DETERMING LANGUAGE LEARNING GOALS

1.) Setting long-term goals – First set specific long-term goals for yourself. To do this, answer the following questions:
a.) Why are you learning English? (check one or more)
…….................. for advancement
…….................. for good grades
…….................. for a new or better job
…….................. for travel
…….................. because this language is required for ……………………………
…….................. to get to know people who live in ………………………………
……................. because it is fun
…….................. other (list)…….........................................................................................
b.) Which skills are the most important to you? Given the purposes your have identified, decide which skills are the most
important and how you need to spend your learning time. Indicate below the importance of each skill area
(1 = least important, 5 = most important).
c.) Then indicate how proficient you want to become in each of these skills (low, medium, high).
SKILL IMPORTANCE DESIRED PROFICIENCY
(list 1 to 5) (list Low / Medium / High)
Listening ……......................... ……............................................
Speaking ……......................... ……............................................
Reading ……......................... ……............................................
Writing ……......................... ……............................................

d.) On the basis of your purposes for learning English and of your skills priorities, what are your long-term goals for learning
English for the next months or years? Sample goals: reaching a certain overall proficiency level, being able to
……………………………………………………………………………………………. Goals should be realistic.
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Now, go back and write down a date for each goal – a time by which you expect to reach the goal. Setting such a date
will enable you to check your progress toward meeting your goals.
2.) Setting your objectives – After you have set long-term goals, set yourself some short-term objectives, too. These are
aims for the next few hours, days, or weeks. Sample short-term objectives include writing a specific text or completing a
particular assignment. Some of these objectives might take only a few hours, while others might take several weeks.
Again, set a deadline for yourself for achieving these objectives so you can check your progress. Repeat this process as
needed.
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3.) Now put this questionnaire in your language learning notebook to remind you of your goals and objectives. Review
periodically so that you will remember them and gear your learning toward them. Revise them as needed.
 Strategy Training Task: Complete the form below and reflect upon own writing needs.

DETERMINING WRITING PRACTICE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

(1) Setting long-term goals. First set specific long-term goals for yourself. To do this, answer the following questions:
a. Why do you want to improve your writing skills? What are your reasons? List them below:
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b. What is it specifically about writing that you want to improve? Make a detailed list of your immediate and long-term needs.
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(2) Given the purposes you have identified as well as realizing what it is that you want to work on, decide what types of writing
tasks are the most important and how you need to spend your learning time. Indicate below the importance of each type (1 = least
important, 5 = most important). Then indicate how proficient you want to become in each one (low, medium, high).

Writing task type Importance Desired proficiency

1. A compulsory exam type task - a letter ……………………………… ……………………..
2. A compulsory exam type task - an article ……………………………… ……………………..
3. A compulsory exam type task – an essay ……………………………… ……………………..
4. Other ………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………..………………….
5. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………..
6…….……………………………………………………………………………………………….………………………………..

(3) On the basis of your purposes for further development of your writing skills and your writing tasks priorities, what are your
long-term writing goals for the next months / years? Sample answers: being able to write a specific essay, article, report, review,
letter, etc. Goals should be realistic!

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Now go back and write down a date for each goal – a time by which you expect to reach the goal. Setting such a date will enable
you to check your progress toward meeting your goals.

(4) Setting your objectives. After you have set long-term goals, set yourself some short-term objectives, too. These are aims for
the next few hours, days, or weeks. Sample short-term objectives include completing particular writing assignments. Some of these
objectives might take only a few hours, while others might take several weeks. Again, set a deadline for yourself for achieving
these objectives so you can check your progress. Repeat this process as needed.
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(5) Now put this table in your language learning or writing notebook to remind you of your goals and objectives. Review
periodically so that you will remember them and gear your learning toward them. Revise as needed.

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