Language Learning Support Section

Abstract

R & D Background

Purpose & Design

Action Plan

Findings & Analysis

Implications

Remarks

> Purpose & Design

1. Level
S4

2. Objectives
- To cater for learner diversity by enabling students to choose materials for study appropriate to their level of English proficiency and their interests - To promote self-directed learning skills such as goal-setting, self-reflection and selection of appropriate resources - To provide opportunities for students to practise reading and listening skills gain knowledge of popular culture topics and the related vocabulary

3. Strategies used
-	*Learning portfolio:*
	A learning portfolio was developed in which students recorded: the areas of learning in which they wanted to improve; their goals for independent study; their reflections on the reading and viewing they had done; notes of new vocabulary and their reflections on whether they had achieved their goals, what helped or hindered them, and whether they had made improvements in the areas they identified.

-	*Guided choice of materials and topics*
	In order to help students identify suitable texts for self-study, teachers prepared lists of texts by topic. In order to make use of readily available resources, these included texts from an anthology on the school’s book list, as well as YouTube videos and TV programmes. The lists were for information only, as students were also encouraged to choose texts of their own choice within the popular culture topics suggested.

-	*Integration with textbook units*
	Students were given three themes; health, technology and entertainment on which to find texts to study. The first two were based on the textbook units, in order to give students opportunities to review vocabulary taught in class and to extend their knowledge of topics within these themes and some related vocabulary.

-	*Practice assessment task based on the chosen texts*
	Students were required to do a speaking task (individual presentations in most cases, though teachers could choose) based on a text they had studied.

4. Evaluation methods
- Student questionnaire - Students' performance in individual presentation task - Analysis of video clips - Student reflections