Language Learning Strategies and Individual Learner Characteristics: Situating Strategy Use in Diverse Contexts

Description

This innovative book focuses on the relationships among self-regulated language learning strategies, students’ individual characteristics, and the diverse contexts in which learning occurs. It presents state-of-the-art, lively, readable chapters by well-known experts and new, promising scholars, who analyze learning strategy theory, research, assessment, and use. Written by a team of international contributors from Austria, Canada, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, Turkey, the UK, and the USA, this volume provides theoretical insights on how strategic learning interacts with complex environments. It explores strategy choice and the fluidity and flexibility of learning strategies. Research-based but practical themes in the book include strategy-related teacher preparation; differentiated strategy instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners of different ages, cultures, and learning styles; and creative, visualization-based development of strategy awareness. Examining methodologies for strategy research and assessment, the volume explores narrative, decision tree, scenario-based, and questionnaire-based research, as well as mixed-methods research and new assessment tools for young learners’ strategies. It presents research on strategies used for foreign/second language pronunciation, pragmatics, listening, reading, speaking, writing, and test-taking. By providing a wide range of examples of strategies in research and action in a number of countries, cultures, and educational settings, and by offering incisive section overviews and a detailed synthesis at the end, this book enables readers to develop a holistic understanding of language learning strategies. With additional online strategy materials available for downloading, Language Learning Strategies and Individual Learner Characteristics is invaluable to all those interested in helping language students learn more effectively. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents List of Figures List of Tables Notes on Contributors Preface: About This Book Foreword Introduction: The State of the Art in Language Learning Strategies and Individual Learner Characteristics Part I: Theoretical Foundations of Individuals’ Situated, Self-Regulated Language Learning Strategies in Authentic Contexts 1. Understanding Language Learning Strategies in Context: An Innovative, Complexity-Based Approach 2. Moving from Theory to Practice: A Closer Look at Language Learner Strategies 3. How Individual Differences Relate to Successful Strategy Use: Self-Regulated Language Learners Around the World Part II: Research Methodologies for Exploring Learning Strategies and Individual Differences 4. Listening to Highly Anxious EFL Learners through the Use of Narrative: Metacognitive and Affective Strategies for Learner Self-Regulation 5. Modeling a Prototypical Use of Language Learning Strategies: Decision Tree-Based Methods in Multiple Contexts 6. Mixing Methods: Investigating Self-Regulated Strategies in a Cooperative EFL Learning Environment Part III: Studies of Learning Strategies Emphasizing Diverse Contexts and Individual Difference Factors 7. Making Language Learning Strategies Research Useful: Insights from China 8. Language Learning Strategies in Greek Primary and Secondary School Learners: How Individual Characteristics Affect Strategy Use 9. Contextual and Individual Difference Variables: Pronunciation Learning Strategies in Form-Focused and Meaning-Focused Activities Part IV: Preparing Teachers and Presenting Strategy Instruction to Learners 10. Preparing Language Teachers: New Teachers Become Ready to Teach Learning Strategies in Diverse Classrooms 11. Investigating English Majors’ Affective Strategy Use, Test Anxiety, and Strategy Instruction: Contextual Influences 12. Young Language Learners in Classroom Contexts: The Development of Strategy Assessment Methods and Tools Conclusion: Lessons Learned and the Future of Situated Learning Strategies Appendices Index of Names Subject Index