Final Report of Foreign Language Learners

1. Final Report of Foreign Language Learners The Analysis of Joy’s Language Learning Experiences

2. Case Description • Joy is a trilingual: Chinese, English and French. • She reached the Intermediate-high level of GEPT. • She scored 610 in TOEFL. • Her personality: outgoing, impulsive and extroverted language • Her academic background: French major and English minor in Wenzao Junior College • She had frequent interaction with foreign friends: native English speakers. She had many opportunities to use English. Her speaking ability in English is excellent.

3. Purpose of the Study • The purpose of the case study is to investigate WHY and HOW she learned English successfully.

4. Methods • Data collection: interview and questionnaire • Data analysis: a. Interview: Age Learner characteristics Learning condition English proficiency b. Questionnaire: Multiple IQs Reflective or impulsive Visual, auditory, or haptic Extroverted or introverted

5. Results - Age • She started learning English at 10. • She learned English for three years before studying English in a formal setting. • Her family has some foreign friends. • “I have been speaking English every day since the first day I learned English,” said Joy. • Around 18 she can use English like her mother tongue.

6. Results - Learner Characteristics • Motivation of Learning English • To know more different cultures • Toget first-hand information throught direct sources • Confidence in using languages • Especially in speaking foreign languages • Better English ability than other students in junior high school

7. Results - Learner Characteristics • Ways of Learning English • She used some self-study materials --- Let’s Talk in English, Studio Classroom and Family Album USA during the junior high period • She reinforced her English ability by communicating with advanced language learners and foreigners • She Keeps learning and using English.

8. Results – Learning Styles • Impulsive style • Visual and auditory learner • Moderately extroversion oriented • The scores of each kind of intelligence are above 5

9. Results – Multiple Intelligence Intrapersonal intelligence 8 Interpersonal intelligence 7 Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence 7 Musical intelligence 6 Linguistic intelligence are 6 Logical-mathematical intelligence 5 Spatial intelligence 5

10. Results - Learning Condition • The first year in Wenzao College • An excellent teacher and learning experience • Opportunities to speak English • The influence of overseas experiences and foreign friends • English ability • Motivation vs. Wenzao’s teaching purpose

11. Results - English Proficiency • She exposed herself to an authentic English environment • Reading- Novels, Biography, Magazines, Newspaper, Traveling Books, Comics, Cosmetics • Writing- English journal, a university’s instructor guided her writing skill. • Listening and speaking- chatting with her foreign friends for a long time.

12. Results - English Proficiency • Sufficient Resources: • Instructors- Advanced English learners and native speakers’ facilitation in her young age. (For example, e-mailing with a family friend in the U.S. helped her a lot in writing and of course think in English.) • Centralized finances- Only child in her family. Her parents have centralized the investment in her education.

13. Results - English Proficiency • Bottleneck in the process of English Learning: • No further improvement two years ago. • She gave herself too much stress two years ago. • It did not solve any problems. • So she decided not to push herself too much in learning English.

14. Results - English Proficiency • Next Goal or plan for learning English • No definite goal for herself • Instead of asking herself to reach a certain level, she keepslearning as much as she can do.

15. Results - English Proficiency • Suggestionsfor Foreign Language Learners: • Force yourself a little hard. • Think in English. • Apply the language - every time when you learn new a new word, a new phrase, or a new structure, just try to apply it.

16. Discussion- Learner Characteristics Age • Critical Period Hypothesis • a critical period for Second Language Learners • Vygotsky’s interactionsim position • interactions happen between child and more advanced interlocutors • Zone of Proximal Development - the level of performance which is learner is capable of when there is sufficient support from interactions with more advanced interlocutors • Krashen’s Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis.

17. Discussion-Motivation Combination of • Instrumental motivation • Practical goals - get a better job • Integrative motivation (more) • Cultural enrichment • Personal growth

18. Discussion - Learning Condition • Advantages: Behaviorism Interactionism Socialculture theory Combination of playing games and intentional learning • Limitations: Comprehensible input (i＋1) Motivation in Wenzao • Improvements: Extra reading Interaction with foreigners

19. Discussion-English Proficiency • Interactionism • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) • a great deal of frequent interaction with Advanced English learners and native speakers • Three hypotheses in Krashen’s “Monitor Model” • Affective Filter Hypothesis • Monitor Hypothesis • The Natural Order Hypothesis

20. Summary • Learners’ Characteristics • Age – started to learn English at 10 • Motivation- to know more languages and cultures • Learners’ Condition • Natural setting --- family • Instructional setting --- school • English Proficiency • Expose to a genuine English environment • Sufficient Resources • Bottleneck

21. Summary • Theories • Interactionism • Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) • Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) • Krashen’s 5 “Monitor Model”: • The Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis • The Input Hypothesis • The Affective Filter Hypothesis • The Monitor Hypothesis • The Natural Order Hypothesis

22. Suggestions • Create an English-use environment • Seize opportunities to use English • Set an appropriate goal • Develop interests in learning English • Think in English • Keep a diary or journal • Actions speak louder than words

23. 9331304 Stanley 9331318 Annie 9331324 Jean 9331342 Beverly 9331374 Sophia Thank you for attention