BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk//
X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam
BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:Falling through the net: do learner development schemes reach thos
 e who need it most? - Dr Ulrike Bavendieke (University of Liverpool)
DTSTART:20061113T170000Z
DTEND:20061113T180000Z
UID:TALK5701@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Edith Esch
DESCRIPTION:Learner development schemes with the aim of fostering efficien
 t language learning behaviour are now a regular feature in many University
  Language Departments in the UK. The recognition of the learners' individu
 al needs and learning styles has long been recognised as crucial for the s
 uccess of such programmes. Yet other Individual Difference variables such 
 as motivation\, previous language learning experience and proficiency leve
 l are sometimes ignored when planning the schemes. \n\nThe paper is based 
 on a longitudinal study into the effects of a learner development programm
 e developed at the University of Liverpool for first year students of Germ
 an. The students engaged in guided independent language learning as an ass
 essed part of their course. In order to raise their reflectivity of the le
 arning process\, they were encouraged to converse about their language lea
 rning experiences in learner diaries and individual sessions with the lang
 uage adviser. Data on the effects of the Scheme were collected from the st
 udents through the learning diaries\, questionnaires and semi-structured i
 nterviews. \n\nI will present the case studies of four participants and di
 scuss the interaction of individual learner characteristics and the effect
 s of the learner development programme perceived by the students. Since so
 me students reported to have experienced hardly any benefits from the prog
 ramme\, I will argue that a successful learner development scheme should b
 e based on a profile of each learner\, taking into account individual diff
 erences such as the degree of teacher dependency and motivation
LOCATION:Room 1S3 New Faculty of Education Building\, Hills Road
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR