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Language Learning Strategies System by ROxford.doc
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©Rebecca Oxford 1990

Language Learning Strategies by R. Oxford

DIRECT STRATEGIES (Memory, Cognitive, and Compensation Strategies)

Memory Strategies

  1. Creating mental linkages
  1. Grouping
  2. Associating/Elaborating
  3. Placing new words into a context

  1. Applying images and sounds
  1. Using imagery
  2. Semantic mapping
  3. Using keywords
  4. Representing sounds in memory

  1. Reviewing well
  1. Structured reviewing

  1. Employing action
  1. Using physical response or sensation
  2. Using mechanical techniques

Cognitive strategies

  1. Practicing
  1. Repeating
  2. Formally practicing with sounds and writing systems
  3. Recognizing and using formulas and patterns
  4. Recombining
  5. Practicing naturalistically

  1. Receiving and sending messages
  1. Getting the idea quickly
  2. Using resources for receiving and sending messages

  1. Analyzing and reasoning
  1. Reasoning deductively
  2. Analyzing expressions
  3. Analyzing contrastively (across languages)
  4. Translating
  5. Transferring

  1. Creating structure for input and output
  1. Taking notes
  2. Summarizing
  3. Highlighting

Compensation strategies

  1. Guessing intelligently
  1. Using linguistic clues
  2. Using other clues

  1. Overcoming limitations in speaking and writing
  1. Switching to the mother tongue
  2. Getting help
  3. Using mime or gesture
  4. Avoiding communication partially or totally
  5. Selecting the topic
  6. Adjusting or approximating the message
  7. Coining words
  8. Using a circumlocution or synonym

INDIRECT STRATEGIES (Metacognitive, Affective and Social Strategies)

Metacognitive Strategies

  1. Centering your learning
  1. Overviewing and linking with already known material
  2. Paying attention
  3. Delaying speech production to focus on listening

  1. Arranging and planning your learning
  1. Finding out about language learning
  2. Organizing
  3. Setting goals and objectives
  4. Identifying the purpose of a language task (purposeful listening/reading/speaking/ writing)
  5. Planning for a language task
  6. Seeking practice opportunities

  1. Evaluating your learning
  1. Self-monitoring
  2. Self-evaluation

Affective strategies

  1. Lowering your anxiety
  1. Using progressive relaxation, deep breathing, or meditation
  2. Using music
  3. Using laughter

  1. Encouraging yourself
  1. Making positive statements
  2. Taking risks wisely
  3. Rewarding yourself

  1. Taking your emotional temperature
  1. Listening to your body
  2. Using a checklist
  3. Writing a language learning diary
  4. Discussing your feelings with someone else

Social strategies

  1. Asking questions
  1. Asking for clarification or verification
  2. Asking for correction

  1. Cooperating with others
  1. Cooperating with peers
  2. Cooperating with proficient users of the new language

  1. Empathizing with others
  1. Developing cultural understanding
  2. Becoming aware of others’ thoughts and feelings