““LINGUE IN PIAZZA” LINGUE IN PIAZZA” Ref. 225857-CP-1-2005-1-IT-Ref. 225857-CP-1-2005-1-IT-

LINGUA-L1LINGUA-L1. . Autonomy in language Autonomy in language

learninglearning

Autonomous learning Autonomous learning means:means:

Control over the learning process Control over the learning process Acquiring learning strategiesAcquiring learning strategies Acquiring ways to use these strategies Acquiring ways to use these strategies

without the help of a teacher (Thomson -without the help of a teacher (Thomson -1996 – we are born independent students 1996 – we are born independent students but when we learn a language , but when we learn a language , autonomousn learning becomes difficult autonomousn learning becomes difficult and we prefer the direction of a teacher) and we prefer the direction of a teacher)

More control over objectives More control over objectives More control over the ways in which we More control over the ways in which we

learnlearn

Autonomous learningAutonomous learning

Offers learners the freedom to take Offers learners the freedom to take decisions on:decisions on:- content- content

- - organizationorganization

- pace of study- pace of study

An autonomous learner is:An autonomous learner is:

Methodical and disciplinedMethodical and disciplined Logical and analyticalLogical and analytical reflectivereflective flexibleflexible Responsible and persistentResponsible and persistent Creative and willing to take risksCreative and willing to take risks confidentconfident Aware of the learning processAware of the learning process Able to assess and criticise Able to assess and criticise

Before starting Before starting I must accept responsibilty for my studiesI must accept responsibilty for my studies I must understand the aims of my studies I must understand the aims of my studies I must know my level of EnglishI must know my level of English I must identify my immediate aimsI must identify my immediate aims I must plan my learning programme. The use of a I must plan my learning programme. The use of a

diary is useful. When the student writes a diary is useful. When the student writes a learning plan, the level of involvement increases learning plan, the level of involvement increases – Martyn 1994– Martyn 1994

I must identify learning problemsI must identify learning problems I must be able to select I must be able to select I must understand the learning processI must understand the learning process I must measure my progress from time to time I must measure my progress from time to time

The autonomous student The autonomous student doesn’t need to be alone!doesn’t need to be alone!

Autonomous learning does not mean Autonomous learning does not mean isolated learning. Several studies isolated learning. Several studies have shown that many aspects of have shown that many aspects of learning are best done with other learning are best done with other studentsstudents

Study groupsStudy groups TandemTandem chatchat

Why is English so difficult?Why is English so difficult?

There are so many words! There are more words in There are so many words! There are more words in English than in any other language in the world. English is English than in any other language in the world. English is a Germanic language but with the Norman conquest, many a Germanic language but with the Norman conquest, many new words entered the language from French and Latin. new words entered the language from French and Latin. For example, the Anglo-Saxons had two words for cooking For example, the Anglo-Saxons had two words for cooking - - cook andcook and bake bake but the French who were perhaps better but the French who were perhaps better cooks – introduced many more words – cooks – introduced many more words – fry, grill, roastfry, grill, roast..

In the Renaissance, the English language was considered In the Renaissance, the English language was considered to be inferior so many words were introduced from French, to be inferior so many words were introduced from French, Italian and Spanish. For this reason, we often have two or Italian and Spanish. For this reason, we often have two or more words when one would be enough!more words when one would be enough!

Freedom (Anglo-Saxon) liberty (French)Freedom (Anglo-Saxon) liberty (French) Graveyard (Anglo-Saxon) cemetery (French)Graveyard (Anglo-Saxon) cemetery (French) Heaven (Anglo-Saxon) paradise (French)Heaven (Anglo-Saxon) paradise (French)

Read ‘about the language’ www.lingueinpiazza.itRead ‘about the language’ www.lingueinpiazza.it

Why is English so Why is English so difficult?difficult?

The spoken word often does not The spoken word often does not reflect the written versionreflect the written version

The English and Americans eat their The English and Americans eat their words!words!

The pronunciation is difficultThe pronunciation is difficult It is not a logical language and there It is not a logical language and there

are many exceptions to the rulesare many exceptions to the rules

But there are some But there are some advantages!advantages!

The structure of English is quite simple. The structure of English is quite simple. There are no cases or declinations – the There are no cases or declinations – the relationship of words depends on word relationship of words depends on word order. Nouns do not have a gender and order. Nouns do not have a gender and the adjectives do not change the adjectives do not change

Considering the ubiquity of the English Considering the ubiquity of the English language, it is quite easy to find ways to language, it is quite easy to find ways to learn it autonomously – 70% of Internet learn it autonomously – 70% of Internet sites are in English for example and sites are in English for example and many world famous musicians are many world famous musicians are English or AmericanEnglish or American

Why don’t you write English Why don’t you write English as you speak it?as you speak it?

