Exploratory task 2.3

Learn the following Samoan phrases and indicate the difficulty of fulfilling the task to translate more phrases from English into Samoan

Samoan	English
Ek kum chuchu Ek namas chuchu Nek kum niva chuchu Nek namas niva chuchu Ek chuchu	The train is coming The train is very big The train isn’t coming The train is quite small It’s a train
How would you say “It’s not a train?”
A/ nek chuchu niva B/ ek niva chuchu C/ nek niva chuchu D/ don’t know

(After West, R. 1996. Assessment in Language Learning. Unit 0. University of Manchester. P. 24)

There are the two types of foreign language learners, which can achieve an equally high level of proficiency: analytic and memory-oriented. These faculties of the human mind can be present in the learning process in different combinations and to a different degree. Some learners have a high aptitude for analysis, while others do better with memory. Combination of these qualities produce “analytic”, “memorizing”, “balanced” and “problem” learners (after P.Scehan. A Cognitive Approach to Language Learning. OUP. 1998. P.251). Interaction of analysis and memory in learning is shown in the graph

High analysis

Low memory. High memory

Low analysis

Exploratory task 2.4

Hold s survey in your peer group and give a profile of knowledge processing types.

Analytic learners %	Balanced learners %	Problem learners %	Memorising learners %

Learning styles and strategies

Warming-up discussion 2.3

Brainstorm the concept of a “good language learner” and create a mind-map

	Good language learner

According to the scales of Myers-Briggs (cited in Madeline, E. 1996. Understanding Second Language Learning Difficulties. Sage Publications), there are four pairs of alternatives in defining a personality type. A person can be either an extravert (E) looking out into the outside world or an introvert (I) looking inside one's own internal world, either sensing (S) concrete facts or intuitive (N) with abstract ideas, either thinking (T) with aptitude for logic or feeling (F with an emotional heart, either judging (J) with every step planned ahead or perceiving (P) with random decision making. These traits of personality influence the behaviour and learning.

SAQ 2.1

Match the personality types with the individual features. Comment on what you can expect from a given variety of the learner personality types.

Personality types	Individual features
Introvert Extravert Intuitive Feeling Perceiving Judging Thinking Sensing	Organized Tapping the social contacts Neglecting facts Interest driven Spontaneous Task driven Details stuck Looking inside one’s inner world