Facultat dEducaci

PG in English as an L3

The Strategy Factor in Language Learning

Case studies
In todays session we are going to analyse a series of case studies where you will see ten-minute videos of pre-primary, primary, and
secondary ESL classes in different countries.
Watch the videos and complete the grid below individually. Then work in groups of three and answer the questions below based on
Griffiths (2004).

Nr.

Video

Context

Strategies identified

Teaching approach and comments

Kindergarten ESL
lesson:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=q2tGtw1_W_E

PRIMARY

MEMORY STRATEGIES
- Repetition
- Imitation
- Memorization

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Sing a song with gestures with
some parts of body and actions
that they do in class.
- Songs about different countries
and jobs.
- Ask questions about a picture and
gesture the answers.
AUDIO LINGUAL APPROACH:
There are no gramma rules, only vocabulary
lists and minimizes the importance of the
learning strategies in Language Learning
process.

Learning new words:

https://www.youtube.com

PRE-PRIMARY

MEMORY STRATEGIES
- Repetition

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Visual supports and repeat

Facultat dEducaci
PG in English as an L3

/watch?v=0fUlS_aGQ1I

Angls Teresianes:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=vZAacGD0cME

PRE-PRIMARY,
PRIMARY,
HIGH SCHOOL

Memorization

MEMORY STRATEGIES (preprimary and Primary)

- Repetition
- Imitation
- Memorization

HIGH SCHOOL
- Exersicing (practising with
the rules)

- Game whats missing?

- Game which one is it?
- Game feeling and guessing
- Visual supports and repeat
AUDIO LINGUAL APPROACH:
There are no gramma rules, only vocabulary
lists and minimizes the importance of the
learning strategies in Language Learning
process.
NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
PRE-PRIMARY
- Songs with gestures
- Flash cards with vocabulary and
repeat.
PRIMARY
- Ask with a puppet
- Flash card with vocabulary and
repeat.
HIGH SCHOOL
- Teacher explains the rule and the
student create an example.
AUDIO LINGUAL APPROACH:
Pre-primary and Primary: There are no
gramma rules, only vocabulary lists and
minimizes the importance of the learning
strategies in Language Learning process.
High school: Priority, the ability to construct
correct theory and use the cognitive
strategies.

Facultat dEducaci
PG in English as an L3

Learning Strategies:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=sEx8_Z_a0Cg

HIGH SCHOOL

Building community in a
multi-language
classroom:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=KduFyBohX4g

3th grade of
Primary

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES
- Analyze
- Summarizing
- Repeating
SOCIAL STRATEGIES
- Cooperation with others
- Emphasizing with others
- Asking questions
METACOGNITIVE
STRATEGIES
- Evaluating your learning
- Arranging and planning
your learning.

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Oral reading
- Translate words in different
languages depending on their
mother language
- Work the pronunciation
- Work the vocabulary and then
produce a sentences with these
words
- Correct the errors in group
- There is a final product

MEMORY STRATEGIES
- Repetition
SOCIAL STRATEGIES
- Cooperation with others
METACOGNITIVE
STRATEGIES
- Centering your learning
- Arranging your planning

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Work in groups
- The students are the focus
- Relating an answer the teacher
practise the rule (repeat)
- Compare the gramma between
different languages
- Listening with the text and stop

GRAMA TRANSLATION APPROACH

Focus on the accuracy and the ability to
construct correct theory and use the
cognitive strategies. ( reading and writing)
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
Students work in groups and teacher put the
focus on the process. The teacher work with
the context and with real situations.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
The teacher connects similitudes between
different languages and cultures. Teacher
presents the contents of the languages
connecting with their knowledge.

Facultat dEducaci
PG in English as an L3

your learning.
-

the audio and ask a question.

Connect with their context
Work vocabulary through games
Connect the context of the
language.

GRAMA TRANSLATION APPROACH

Focus on the accuracy and the ability to
construct correct theory and use the
cognitive strategies. ( reading and writing)
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
Students work in groups and teacher put the
focus on the process. The teacher work with
the context and with real situations.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
The teacher connects similitudes between
different languages and cultures. Teacher
presents the contents of the languages
connecting with their knowledge.
6

Model for teaching ESL

learners:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=lVGbz4EqyGs

3th grade of
Primary

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES
- Discuss
SOCIAL STRATEGIES
- Cooperation with others
- Emphasizing with others
METACOGNITIVE
STRATEGIES
- Centering your learning
- Arranging your planning
your learning.

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Define one Word using the context
in the tail and put other examples.
- One paper with some sentences
and the students need to think if
are a fact or an option.
- Students reflect about their
thinking
- Discuss about their opinions
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
Students work in groups and teacher put the
focus on the process. The discussion is the
most important part of learning. Students

Facultat dEducaci
PG in English as an L3

need to review and argue their ideas.

7

CLIL lesson:
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=SovzQchPeJU

HIGH SCHOOL

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES
- Analyze
- Summarizing

SOCIAL STRATEGIES
- Cooperative with others

METACOGNITIVE
STRATEGIES
- Centering your learning
- Arranging your planning
your learning.
- Evaluating your learning.

NOTES-ACTIVITIES:
- Work in pairs
- Concept and definitions
- Put in order some pieces of paper
- Fill in the gaps
- 2 teachers
- Analyse information
- Relating concepts in groups of 4
- Ask and answer in pairs with
papers
- Review the most important
concepts.
COMMUNICATIVE APPROACH
The activities are thought for the students to
think and produce in pairs or in groups. The
teachers are seeking out communication
between students and reasoning to reach the
contents.

Questions
1. Which of the strategies that you have identified are you familiar with (as a learner or as a teacher)?
2. Which strategies are included in Griffiths (2004)?
3. Which of the strategies from the videos are more effective or appropriate in your context? Discuss.
4. Which strategies are the least effective? Discuss.

Facultat dEducaci
PG in English as an L3