The main reasons date back to the Middle Ages The main reasons date back to the Middle Ages when the written language was more or less when the written language was more or less fixed. There are various different dialects in fixed. There are various different dialects in Britain and in the 13° century, everyone wrote Britain and in the 13° century, everyone wrote in his own dialect. Then the London dialect in his own dialect. Then the London dialect became the official written language. The dialect became the official written language. The dialect of London changed over the centuries but the of London changed over the centuries but the written version remained the same. Therefore written version remained the same. Therefore we still have the written language of seven we still have the written language of seven centuries ago though the spoken language has centuries ago though the spoken language has changed. For example, the pronunciation of changed. For example, the pronunciation of vowels has changed and many consonants are no vowels has changed and many consonants are no longer pronounced in certain wordslonger pronounced in certain words

(Wednesday, know, gnome, scientist)(Wednesday, know, gnome, scientist)

Another problem goes back to the Another problem goes back to the Norman conquest. The Norman Norman conquest. The Norman scribes wrote English according to scribes wrote English according to French writing conventions. For French writing conventions. For example, the word ‘country’ was example, the word ‘country’ was pronounced ‘cuntri’ by the Anglo-pronounced ‘cuntri’ by the Anglo-Saxons but the French wrote ‘ou’ Saxons but the French wrote ‘ou’ for the ‘u’ soundfor the ‘u’ sound

In the eigthteenth century, scholars In the eigthteenth century, scholars tried to improve the language by tried to improve the language by inserting consonants to indicate the inserting consonants to indicate the Latin origin of the word. No English Latin origin of the word. No English person has ever pronounced the ‘s’ person has ever pronounced the ‘s’ in the word ‘island’ – it was put in to in the word ‘island’ – it was put in to indicate the Latin root – as in castle, indicate the Latin root – as in castle, debt, doubt, receipt, tombdebt, doubt, receipt, tomb

So how canI learn to So how canI learn to pronounce English well?pronounce English well?

There aren’t any rules for English There aren’t any rules for English pronunciation! Some words that pronunciation! Some words that contain sounds that look similar are contain sounds that look similar are pronounced very differently (good, pronounced very differently (good, food, blood) and otheres that look food, blood) and otheres that look completely different are pronounced completely different are pronounced in the same way (right, write)in the same way (right, write)

Don’t despair. You need to learn the Don’t despair. You need to learn the phonetics – symbols that represent phonetics – symbols that represent sounds and things will seem easier. sounds and things will seem easier.

Vowel soundsVowel sounds i: see, sea, bei: see, sea, be I Italy, rich, sitI Italy, rich, sit U put, book, footU put, book, foot U: food, rude, shoe, two, you, flewU: food, rude, shoe, two, you, flew e ten, hen, pen, mene ten, hen, pen, men ΛΛ cup, love, bus cup, love, bus Æ hat, apple, fatÆ hat, apple, fat a: car, father, partya: car, father, party ЗЗ: girl, world, pearl, Thursday: girl, world, pearl, Thursday Ɔ: Ɔ: four, door, daughter, raw, morefour, door, daughter, raw, more ∂ ∂ ago, America, colour, motherago, America, colour, mother Ŋ orange, Australia, honourŊ orange, Australia, honour

1. i: bead1. i: bead 2. I bid2. I bid 3. U bud (N. English)3. U bud (N. English) 4. U: booed4. U: booed 5. e bed5. e bed 6. 6. ΛΛ bud bud 7. Æ bad7. Æ bad 8. a: bard8. a: bard 9. 9. ЗЗ: bird: bird 10. Ɔ: bored10. Ɔ: bored 11. ∂ cupboard11. ∂ cupboard 12. Ŋ body12. Ŋ body

Which vowel do these words contain? EARTH HARD LORDWhich vowel do these words contain? EARTH HARD LORDLOVE LEAVE WHO AUSTRIA SHIP RICH REACH LOVE LEAVE WHO AUSTRIA SHIP RICH REACH

