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Giving Learners Choice. Brian Tomlinson. Each and every language learner is: D ifferent. Each learner differs from: l earners in other countries l earners in other institutions l earners in the same class. Each learner differs in their: experience of life need to learn English
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Giving Learners Choice Brian Tomlinson
Each and every language learner is: Different.
Each learner differs from: • learners in other countries • learners in other institutions • learners in the same class
Each learner differs in their: • experience of life • need to learn English • motivation to learn English • motivation to do a particular activity • interests • abilities • attitudes to English • preferred learning styles
Each learner differs: • from teacher to teacher • from peer to peer • from day to day
And yet: We treat learners as though they are all the same.
We expect them all to: • use the same coursebook • do the same unit at the same time • do the same exercise at the same time • to get the same right answers.
Ways of Giving Learners More Choice • in what materials they use • in what activities they do • in who they work with • in how they help themselves to learn • in where they learn • in when they learn • in how they learn.
Conclusion Give learners more choice and they’ll give you more in return.
They Came from the Sea - Part 1 Choice of: • Activity • Beach • Who to show their beach to • Acting or not • How to respond to the narrative • The content of the narrative • Participation in re-telling of the story • Participation in the circle story • Telling their story • Participation in revision of the story • Length of story completion • Content of story completion
The learners are given choice thirteen times. And yet none of the choices are likely to: • be overwhelming • cause dilemmas • cause delay • lead to a feeling of missing out