Language Biography
How to use your Language Biography
Your Language Biography is a tool to help you think about why you are learning English and the best way for you to learn. The Language Biography can help you to become a more effective learner by helping you focus on your objectives, and a learning style that suits your needs.
Your aims and objectives
Think about why you are learning English (for work, travel, etc.) and what level of English you will need to achieve those objectives - you can refer to the levels in your Language Passport to assist you.
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Time Scale |
English Level Required |
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e.g. to travel abroad on holiday |
6 months |
Listening B1 Reading A2 Speaking |
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(production) A2 Writing A1 |
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Listening
Reading
Speaking (interaction)
Speaking (production)
Writing
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How I Learn!
Think about the easiest ways for you to learn something new. Read the sentences below and choose. You can choose more than one.
1 I understand words/sentences better if I |
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A listen to them on cassette/CD. |
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B listen to my teacher saying them. |
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C see them written down. |
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D see, listen and do something with them. |
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E other |
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2 I learn words/phrases better if I |
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A listen to them on cassette/CD. |
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B listen to my classmates saying them. |
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C read them. |
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D write them down. |
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E repeat them. |
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F act them out, sing them, etc. |
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G come across them on a video/DVD, etc. |
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H other |
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I can express myself best if I |
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A already know all the words I need to use. |
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B know some of the words I need to use. |
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C use mime, objects and pictures to help me. |
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D already have some life experience of the subject. |
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E other |
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I learn best if I work |
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A on my own. □ B in pairs. □ |
C in groups/teams. |
□ D other |
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I am more eager to learn if |
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A I know why I’m doing an activity. |
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B I know an activity will help me. |
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C I am rewarded. |
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D an activity will help me to find out more about the things I like. |
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E other |
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I understand grammar rules better if |
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A they are explained to me in my mother tongue. |
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B I compare them with the grammar rules of my mother tongue. |
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C I explore a text and come up with the grammar rules myself. |
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D other |
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My plans
Use this page to capture things you may not have been able to log using the checklists.
Write down:
1.what you are good at in the language;
2.what you need to work harder on;
3.why you want to learn the language (e.g. for your job, for travel or for study);
4.what you want to achieve (e.g. to be able to write an answer toa job advertisement, to be able to chat to someone about your travel experiences, to be able to find information quickly on the Internet).
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Your language learning history
Think about all the experiences that have helped you to learn English (e.g. lessons in school, language courses, travel to English-speaking countries, etc.)
How successful were they?
Complete the first section, then write about your experiences chronologically. Where I started learning English.
Why I started learning English.
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How successful? |
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Your language experiences
People learn in many ways: by seeing and hearing; reflecting and acting; reasoning logically and intuitively; memorising and visualising.
You may find it helpful to reflect on your own learning styles. Each individual is different. Look at the learning styles described below and see which might apply to you.
Tick the boxes for the approaches which best describe the learning style you feel most comfortable with.
□ I prefer to learn practical examples first and |
□ I prefer to study the grammar first and build |
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become aware of grammatical rules through using |
my own sentences until I feel I have a practical |
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repertoire. |
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these. |
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□ I prefer to be given the linguistic facts and then to |
□ I prefer an interactive approach to mastering |
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work on these by myself until I feel confident that I |
new language, 'taking risks' in putting over |
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can communicate with little risk of error. |
meaning and learning from any resulting errors. |
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□ I enjoy reading and prefer to see the words I am |
□ I prefer to learn by listening. I enjoy |
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learning. I like to learn by looking at pictures and |
conversations and the chance for interactions |
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flashcards. |
with others. |
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□ I prefer to think about the language and how |
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□ I prefer to concentrate on the details of language, |
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such as language rules and structures, and enjoy |
to convey what I want to say accurately. I prefer |
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taking apart words and sentences. |
to take my time in formulating what to say. |
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Choose three experiences which have helped you the most to learn English.
Experiences |
Reason |
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How to become a more effective learner
Look at these ways of studying and learning.
Tick √ the methods you currently use.
Put an asterisk * next to methods you’d like to use in the future.
Ways of studying
Ask your teacher questions when you don't understand.
Keep a vocabulary notebook and write example sentences, phonetics, and translations in it.
Write new words on a flash-card - English on one side, your language on the other. Learn three every day.
Put lists of English words on your bedroom wall - use headings, e.g. 'jobs', 'food'.
Regularly ask yourself 'How would I say that in English?'
Regularly review your vocabulary notebook and grammar notes.
Review the grammar from the last lesson before the next lesson.
Watch films and TV programmes in English.
Listen to the radio / music in English.
Read English graded readers.
Read websites / magazines / newspapers in English.
Practise English with other people via email or the Internet.
Keep a journal in English.
Write something in English everyday - e.g. your response to a newspaper article, or web-story.
Talk to other students in English outside of class.
Use a MultiROM to learn and revise.
Buy a grammar practice book.
Use an English-English dictionary.
If possible, take a holiday in an English-speaking country.
Share your tips on how to study effectively with other people.
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