Unit 0 - Task 2 - the one about Learning Strategies

OK then, for the second task, Manolo has asked us to write some notes on what learning strategies would, in our opinion, suit best a set of particular circumstances.

He posted a list of nineteen situations and we are supposed to choose six and then take some notes.

Here are the nineteen situations:

Language Situations for Strategy Search Game

So, without reading them all, I am just gonna write here six numbers randomly: 4, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16.

So those will be my six scenarios. I am supposed to read them, and then match them to whatever strategy from the chart Manolo gave us in class this past Wednesday.

Scenario 4: Cartoon.

You are an English-speaking high school student learning Italian. You have a good sense of humor and enjoy jokes and cartoons. You decide to buy an Italian cartoon book. It is about 100 pages long, full of cartoons. You want to read the book, understand the cartoons, and explain some of the cartoons to your friends who do not know Italian at all. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

Interesting situation indeed. Understanding humor and then try to translate it and explain it is one of the most difficult tasks one can have. I think that cognitive strategies are definitely needed here: Analyzing and Reasoning. Also possibly some compensation strategies: Guessing Intelligently.

Scenario 7: Church

You are a visitor from the United States in Germany. It is Friday, and you want to prepare yourself to go to church on Sunday to worship, participate in the service, and possibly meet some German people afterwards. You had two years of German study, but that was a very long time ago. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

Another unusual situation. Who would want to go to church?! Anyway. In this case we probably need some Memory strategies. Create a list of simple greetings and apologies and basic introductions. Would be useful to try to learn some key German words related to church and the service. But yes, memorize and practice until Sunday.

Scenario 8: Newsworthy

You are a French student learning English in France. You try to read the International Herald Tribune regularly so you can practice English, but you keep getting stuck on unfamiliar words. You use a dictionary to find out the meaning of every word you don't know, but that slows you down too much, and not all the words are in the dictionary, anyway! It is very upsetting to have such difficulty, and you are about to give up. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

Ok, a more common situation here. Someone is trying to overreach and it is causing grief. Some Affective Strategies are need here. Lowering your anxiety, Encouraging yourself rather than beat yourself up. Also some Compensation Strategies to overcome your limitations, getting help specially!

Scenario 10: Child of the Midlands

You are a Pakistani child in a medium size city in the English midlands. You live in a Pakistani enclave. Your parents, brothers and sisters, and friends do not speak English at home or in the neighbourhood. But in school there are children from 15 different language and cultural groups, and English is the primary language of communication across these groups. You need to learn English to get along with the other children and to get good grades in school. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

I am guessing that Compensation and Social Strategies are needed here. Also, and obviously, some Cognitive Strategies.

Scenario 14: Foreign Posting

Your spouse has an offer of a high-level management post in a multinational firm that makes shoe laces in Costa Rica. You don't know Spanish. You studied a little bit of French and German in school many years ago, but that does not seem to help much. You are interested in other cultures. Your task is to learn enough Spanish to be able to get along socially and to help you take care of daily needs once you get to Costa Rica. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

You are going to need a Spanish teacher, or a phrase book and memorise common phrases. Social Strategies will also be needed.

Scenario 16: Newspaper

You are a foreign language student in your second year of study. With your classmates, you are writing and publishing a newspaper in the target language. Your task is to use written pieces of target language information given to you and then to transform that information into articles, news, features, editorials, and format them into a readable newspaper. Which language learning strategies do you need to use?

A bit hard for a second year student, but hey. You are going to need some Cognitive Strategies (B C D) and most definitely some Social Strategies (A B C).

Not gonna lie. So tired.