Well, I must admit that I was a bit struck when last Wednesday Sarah told us that most of our learning comes from informal contexts and that only the 20% of what we learn takes place in formal contexts...could you have ever imagined that what we learn formally plays such a little role in our learning process?! During the last few days I’ve really thought a lot about it and I’ve realized how it’s incredibly true… just think about how much you can improve your language learning by just talking with native speakers or by reading a newspaper article for example…don’t you agree?
Moreover, Sarah pointed out that our learning should be an ongoing process: if we want to see improvements in our learning we should find an effective way that enable us to constantly practice the language. Therefore, it is important that we start reflecting on our personal learning environment, i.e. on how to categorize the contexts and the tools which for us are the best ways to strengthen our skills!
After spending quite a long time thinking about how to build my personal mindmap, I decided to focus mainly on six areas: formal and informal language learning, gathering information, acting on learning, experience and free time.
Formal language learning: In our case, it deals mainly with lectures at University and the tools which help us in our formal learning, such as online and paper dictionaries, grammar books and specific websites.
Informal language learning: I think there is a wide variety of contexts in which we can learn informally, among them I mentioned Teacher Tube (in which I usually find very interesting and educational videos!), conversation with native speakers, newspapers and podcasts, which are an endless resource for our learning!
Gathering information: When I have to do some research, I look for information in the Web, using search engines, del.icio.us or the usual library catalogues.
Acting on learning: doing the activities on the blog and discussing with my peers during the lessons help me see how much my learning is improving!
Experience: the Erasmus experience I had and the cultural exchanges I took part in play a fundamental role in my learning process because they made it possible for me to get in touch with people from all over Europe and with their culture..I think that such experiences are the best way to strengthen our language learning, definitely!
Free time: it is the most suitable context in which I can learn a lot of things by just sitting in my bedroom listening to music, chatting with friends via messenger and travelling (when I can!).
I hope you could see my mindmap..sorry Sarah, but I wasn’t able to download FreeMind (I still don’t know why!)
Bye!
Moreover, Sarah pointed out that our learning should be an ongoing process: if we want to see improvements in our learning we should find an effective way that enable us to constantly practice the language. Therefore, it is important that we start reflecting on our personal learning environment, i.e. on how to categorize the contexts and the tools which for us are the best ways to strengthen our skills!
After spending quite a long time thinking about how to build my personal mindmap, I decided to focus mainly on six areas: formal and informal language learning, gathering information, acting on learning, experience and free time.
Formal language learning: In our case, it deals mainly with lectures at University and the tools which help us in our formal learning, such as online and paper dictionaries, grammar books and specific websites.
Informal language learning: I think there is a wide variety of contexts in which we can learn informally, among them I mentioned Teacher Tube (in which I usually find very interesting and educational videos!), conversation with native speakers, newspapers and podcasts, which are an endless resource for our learning!
Gathering information: When I have to do some research, I look for information in the Web, using search engines, del.icio.us or the usual library catalogues.
Acting on learning: doing the activities on the blog and discussing with my peers during the lessons help me see how much my learning is improving!
Experience: the Erasmus experience I had and the cultural exchanges I took part in play a fundamental role in my learning process because they made it possible for me to get in touch with people from all over Europe and with their culture..I think that such experiences are the best way to strengthen our language learning, definitely!
Free time: it is the most suitable context in which I can learn a lot of things by just sitting in my bedroom listening to music, chatting with friends via messenger and travelling (when I can!).
I hope you could see my mindmap..sorry Sarah, but I wasn’t able to download FreeMind (I still don’t know why!)
Bye!
2 comments:
Dear Silvia,
the first semester and the first part of our course is over. it is true... Time really flies! I remember the first day of our course in October as if it was yesterday... Unfortunately, the hardest period of our academic year begins now as soon we will have to do our exams. I'd like to tell you that is was very funny to work with you during these months and also that it was highly stimulating. ;-) I wish you good luck for all your exams. Break a leg!
See you at the beginning of the second semester!
Elena
Terrible mistake: in the first sentence of my comment there is a double subject so the verb must be in the plural: The first semester and the first part of our course ARE over. Sorry!
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