Language Learning

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What are the two main demographic variables that influence language learning success?

Age and gender.

What is the traditional view on the relationship between age and language learning success?

The younger we start to learn a second language, the better chance for success we have.

Is the 'the younger the better' principle always valid in language learning?

No, it is only valid in environments where there is a constant and natural exposure to the L2.

What is the concept of learning styles and how can teachers modify their classes to accommodate them?

Learning styles refer to the different ways in which learners approach learning. Teachers can modify learning tasks to suit the learning style preferences of particular learners. Signup and view all the answers

Can learners change their learning styles over time? Give an example.

It is possible for learners to engage in 'style-stretching' where they learn to incorporate approaches to learning they were resisting in the past. For example, a reader who was previously too global in her approach to reading academic texts could learn to pay attention to specific details. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for teachers to understand learning styles?

Teachers who understand learning styles can modify their classes to accommodate the learning preferences of their students, which may help bring out the best in them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept of 'learning styles' and how can it be applied in the classroom?

Learning styles refer to the different ways in which learners approach learning. Teachers can modify the learning tasks they use in their classes to accommodate different learning styles and bring out the best in their students. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'style-stretching' and how can it benefit learners?

'Style-stretching' refers to the process of encouraging learners to engage in approaches to learning they were previously resistant to. This can benefit learners by helping them incorporate new learning strategies and achieve better learning outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

Can learning styles change over time? Explain with an example.

While learning styles are relatively stable, learners can be encouraged to engage in 'style-stretching' so as to incorporate approaches to learning they were previously resistant to. For example, a reader who was previously so global in their approach to reading academic texts that they missed specific details can be encouraged to incorporate a more detail-oriented approach over time. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three categories of style preferences that are particularly relevant and useful to understanding the process of language learning?

Sensory/perceptual, cognitive, and personality-related preferences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between being a synthesizer and being analytic in terms of cognitive style preferences?

Being a synthesizer means being able to integrate information from different sources into a coherent whole, while being analytic means being able to break down information into its component parts and analyze them separately. Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the textbook that includes a list of style preferences and is used in the Center for Advanced Research on Language Learning (CARLA) summer institute on styles, strategies, and motivation?

Cohen and Weaver (2006) Signup and view all the answers

What are the three activities that accompany the 500-word text in the example provided in the text and what is the task assigned to the learners?

The learners are to write out the main point of the passage in one or two sentences, respond to an inference item, and summarize the key points of the passage. Signup and view all the answers

According to the example provided in the text, which two style variables are going to be activated more than others?

The two style contrasts that are going to be activated more than others in the example provided in the text are concrete-sequential versus abstract. Signup and view all the answers

What does the ‘Hands-on activity’ at the end of the chapter include and how can it help learners?

The ‘Hands-on activity’ at the end of the chapter includes a self-assessment instrument and detailed explanations to illustrate what these style dimensions involve in actual learning. It can help learners understand their own learning styles and how they can apply them to their language learning and language use. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of style variables in the language learning example provided in the text?

Certain style variables are going to be activated more than others, specifically the concrete-sequential versus abstract contrasts. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the self-assessment instrument in the ‘Hands-on activity’ at the end of the chapter?

The self-assessment instrument is meant to illustrate what these style dimensions involve in actual learning. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the author cited in the text as another source on the relationship between styles and language learning?

Cohen, 2003, 2012. Signup and view all the answers