Analyzing Learning and Learning a Foreign Language in Particular

1. Analyzing Learning and Learning a Foreign Language in Particular Yueguo Gu The Institute of Online Education (BeiwaiOnline) The National Research Centre of Foreign Language Education

2. Main Headings • Types of Learning • Bases of Learning • Laws of Learning • Modes of Learning • Media of Learning • Learning a Foreign Language • Methods and Strategies of Learning

3. 1 Types of Learning

4. Become to Know something (从不知到知) • What is learning? • Learning means that a change has taken place from the state of not knowing something to the state of knowing it.

5. Become to be able to do something （从不会做到会做） • What is learning? • Learning means that a change has taken place from the state of being unable to do something to the state of being able to do it.

6. 2 Bases of Learning

7. Animal “learning“ Humans learning to walk 1 Genetically programmed “learning” (基因支持下的“学习”)

8. 2. Some Basic Intelligent Learning • A dolphin learning to play with humans • A human baby learning to draw

9. Highly Intelligent Learning • Learning a name, for example, England; • Learning a concept, for example, number 5; • Learning an imagined concept, for example, dragon. • Only humans can learn these.

10. 3 Laws of Learning

11. Law 1 无法替代律 • Learning is something done by the learner. No one can learn for the learner, as no one can eat or walk for anyone else.

12. Law 2 学为过程律 • Learning is a process taking place over time. • It may take a short time to learn something; • It may take quite a long time to learn something else.

13. Law 3 学会丢失律 • Learning is not something you can own it forever. Even genetically programmed learning can be lost if it is out of practice for a time long enough. • For some learning you may retain it (meaning keep it) for quite a while; • For some other learning you may loose it very quickly.

14. Law 4 自发与多用律 • Learning will stay with you forever. • as long as you are self-motivated to learn at any time; and • as long as you keep using or practising what you have learned.

15. 4 Modes of Learning

16. Learning is pursued by the learner; No conscious efforts are made by other(s) to help. For example, someone wants to learn how to cook a special dish from a chef, who is anxious to protect his skill from being learned by others. 1. Self-independent learning

17. Learning is made through the instructions given by a teacher. 2. Teacher-instructed learning

18. Formal Education –Institutionalized: Self-independent learning Teacher-instructed learning Informal Education Self-independent learning Private teacher-instructed learning 3. Mixed Modes of Learning

19. 5 Media of Learning

20. 1. Paper-based 2. Audio-based 3. Video-based

21. 4. Mixed media – Multimedia-based

22. Web-based

23. 6 Learning a Foreign Language

24. Principle 1 • It is governed by the four laws of learning in general. • 无法替代律 • 学为过程律 • 学会丢失律 • 自发与多用律

25. Learning by doing 做中得学 Principle 2

27. Three Stages • the cognitive stage: 跟学阶段 • the associative stage: 模仿试用阶段 • the autonomous stage: 自然无意识阶段

28. 7 Methods and Strategies of Learning

29. Part 1 Self-Management • Self-motivation • File-keeping • Self-evaluation • Self-reinforcement

30. Part 2 Learning Habits • Understanding course design • Understanding unit design • Self-recording • Talking to yourself • Fluency first • Five-skill recycling • Mental mode-switching • contextualization

31. Acting Applying Breaking down into elements Characterizing Dramatizing Giving an example Graphic aids Grouping Implementing Creating associations Modeling Note-taking Parallel writing Playing for time Resoursing Self-diagnosing Using a checklist Part 3 Task-based

32. Part 4 Through social activities • English corner • Cooperative projects • Evening parties • Partnership • Pen friends • Chat friends • Cyber community

33. Thank You for Your Attendance !