Helping children to become better learners: learning how to learn (LTL)

1. Helping children to become better learners: learning how to learn (LTL) Jayne Moon Sponsored by Macmillan

2. Is this just a game for children ? Are they aware that they are learning ?

3. Aims of Workshop • To enable you to understand what ‘learning how to learn ‘(LTL) means • To enable you to understand the value of LTL for learners and teachers • To provide you with some practical ideas of how to implement LTL • To consider the obstacles to success

4. Organization Raising awareness about LTL Demonstration 1 + Discussion + Hands On Demonstration 2 + Discussion + Hands On Summing Up

5. A successful learner is one who: is prepared to take risks is motivated to learn English is creative is well organized pays attention has concentration is curious is confident does not give up but keeps trying is keen to communicate participates actively ( active involvement ) corrects own mistakes takes every opportunity to use English is willing to plan and review work Views of Spanish teachers

6. Many types of successful learner One thing in common They are able to manage their learning effectively and make use of the learning opportunities provided

7. Views of Children: things you can do to help you be successful at learning English? Age 7 playing stories books games writing reading video/t.v. teacher paper songs Age 10 practising it studying paying attention in class making an effort completing your homework translating a bit of text each day travelling abroad • Age 13 • practising at home • songs • books with examples • listening to tapes • watch films • reading books

8. Going on a journeyAdults want to know where, why, when , how ? Why are we going there ? Where are we going ? How will we get there ? What will we do if there are problems ? How do we know when we are there ?

9. Children only know they are on a boat Why ? Teacher told me to Where to ? Don’t know How will you get there ? Teacher will tell us How do we know when we get there ? Teacher will tell us

10. What is learning to learn ? ‘to become more aware of the learning process ( how we learn) and to develop our ability to control and manage our learning more effectively’ ( Moon )

11. Learning how to Learn involves: Why am I learning ? Having a reason for learning English How do I learn ? Awareness of learning process How am I getting on ? Monitoring progress How shall I manage my learning ? Using their abilities and time efficiently

12. Aims of Task To raise your awareness about the purpose of and value of lesson introductions To raise your awareness about the importance of making students aware about: what they will learn in their lessons (Lesson goals), why they are learning how they will be organized for work

13. Module1 Unit1 When did you come back? 1.back , drop finish, 2. come—came , drop—dropped 3. When did you come back? I came back___. back , drop, finish, , come—came , drop—dropped When did you come back? I came back last Sunday. When did you come back? I came back ___.

16. Demonstration1 : Raising children’s awareness about the learning process Task What’s the aim of a lesson introduction? What do you like about each lesson introduction ? Did the children know: a. what they were going to learn ? c. how they will work ? d. why they are doing the activities ?

17. Why give learners information about the lesson ? Helps them to use previous knowledge Gives them a better chance of completing the activities successfully Helps them to know what they are supposed to pay attention to Motivates them ( Why are we learning this? ) Gives them more responsibility for learning

18. Checklist Does the introduction create a link between the topic and children’s experience ? Does it give information a. about what children will learn ? b. why they will learn ? c. how they will learn ? Does it give them a clear purpose for the first activity ?

20. Reading and Writing Activities in Unit 2 Module 2 Ask and answer questions Read the passage & decide who and what you can see in the photo Match questions in Activity 1 with people in passage Answer questions about vocabulary in passage Choose 2 – 3 activities in Activity 1. Write notes for your answers and then write sentences.

21. Raising children’s awareness of learning at the end of a lesson A Spanish child’s reflection after a lesson To draw and describe

22. How does teacher respond to the error ? Why ? T: Why are some animals in danger ? P1: They have any place to live T: They haven’t any place to live. Repeat P1: They haven’t any place to live T: Good.

23. How can we encourage learners to help themselves ?

24. Demonstration 2 Learning Activity Holidays Where/go/ for holiday ?__________ When/go ? __________________ What/buy ? _________________ When / come back ?_____________

25. Encourage self correction T: Why are some animals in danger ? P1: They have any place to live T: That’s right. They have no place to live. Try and say the sentence again. Think about how to say it. P1: They have no place to live. T: Yes that’s right. Good attempt.

26. T: Why are some animals in danger ? P1: They have any place to live T: I don’t understand. Do you mean they have a place to live ?’ P1:Umm No. T: Try and say the sentence again. Watch my fingers P1: They have... T: make verb ‘have’ negative.

27. Possible Procedures for Correcting an Error Incorrect Response Encourage self correction Ask another student to answer Correct the answer Incorrect response / No response Get 1st child to repeat Praise for effort Child calls a friend for help Give clues or help

28. Steps 1. Signal there is a problem with the answer 2. Encourage self correction 3. If learner still gets it wrong, suggest : a. He/she calls a friend for help OR b. T gives a clue 4. End of the lesson, raise awareness with children about what you did and why 5. Encourage effort

29. Learning How to Learn Not all children are naturally effective or successful learners. With support, all children can improve , particularly, if we teach them how to learn more effectively: through raising awareness demonstrating ways of doing activities making clear what you are doing and why

30. Why help children to LHTL ? Children will not always have the teacher to help If children are more aware of their learning and what helps them to learn: they can take more control over their learning they can make better use of learning opportunities they will participate more actively in lessons

31. Looking forward Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Chinese Proverb Help a child to learn how to learn and you enable him/her to become more effective as a learner and to go on learning outside of the classroom.

32. Thank You