Purposes:
- To help students gain awareness of new strategies they can use in language learning
- To have students identify others who have tried similar and different strategies
- To enhance language learning (if any part of this activity is done in the target language)
Source: http://carla.umn.edu/maxsa/documents/LanguageStrategyInventory_MAXSA_IG.pdf
Short description: The purpose of this inventory is to find out more about yourself as a language learner and to help you discover strategies that can help you master a new language.
Sample questions:
Instructions: Check the box that describes your use of each listed strategy. The categories are: I use this strategy and like it; I have tried this strategy and would use it again; I’ve never used this strategy but am interested in it; and This strategy doesn’t fit for me. Please note that “target” language refers to the new language you are learning.
Sample questions:
- Attend out-of-class events where the new language is spoken (from listening strategy use)
- Pay attention to the structure of the new word (from vocabulary strategy use)
- Practice saying new expressions to myself (from speaking strategy use)
- Read as much as possible in the target language (from reading strategy use)
- Practice writing the alphabet and/or new words in the target language (from writing strategy use)
- Plan out what to say or write in my own language and then translate it into the target language (from translation strategy use)
Paid or free: Free
Reliability/validity measures: Not available
Setting:
- Individual
- Educational/instructional
Stakeholder(s):
- Students
- Any individual interested in learning a new language or improving their native language
Type of measurement: Questionnaire
Possible uses:
- Beginning of a course
- Icebreaker activity
Ease of implementation: Easy. Est. 30 minutes to complete survey; 20-45 minutes for discussion (optional)
Advantages:
- Provides in-depth information
- Easy to administer and take
- PDF provides comments about the inventory, including limitations and implications
Drawbacks:
- Lengthy
- Self-report
Studies this has been used in: