STREAMING-VIDEO VERSION: "The Basics of Language-Learning Strategies"

Welcome to this brief presentation regarding language-learning strategies, as first defined by Dr. Rebecca L. Oxford (1990) in her landmark work: "Language Learning Strategies: What Every Teacher Should Know."

Basically, Dr. Oxford, and many others who have followed her example (such as Dr. Nae-Dong Yang of National Taiwan University and Dr. Chen Yu-Show of National Taiwan Normal University), tend to divide language-learning strategies into two major types: DIRECT and INDIRECT STRATEGIES.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes extremely difficult to tell the difference between the two, but, basically, DIRECT strategies are "traditional" methods such as memorizing, reciting text with the instructor, creating mental images, and learning how to guess intelligently (...).

INDIRECT STRATEGIES, on the other hand, tend to be more "feelings" oriented in that they FOCUS on how to regulate how one feels when one learns the language. In other words, they deal more with how to structure and adjust efficiently HOW YOU LEARN and HOW YOU FEEL AS YOU LEARN as opposed to actually learning the language itself.

Please see the comments and links provided below by my students here in the NDHU Language Center to learn more about what language-learning strategies are and how YOU CAN MAKE THEM WORK FOR YOU!

Thanks, and keep focusing on your goals! Happy language learning...

RJ