FORUM: Reflecting on the Learning Process The following conceptual map is aimed at summarizing your ideas with regards

to the learning process, how it occurs and the different variables involved. I am quite sure you will add more ideas throughout the course. We can cooperatively build upon and shape our own ideas!

LEARNING a complex life-long process = ubiquitous nature

Socio-cultural environment Curriculum (written, target, assessed) Theories about language learning Motivation Instructors teaching philosophy National and international policies World market and globalization

Influenced by Internal factors

Age Cognitive processes Aptitude and attitude Motivation Learning style Learning strategies Background Personality

External factors

Questions and reflections

How to tackle the different variables which intervene in the learning process with the purpose of aiding our teaching practice and; thus, students achievement of learning goals?

The learning process starts in the mothers womb. The learners background, their social environment and their individual characteristics are key throughout the process. Learning does not follow recipes. The students learn better when they interact with others, not only with their classmates but also with the whole community in general. Learning must be a social process of creating, shaping, modifying, replacing and recreating concepts and ideas.

Theories offer different perspectives about the learning process and make it more effective. The gap between theory and its application is one of the teachers main challenges. There must be clear objectives and rationale behind the application of a theory. The only certain answer is that we all learn differently, thus there is not right or wrong theory. We must consider theories and our role in their application. Experience without theory is blind, but theory

without experience is mere intellectual play -Immanuel Kant