Department of Modern Languages
First Year
Personal Development Planning
First Year
PDP Meeting Guidelines for First-Year Students
First Meeting
The guidelines below should help you to get the most out of the first meeting.

Your ‘Personal Profile’ will serve as the basis for the meeting. It is therefore
important for you to complete the form beforehand, and bring two copies to the
meeting (one for yourself and one for your supervisor). You will also need to bring
a blank ‘Learning Objectives‘ form.

This profile will be discussed during the meeting. The aim is twofold: firstly, to
help you to pinpoint areas of strength in your personal development, as well as
areas where there is still room for improvement; secondly, to give your supervisor
some information about your previous learning experiences.

Areas for improvement can then be discussed in more detail to see which you
might like to concentrate on during the first semester. You will also be able to
discuss how to do this, and how to monitor your progress.

Before the end of the meeting, you will discuss the ‘Learning Objectives‘ form and
the information you are going to enter on it. (If you would find it helpful, you are
quite welcome to take notes to assist with completing the form later.) The form
will act as a ‘recap’ of the meeting and ensure that you and your supervisor agree
on what has been discussed and decided.

After the meeting, the ‘Learning Objectives’ form must be completed and a copy
sent by e-mail to your supervisor, within two weeks.

A printed copy should be placed in your Progress File so that you can refer to it
and ensure that the objectives are met.
.

The following meeting will include a discussion of how and to what extent the
objectives set at the first meeting have been met.
Second Meeting
The guidelines below should help you to get the most out of the second meeting.

Your ‘Learning Objectives’ form together with your ‘Progress Report’ will serve as
the basis for this meeting. Your tutor will already have a copy of the ‘Learning
Objectives’ form, which was due to be sent within two weeks of the last meeting.
It is now important for you to complete the ‘Progress Report’ form, and bring
two copies to the meeting (one for yourself and one for your supervisor). You will
also need to bring a blank ‘Learning objectives‘ form and any ‘Learning Log
Entries’ which you are willing to show and which provide evidence for your
progress.

Both the ‘Learning Objectives’ and the ‘Progress Report’ forms will be discussed
during the meeting. The aim is to consider to what extent the objectives set were
met and how they were met. The focus will be on the learning process itself. Any
Department of Modern Languages
First Year
Personal Development Planning
First Year
difficulties encountered can be discussed in an objective manner. The PDP
meeting is in no way judgemental.

Your ‘Progress Report’ should contain a section where you have identified
area(s) for further development in Semester 2, i.e. a new set of learning
objectives. These areas can be discussed in more detail to consider how to meet
them, and how to monitor your progress.

Again you will be required to complete a ‘Learning Objectives‘ form . (If you would
find it helpful, you are quite welcome to take notes during the meeting to assist
with completing the form later.) The form will act as a ‘recap’ of the meeting and
ensure that you and your supervisor agree on what has been discussed and
decided.

After the meeting, the ‘Learning Objectives’ form must be completed and a copy
sent by e-mail to your supervisor, within two weeks.

A printed copy should be placed in your Progress File so that you can refer to it
and ensure that the objectives are met.
.

The following meeting towards the end of the Semester will include a discussion
of how and to what extent the objectives set at this meeting have been met.
Third Meeting
The guidelines below should help you to get the most out of the third meeting.

Your second ‘Learning Objectives’ form and your ‘Taking Stock’ form will serve
as the basis for this final PDP meeting of the year. Your tutor should already have
a copy of the ‘Learning Objectives’ form, which was due to be sent within two
weeks of the last meeting. It is now important for you to complete the ‘Taking
Stock’ form, and bring two copies to the meeting (one for yourself and one for
your supervisor). You will again need to bring any ‘Learning Log Entries’ which
you are willing to show and which provide evidence for your reflection and
progress.

Both the ‘Learning Objectives’ and the ‘Taking Stock’ forms will be discussed
during the meeting. The aim is to consider to what extent the objectives set after
the last meeting were met and how they were met. Again the focus will be on the
learning process itself and any difficulties encountered can be discussed in an
objective manner. Difficulties and mistakes are often the starting point for positive
change and improvement.

The ‘Taking Stock’ form will allow you to review your first year and to plan ahead
for your second year in terms of personal development.

Any objective(s) set at this meeting can, if necessary, be amended at the first
meeting next semester. Such an amendment could be in the light of Semester 2
assessment results or of experiences over the summer period.