Type apprentissage : Learning to learn

In this tutorial, we will introduce you to the EDOlang resource catalog and how it works

How to find resources ?

You access the catalog from the EDOlang home page.  Log in to have access to all features. 

You can start by choosing the language you want to work with.

The catalog offers you both physical resources, which can be consulted in one of the language resource centers, and digital resources.

Well, that’s no use, there are teachers for that !

You can search for resources in different ways :

• If you have information on the resource you are looking for, you can enter the title, author, etc. You can also do a keyword search.
• you can also do a simple search :
  • by skill: “write”, “speak”, “listen”, “read”. By clicking, you access the summary description of the resources. It is possible to filter these resources by type, medium, etc. When you click on the chosen resource, you access the detailed description ;
  • you can also search by type of resource: audio, video, literature, etc. “Reference tools” are common ones (dictionaries, grammars, etc.). The “learning sites” are all accessible from any computer station except subscription sites. To consult these sites, you must go to a language resource center. “Language methods” are books with CDs or DVDs, so they can only be consulted in language resource centers. The “build my learning” resources help you define your objectives and your organization ;
  • you can finally select bundles of resources: these are resources gathered by objectives.

if you want to cross several criteria, you can do it with the advanced search. You access domains in particular.

When you find a resource that interests you, you can add it to your favorites. You access all of your favorites on the catalog home page. 

There are plenty of ways to self-assess! It actually depends on what you want to evaluate yourself on. If you want to self-assess your written comprehension, you could for example choose a text, a book or an article, or even a conversation by SMS, it all depends on your objective. You would then try to estimate your comprehension rate as a percentage. And for oral or written expression, you could for example meet a native speaker, if you feel capable, at the language café or during tandems. And if your goal is to chat via text, you could try chats or apps, such as Hello Talk. You could also use a logbook online or on paper.

In any case, if you think you need it, you can always make an appointment with an advisor at a language center.

How to use catalog resources ? 

When you use a resource from the EDOlang catalog, an activity line is automatically created in your logbook.

For physical resources, this line appears once you have returned the document to the resource center.

For digital resources, you need to go to the detailed description of the resource and click on “launch”. When you’re finished, remember to click on “stop”: a line will be created in your logbook with the duration corresponding to your activity.

You can thus analyze the activity you have just carried out by adding a comment.

If the language is not the correct one because the resource is multilingual, you can modify it in the “action” column.

If you would like more information about the catalog and resources, you can follow a workshop on this topic or request information at a language resource center.

>> Download transcription file «  How to use the Resource Catalogue ? »

Hello there, budding learner! In all your knowledge and autonomy, do you happen to know what self-assessment is?

Well no, tell me, what is self-assessment ?

Sit down, I have to explain to you : Self-assessment is the fact of being able to evaluate one’s skills, one’s abilities to respect or not respect one’s objectives, which one has set for oneself !

 It’s comparing yourself with yourself and others. Thanks to self-assessment, you can observe the progress you have made and how you got there… or not.

Well, that’s no use, there are teachers for that !

Yes, it’s useful for something !

Self-assessment is part of the empowerment system. It is used to know yourself better and to review your goals if they are too high, too vague or unrealistic, for example. In addition, you can observe your progress and direct your learning based on it.

Oh yeah, not bad ! And so, what can I do ?

There are plenty of ways to self-assess! It actually depends on what you want to evaluate yourself on. If you want to self-assess your written comprehension, you could for example choose a text, a book or an article, or even a conversation by SMS, it all depends on your objective. You would then try to estimate your comprehension rate as a percentage. And for oral or written expression, you could for example meet a native speaker, if you feel capable, at the language café or during tandems. And if your goal is to chat via text, you could try chats or apps, such as Hello Talk. You could also use a logbook online or on paper.

In any case, if you think you need it, you can always make an appointment with an advisor at a language center.

Whoa, but it’s all complicated! Where do I start ?

 Perhaps you can start by asking yourself these kinds of questions: Where am I in my learning? What is my main goal? What should I do to achieve it? How will I know I have achieved my goal? Am I spending enough time on my learning? Or should I give it more time?

Oh yeah, not stupid, not stupid! I’ll think about that next time!

THANKS ! In the meantime, you can always take a look at our short questionnaire, which will allow you to better self-assess yourself.

Goodbye, see you again, have a good trip, arrivederci, sayonara!

>> Download transcription file « How to self-evaluate your learning of a foreign language ?« 

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.

>> Download the transcription file “Where do I start ?”

Self-directed learning means defining your own objectives and the needs that arise from them. For example, if I want to improve my oral expression so that I can go and work as a waiter in Spain, I’ll need to master the vocabulary and expressions used in the catering industry. So I can take stock of what I already know and what I’m lacking. (Take stock of your knowledge)

Then I can define the activities to be carried out and decide how I want to organise and pace my work. In concrete terms, I start by making sure I know the vocabulary and expressions I’ll need to take on the role of waiter (by watching videos on YouTube, for example). It’s up to me to decide how often (1 or 2 times a week) and for how long.

So, in these tutorials, we’re going to look at how to get organised, how to do an initial self-assessment and how to self-assess. We’ll also look at interim and final assessments to measure the progress made since the initial assessment.

>> Download file « What is self-directed learning ? »