Bài giảng Phương pháp giảng dạy Tiếng Anh - Chapter 2: How to be a good learner

Chapter 2
How to be a good learner
1. Describing a good learner: difficult
Learners of English are different in many
aspects, so when examining the qualities of a
good learner, it’s important to consider: 
 their background (esp. English language)
 learning experiences
 Age & level
2. The importance of students’ motivation
 According to Garner & Lambert:
(1) Integrative motivation: learning English to 
integrate into the culture of its speakers
(2) Instrumental motivation: learning E. as a 
means to an end (get promoted)
 Integrative: powerful > instrument one 
 Highly motivated Ss > less motivated one 
 Ss’ motivation: not teacher’s responsibility
3. Who is responsible for learning?
Good learners are those who:
 take responsibility for their own learning
 don’t wait to be taught
 Teachers should try and encourage the 
practice of self-study (at home or self-
access centers 
4. Characteristics of good classroom 
learners
 A willingness to listen
 A willingness to experiment
 A willingness to ask questions
 A willingness to think about how to learn
 A willingness to accept correction 
5. Teaching adult learners
 Their learning experience : good/bad
 Being more nervous- afraid of losing face 
 Having a view of the importance of 
learning greater tolerance of serious 
learning
6. Different levels
 Beginners: success as well as failure is easy to 
see, teaching: great fun & stimulating
 Intermediate students: success- not easy to 
perceive. Ss have known a lot more challenging 
tasks 
 Advanced students: knowing a lot of English 
not concentrating on grammar, but helping Ss use 
language with more subtlety, more responsibility 
for their own learning
7. Teaching different levels
 Beginners: pronunciation practice, 
dialogues, rough-tuned language esp. when 
giving instruction, grammar drills 
 Higher levels: not concentrating on 
language for instruction, discussion, formal 
debate, essay writing
 learners’ levels affect teacher’s language for 
instructions & their choice of learning tasks in 
class.