Giving Learners Choice

Brian Tomlinson

Each and every language learner is: Different.

Each learner differs from:

• learners in other countries• learners in other institutions• learners in the same class

Each learner differs in their:• experience of life• need to learn English• motivation to learn English• motivation to do a particular activity• interests• abilities• attitudes to English• preferred learning styles

Each learner differs in what is likely to engage them.

Each learner differs:• from teacher to teacher• from peer to peer• from day to day

And yet:We treat learners as though they are all the same.

We expect them all to:• use the same coursebook• do the same unit at the same time• do the same exercise at the same time• to get the same right answers.

Ways of Giving Learners More Choice

• in what materials they use• in what activities they do• in who they work with• in how they help themselves to learn• in where they learn• in when they learn• in how they learn.

Conclusion

Give learners more choice and they’ll give you more in return.

They Came from the Sea - Part 1

Choice of:• Activity• Beach• Who to show their beach to• Acting or not• How to respond to the narrative• The content of the narrative• Participation in re-telling of the story• Participation in the circle story• Telling their story• Participation in revision of the story• Length of story completion• Content of story completion

The learners are given choice thirteen times.

And yet none of the choices are likely to:• be overwhelming• cause dilemmas• cause delay• lead to a feeling of missing out