3.2 A synthesis of approaches to assessing language learning strategies
Six of these methods are described there. Explain with your own words
1. Oral interviews and written questionnaires
2. Observation
3. Verbal report
4. Blogs
5. Recollective studies
6. User tracking
3.2.1 Oral interviews and written questionnaires
While in many ways oral interviews and written questionnaires are distinct means for collection data about language learner strategies, they are similar in that they both elicit learner responses to a set of questions or probes. In addition, they both require the researcher to make choices regarding question format and research procedures (see Wallace 1998 and Burns 1999 for more on interviews, and Dörnyei 2003 and Oxford, 2011 for more on questionnaires). There are essentially two factors to take into consideration:
1. how structured the interview or questionnaire is
2. how general or specific the behavior being asked about is
a) Mencion the Advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews and questionnaires
b) Mention Advantages and disadvantages of larger numbers of respondents
c) Advantages and disadvantages of formality
3.2.2 Observation
Observational methods rely on participant or nonparticipant observers to produce the data – whether based on structured observation schedules, on ethnographic field notes, or as a result of other methods. Observations can be inclusive of all that can be described from what is viewed, or they can focus just on certain behavior. A major challenge in attempting to apply observational techniques to language learners is that many of the language learning and use strategies cannot be observed since they are mentalistic and not behaviorist. Is it possible, for example, to determine through observation whether a learner is in the process of circumlocuting in order to describe an object (e.g., a bookend) when the vocabulary word is not available?
Is it possible to observe a learner’s efforts to retrieve a word by means of a keyword mnemonic? Access to such language use strategies most likely must come from oral or written verbal report (see below), wherein the learners generate descriptions of unobservable mental processes.
In planning a study where the strategic behavior is observable, the researcher needs to consider a variety of factors:
1. the number of observers and observed
2. the frequency and duration of observations
3. the manner in which the observational data are collected, tabulated, and analyzed
d) Describe the three strategies: metacognitive, cognitive and social
e) Write three main points of Disadvantages of observation
f) Write three main points of Advantages of observation
3.2.3 Verbal report
g) What are the Types of verbal report?
h) Make a chart describing advantages and disadvantages
3.2.4 Blogs
i) By a mind map explain the parts of the blogs, advantages and disadvantages
3.2.5 Recollective studies
k) why is this important?
3.2.6 User tracking
l) how do you define it?
m)in which form can you apply this?
All these activites should answer in a word file and send them by email.
The next topics are also in the same chapter.
3.2.7 Concluding comments on instruments for assessing strategies
n) Here in the blog comment about which instrumenrs for assesing strategies is more useful for you?
3.3 Verbal reports as a source of insights into L2 learner strategies
0) Here in the blog write three ideas about the verbal reports.
3.3.1 Issues in verbal report methodology
p) here in the blog mention what was the most interested for you?
3.3.2 Towards more robust verbal report methods and more complete write-ups
q) Read and reflect
3.4 Summary and conclusions
write and comment your own conclusions according to your homeworks. Here in the blog
Six of these methods are described there. Explain with your own words
1. Oral interviews and written questionnaires
2. Observation
3. Verbal report
4. Blogs
5. Recollective studies
6. User tracking
3.2.1 Oral interviews and written questionnaires
While in many ways oral interviews and written questionnaires are distinct means for collection data about language learner strategies, they are similar in that they both elicit learner responses to a set of questions or probes. In addition, they both require the researcher to make choices regarding question format and research procedures (see Wallace 1998 and Burns 1999 for more on interviews, and Dörnyei 2003 and Oxford, 2011 for more on questionnaires). There are essentially two factors to take into consideration:
1. how structured the interview or questionnaire is
2. how general or specific the behavior being asked about is
a) Mencion the Advantages and disadvantages of structured interviews and questionnaires
b) Mention Advantages and disadvantages of larger numbers of respondents
c) Advantages and disadvantages of formality
3.2.2 Observation
Observational methods rely on participant or nonparticipant observers to produce the data – whether based on structured observation schedules, on ethnographic field notes, or as a result of other methods. Observations can be inclusive of all that can be described from what is viewed, or they can focus just on certain behavior. A major challenge in attempting to apply observational techniques to language learners is that many of the language learning and use strategies cannot be observed since they are mentalistic and not behaviorist. Is it possible, for example, to determine through observation whether a learner is in the process of circumlocuting in order to describe an object (e.g., a bookend) when the vocabulary word is not available?
Is it possible to observe a learner’s efforts to retrieve a word by means of a keyword mnemonic? Access to such language use strategies most likely must come from oral or written verbal report (see below), wherein the learners generate descriptions of unobservable mental processes.
In planning a study where the strategic behavior is observable, the researcher needs to consider a variety of factors:
1. the number of observers and observed
2. the frequency and duration of observations
3. the manner in which the observational data are collected, tabulated, and analyzed
d) Describe the three strategies: metacognitive, cognitive and social
e) Write three main points of Disadvantages of observation
f) Write three main points of Advantages of observation
3.2.3 Verbal report
g) What are the Types of verbal report?
h) Make a chart describing advantages and disadvantages
3.2.4 Blogs
i) By a mind map explain the parts of the blogs, advantages and disadvantages
3.2.5 Recollective studies
k) why is this important?
3.2.6 User tracking
l) how do you define it?
m)in which form can you apply this?
All these activites should answer in a word file and send them by email.
The next topics are also in the same chapter.
3.2.7 Concluding comments on instruments for assessing strategies
n) Here in the blog comment about which instrumenrs for assesing strategies is more useful for you?
3.3 Verbal reports as a source of insights into L2 learner strategies
0) Here in the blog write three ideas about the verbal reports.
3.3.1 Issues in verbal report methodology
p) here in the blog mention what was the most interested for you?
3.3.2 Towards more robust verbal report methods and more complete write-ups
q) Read and reflect
3.4 Summary and conclusions
write and comment your own conclusions according to your homeworks. Here in the blog