Language &
Transition
Update” as
well as the
“Language
Study Report”
documents in
the Language
& Orientation
Manual.
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More than “busy work,” self reports are an
important part of self reflection and
analysis of what is working and what
needs to be improved in the language
learning process.
Reports help the learner to:
Stay on task
 Get advice & encouragement regularly
 Maintain higher degree of motivation
 Learn more efficiently
 Grow in ability to reflect on learning processes &
results
 Become more self directed
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Self Reports
Discussion
Self reports
are due twice
a month,
before each
coaching
session. Do
you foresee
obstacles to
completing
this report?
How can you
overcome
them?
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Self reports and honest self reflection can
be an important component of the coachstudent relationship.
Maintaining the habit of observation,
documentation and reflection will help
instill habits of life long learning, well
beyond the time of formal language study.
Written records can be an encouragement
to students as they see progress and no
longer struggle with old frustrations!
Learning another language & adjusting to life in another culture is not an easy
job! But with God’s enablement, hard work and the encouragement of the
people around you, it can be done!! (Without the help of robots)