There are four important points to bear in mind: Firstly, you need to ask yourself what your objectives are: « Why am I learning this language?
Secondly, it is important to be aware of one’s own experience of the language: « What is my history with this language?
Finally, there is self-assessment, which has two components: self-assessment of language level and self-assessment of learner skills. (In other words, what is my level and how do I learn best?)
So, « Why am I learning this language? answering this question will enable you to define your objectives, which will then lead you to draw up a programme of activities.
Answering the question « What’s my history with this language? is an opportunity to take stock of your language learning experiences, including your educational background (what you learnt at school) and the opportunities you’ve had to practise the language (such as travel or unexpected encounters with foreigners).
As far as self-assessment of your language level is concerned, the aim is to highlight the areas where you need to improve. This will enable you to select resources and activities.
But, when it comes to self-assessment, it’s also important to be able to know your own learning skills: this means being able to define your objectives and manage your time. This way, you’ll be able to select the appropriate resources, taking into account the way you learn.
That’s why it’s so important to assess your learning and plan your work, while adopting a reflective attitude – in other words, becoming aware of your learning process.
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