APPLE THURSDAY BREAD CALL APPLE THURSDAY BREAD CALL

DIPTHONGSDIPTHONGS I I ∂ ∂ here, near, fearhere, near, feareeI I late, hate, (the rain in Spain falls mainly on late, hate, (the rain in Spain falls mainly on

the plainthe plain))

uu∂∂ pure, surepure, sure ƆƆII toy, boy toy, boy eeaa hair, fair, airhair, fair, air

aaI five, diveI five, dive au au how now brown cowhow now brown cow

∂∂u u home, window, hellohome, window, hello

You say yes, I say no You say yes, I say no You say stop and I say go, go, go You say stop and I say go, go, go Oh, no Oh, no You say goodbye and I say hello You say goodbye and I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello I say high, you say low I say high, you say low You say why, and I say I don't know You say why, and I say I don't know Oh, no Oh, no You say goodbye and I say hello You say goodbye and I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello Why, why, why, why, why, why Why, why, why, why, why, why Do you say good bye Do you say good bye Goodbye, bye, bye, bye, bye Goodbye, bye, bye, bye, bye Oh, no Oh, no You say goodbye and I say hello You say goodbye and I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello Hello, hello Hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I say hello hello, hello hello, hello I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello I don't know why you say goodbye I say hello Hello Hello

CONSONANTSCONSONANTS p pen, pillp pen, pill b bar, badb bar, bad t tea, taket tea, take d do didd do did ttƒ cheese, chooseƒ cheese, choose dz June Januarydz June January k cat, creamk cat, cream g goodg good f fallf fall v voicev voice θθ thin, north thin, north ð those, theseð those, these s so, sees so, see z rose shoesz rose shoes

she. Shoesshe. Shoes (she sells sea shells on the sea shore and the (she sells sea shells on the sea shore and the

shells she sells are sea-shells) shells she sells are sea-shells) ЗЗ pleasure, treasure pleasure, treasure mm nn ŋ thing, singŋ thing, sing HH ll rr ww Europe, yesEurope, yes

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far awayYesterday, all my troubles seemed so far awayNow it looks as thought they're here to stayNow it looks as thought they're here to stayOh I believe in yesterdayOh I believe in yesterday

Suddenly, I'm not half the man I used to beSuddenly, I'm not half the man I used to beThere's a shadow hanging over meThere's a shadow hanging over meOh yesterday, came suddenlyOh yesterday, came suddenly

Why she, had to goWhy she, had to goI don't know she wouldn't sayI don't know she wouldn't sayI said, something wrongI said, something wrongNow I long for yesterdayNow I long for yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to playYesterday, love was such an easy game to playNow I need a place to hide awayNow I need a place to hide awayOh I believe in yesterday.Oh I believe in yesterday.

Why she, had to go I don't knowWhy she, had to go I don't knowShe wouldn't sayShe wouldn't sayI said, something wrongI said, something wrongNow I long for yesterdayNow I long for yesterday

Yesterday, love was such an easy game to playYesterday, love was such an easy game to playNow I need a place to hide awayNow I need a place to hide awayOh I believe in yesterday.Oh I believe in yesterday.

Go onto the site Go onto the site www.yourDictionary.comwww.yourDictionary.com

and find the pronunciation and find the pronunciation for these wordsfor these words

Reign colonelReign colonel Sword appallingSword appalling Malignant doubtMalignant doubt Knight exhaustingKnight exhausting Amazing scientistAmazing scientist Oregano birthdayOregano birthday Arrangement cupboardArrangement cupboard Mountain furtherMountain further

Test your English Test your English First you must find your First you must find your

level of English – do a test level of English – do a test on a websiteon a website

www.learn4good.comwww.learn4good.com (40 questions (40 questions to establish your level – quite easy)to establish your level – quite easy)

www.englishlearner.comwww.englishlearner.com (you (you already need to know your level)already need to know your level)

www.languagesystems.comwww.languagesystems.com (a bit (a bit difficult)difficult)

www.learnenglish.orgwww.learnenglish.org (very (very difficult)difficult)

Study groupsStudy groups Find two or three people in the group of Find two or three people in the group of

your level (go round the class asking your level (go round the class asking ‘what’s your level of English?)‘what’s your level of English?)

Discuss why you want to learn EnglishDiscuss why you want to learn English What are the difficulties in your opinion?What are the difficulties in your opinion? How can you overcome these difficulties?How can you overcome these difficulties? Do you know your learning style? Do you Do you know your learning style? Do you

have a good memory? Do you have to have a good memory? Do you have to write down words to learn them?write down words to learn them?

In your groups of two or In your groups of two or three, try to write a three, try to write a

learning planlearning plan For example:For example: Understand better the pronuncationUnderstand better the pronuncation Buy a good dictionaryBuy a good dictionary Do exercises on verbsDo exercises on verbs Learn irregular past verbsLearn irregular past verbs Learn some useful expressions Learn some useful expressions