Tuesday's Tip for Language Learning #22: Tactics and Strategies

 

Excerpt from Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star

Tactics and Strategies 

EWhen you are struggling to learn on a foreign language, it may feel like you are on a battlefield. You are, in a way. You have an objective. You are out to conquer something: the language. But that is as far as one might be able to stretch the image. We teach language for peace, and some of the best cross-cultural bridge builders are foreign language students who have achieved the capacity to use the language for work and leisure.

How most people reach that point is through good language learning tactics and strategies. Tactics refer to ways of accomplishing something in the short term; they are simple and have narrow objectives. They are actions. Strategies are how one goes about accomplishing a goal for the long term: they can have greater breadth and applicability. They are plans.

In language learning, strategies and tactics play a role as well. Language learners need a plan, and they need actions to accomplish that plan. (Note: most books and articles on learning strategies lump both tactics and strategies together, and there really is no reason not to.)

The next section looks at some of the struggles that can come along with language learning, as well as the kinds of goals that are typically sent. For each kind, specific representative tactics and strategies are suggested. If you want (and you should want) more comprehensive information on any of these topics, you should consult some of the very good books about these topics, the complete details of which are in the reference list at the back of this book. Specifically,

·       for how to be a good language learner, check out Lessons from Good Language Learners (Carol Griffiths), How to Be a More Successful Language Learner (Rubin & Thompson), Success with Foreign Languages: Seven[1] Who Achieved It and What Worked for Them (Stevick), Passport to the World: Learning to Communicate in a Foreign Language (Leaver, Dubinsky, & Champine), Achieving Success in Second Language Acquisition (Leaver, Ehrman, & Shekhtman), and What Works: Helping Students Reach Near-Native Second-Language Competence (Coalition of Distinguished Language Centers).

·       for deepening your knowledge of grammar, check out the Olivia Hill Publishers series of books of English grammar for students of various languages—I have included their Italian version (English Grammar for Students of Italian by Adorni and Primorac) in the reference list, but they have these for many languages so you should check for your language;

·       for deepening your knowledge of vocabulary, you do not need suggestions, you just need to read, read, read and spend a lot of time listening to your foreign language;

·       for learning strategies, check out Teaching and Researching Language Learning Strategies (Oxford)[2]

·       for dealing with errors, there is not much literature available and none I can refer you to—most of what is available is for teachers and even that is limited, but hopefully, the suggestions in this book will help and perhaps, as a result of your becoming very good at managing errors, you will write your own book on the topic;

·       for developing independence in learning, check out Learner Strategies for Learner Autonomy: Planning and Implementing Learner Strategy Training for Language Learners (Wenden);

·       for learning via the Internet, check out

·       for study abroad recommendations, check out Preparing to Study Abroad: Learning to Cross Cultures (Duke).

While I would like to present a comprehensive list of everything you need to know on the topic of tactics and strategies, space does not allow. As you can see, whole books can be written on these topics and have been. Probably all are in your library. All are available on line. Take advantage of the previous guidance they can give you.

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[1] Here I will give away a secret since the late Earl Stevick and the late Madeline Ehrman, both of whom were friends of mine, cannot. I am sure both would know not mind if I divulge the secret that they maintained for almost three decades: Gwen, one of the seven learners that Earl describes, is Madeline.

[2] Please note that this book goes well beyond strategies for improving reading, writing, listening, and speaking. It includes work on memory, compensation (managing when you don’t know the words), and metacognition. If you buy only one other book besides the one in your hand, then this is the book you should have on your shelf and in your hands if you want to succeed at language learning.

See more posts about/from this book.

See more posts about language learning.

See more Tuesday tips.

                    

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