Making a strategic plan for language learning

Now that you know where you are headed (see How to set your language learning goals), how do you get there?

For most adults, the fastest way to achieve real fluency is exposure to the language in a combination of both structured and unstructured settings. Graded material, a structured setting, and the availability of a teacher or Language Associate to provide comprehensible input and correction can help novice learners get off to a good start.

As learning progresses, however, informal language exposure becomes more and more valuable, and formal lessons become relatively less important, but a systematic exploration of topics and cultural themes can be helpful at any stage.

This module will lead you through a series of steps to make a strategic plan that includes both structured and informal components to help you achieve your language learning goals.

1. Size up the situation.
2. Choose an approach to language acquisition that you think will work for you.

Structured component

3. Decide on a strategy for structured language learning.
4. If you decide you want to create your own language learning program, then design it.

Informal component

5. Decide on strategies for informal practice.

• How to manage your language learning program

• Task module: Making a strategic plan for language learning
• In task module: How to manage your language learning program
• In modular book: Managing Your Language Learning Program, by Carol J. Orwig
• In bookshelf: Language Learning

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 3.5, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 21 March 1999

© 1999 SIL International