• Learning style
The way in which an individual learner naturally prefers to learn something. There are many learning styles. Three of them are below.
• Auditory learner
A learner who remembers things more easily when they hear them spoken. This type of learner may like the teacher to say a new word aloud and not just write it on the board.
Kinaesthetic learner
A learner who learns more easily by doing things physically. This type of learner may like to move around or move objects while learning.
Visual learner
A learner who finds it easier to learn when they can see things written down or in a picture. This type of learner may like the teacher to write a new word on the board and not just say it aloud.
Linguistic
Connected with language or the study of language.
Literacy грамотность
The ability to read and write.
Maturity (noun), mature (adjective)
Fully grown or developed. If a learner is mature in attitude, they behave in an adult way. A learner’s maturity (physical, emotional and mental) influences a teacher’s approaches and/or decisions.
Memorise (verb), memorable (adjective)
To learn something so that you can remember it later; something which is easy to remember.
Mother tongue
The very first language that you learn as a baby, which is usually the language spoken to you by your parents. Also called L1 or first language.
Motivation (noun), motivate (verb)
Motivation is the thoughts and feelings which make us want to do something and help us continue doing it.
Demotivate verb demotivated adjective To make someone lose motivation.
Unmotivated adjective
Without motivation; having no motivation.
Natural order
Some people believe there is an order in which learners naturally learn some items in their first or other languages. Some language items are learned before others and it can be difficult for teachers to influence this order.
Needs - потребности
The language, language skills or learning strategies a learner still has to learn in order to reach their goals, or the conditions they need to help them learn.
Notice language – понимание языка
When a learner becomes aware of the language the speaker or writer uses to express a particular concept or meaning.
Participation (noun), participate )verb) – участие, участвовать
To take part in something, e.g. a lesson or classroom activity.
Personalisation (noun), personalise (verb) – персонализация, персонализировать, присваивать
When a teacher helps a learner to connect new words, topics, texts or grammar to their own life.
Pick up – приобретать
To learn language without studying it, just by hearing and/or reading and then using it. See acquisition.
Proficiency (noun), proficient (adjective) – мастерство, владение
Level of ability; to be very good at something because of training and practice, e.g. speaking English.
Silent period – период молчания
The time when learners who are beginning to learn a first (or second) language prefer to listen (or read) before producing the language, e.g. babies have a silent period when they listen to their parents before starting to try to speak themselves.
Slip – недочет, оплошность, незначительная ошибка
When a learner makes a language mistake that they are able to correct themselves. See error.
Target language – язык перевода
The language a learner is learning, e.g. English, or the specific language that a teacher wants to focus on in a lesson, e.g. present perfect.
Target language culture – языковая культура
The traditions and culture of the country whose language is being studied.
Work language out - отработка языка
When learners try to understand how and why a particular piece of language is used. Unmotivated: see motivation.
Varieties of English – разновидности английского языка
English is spoken as a first or second language in many countries around the world, but the English spoken may be slightly or significantly different in each country or in different parts of one country, e.g. different vocabulary or grammar may be used. An example of this is the English spoken in the USA and that spoken in the UK.
Worksheets learner characteristics
1) Auditory
2) Kinaesthetic
3) Visual
1)C 2)A 3)A 4)C 5)B 6)A 7)B 8)A 9)C
1)K 2)K 3)V 4)V 5)V 6)K 7)A 8)A 9) V
1) Visual 2) Auditory 3) Kinaesthetic 4) Auditory 5) Kinaesthetic 6) Visual
1. E 2. D 3. G 4. B 5. F 6. A 7. C
What are some of the different learner characteristics of children, teenagers and adults? Differences in
• length of time they can pay attention/ concentrate
• ability to stay still
• ability to control behaviour
• attitude to making mistakes
• attitude to taking risks
• levels of self consciousness
• being able to bring life experiences to learning.
What effect can learners’ past learning experiences have on learner characteristics?
• previous experience of learning may be very different to the approach taken by the current teacher;
this change may or may not be welcomed
• learners may have tried to learn a language before and failed
• learners may have fixed ideas about the best way of learning.
Key to Sample Task
1. D 2. C 3. A 4. H 5. E 6. G 7. F
Medium, media - средства
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