CATEGORY STRATEGY EXPLANATION

Grouping To remember new language you label a group of words that have some
things in common, that is, you classify certain words into a category because
they share some things. You can classify words into nouns or verbs, or
maybe words related to the weather, or phrases you use to apologize, and
so on.

Using Imagery To remember new language you create an image to represent information.

Association To remember new language you relate the new information to concepts
already in your memory.
MEMORY
Semantic mapping To remember new language you can visually show how certain groups of
STRATEGIES words relate to each other.

Using keywords To remember new language you use familiar words because they are similar
in sound or meaning to the new word.

Reviewing well To remember new language you look at new information more than once,
after the class, a day later, two days later, and so on.

Using mechanical techniques To remember new language you write words on cards or create tangible
concrete techniques.

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales | Departamento de Lenguas y Cultura

Universidad de los Andes | Vigilada Mineducación
Reconocimiento como Universidad: Decreto 1297 del 30 de mayo de 1964.
 CATEGORY STRATEGY EXPLANATION

Repeating You practice the target language by repeating the new information and imitating a native
speaker or proficient speaker.

Recognizing and using You practice the target language by identifying and using common expressions or formulas.
formulas and patterns You also identify and use patterns like yes/no questions in simple present: Do you _______?
Does s/he _______?

Practicing naturalistically You practice the target language by participating in a conversation, reading a book or article,
listening to a lecturer or writing an essay/email in the new language.

Getting the idea quickly You identify important information (main ideas) and specific details.

Reasoning deductively You identify general rules and apply them.

COGNITIVE
STRATEGIES
Analyzing expressions You find the meaning of a new word in the target language by breaking it down into parts.

Analyzing contrastively You compare sounds, vocabulary or grammar of the new language with your own language to
determine similarities or differences.

Translating You use one language as the basis for understanding or producing another.

Taking notes You write the main ideas or specific points of what you hear or read.

Summarizing You create a mental, oral, or written summary of information.

Highlighting You underline, color-code or highlight the important information of a text.

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales | Departamento de Lenguas y Cultura

Universidad de los Andes | Vigilada Mineducación
Reconocimiento como Universidad: Decreto 1297 del 30 de mayo de 1964.
 CATEGORY STRATEGY EXPLANATION

Guessing intelligently You use linguistic and non-linguistic clues to find out the meaning of a word.

Getting help You ask for help by hesitating or using common expressions.
COMPENSATION
Selecting a topic You can ‘control’ the conversation by talking about what interests you. In this way, you will have
STRATEGIES sufficient vocabulary and grammar to converse.

Using circumlocution If you do not know the word you need in the target language, you describe it or use a word that
or synonyms means the same.

Finding out about You make efforts to find out how language learning works.
language learning

Organizing You organize your schedule, the place where you study, your notes, etc.

Setting goals and You set aims for language learning, short term objectives, and are realistic about them
METACOGNITIVE objectives

STRATEGIES Planning for a You describe the task, determine its requirements, check your own linguistic resources, and
language task determine additional language elements you would need for the task.

Seeking practice You seek out or create opportunities to practice the new language while consciously thinking in the
opportunities new language.

Self-evaluating You evaluate your own progress in the new language.

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales | Departamento de Lenguas y Cultura

Universidad de los Andes | Vigilada Mineducación
Reconocimiento como Universidad: Decreto 1297 del 30 de mayo de 1964.
 CATEGORY STRATEGY EXPLANATION

Lowering your You find different ways to relax: using music and doing breathing exercises or meditation.
anxiety

AFFECTIVE Encouraging yourself You say positive things about yourself to feel more confident; you push yourself to take risks in a
language learning situations even if there is a possibility of making mistakes. Reward yourself for a
STRATEGIES particularly good performance in the new language.

Listening to your You pay attention to signals given by your body.

body

Asking questions You ask the speaker to repeat, paraphrase, explain, slow down or give examples.

Asking for You ask someone for correction in a conversation.

corrections
SOCIAL
STRATEGIES Cooperating with You interact with peers or proficient users to improve your language skills.
others

Developing cultural You try to learn about other cultures, so you can interact and understand how a person from that
understanding culture feels and communicates.

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales | Departamento de Lenguas y Cultura

Universidad de los Andes | Vigilada Mineducación
Reconocimiento como Universidad: Decreto 1297 del 30 de mayo de 1964.