Characteristics of the “successful” language learner Characteristics of the “successful” language learner

Successful learners: Successful learners:

*find their own way *find their own way

*are creative and experiment with language *are creative and experiment with language

*make their own opportunities, and find strategies and *make their own opportunities, and find strategies and
find strategies for getting practice in using the language find strategies for getting practice in using the language
inside and outside the classroom inside and outside the classroom

*learn to live with uncertainty and develop strategies for *learn to live with uncertainty and develop strategies for
making sense of the target language without wanting to making sense of the target language without wanting to
understand every word understand every word

*use mnemonics (rhymes, word associations, and so forth) *use mnemonics (rhymes, word associations, and so forth)
to recall what has been learned to recall what has been learned

*make errors work *make errors work

*use linguistic knowledge, including knowledge of their *use linguistic knowledge, including knowledge of their
first language in mastering a second language first language in mastering a second language

*let the context (extralinguistic knowledge and knowledge *let the context (extralinguistic knowledge and knowledge
of the world) help them in comprehension of the world) help them in comprehension

*learn to make intelligent guesses *learn to make intelligent guesses

*learn chunks of language as wholes and formalized *learn chunks of language as wholes and formalized
routines to help them perform “beyond their competence” routines to help them perform “beyond their competence”

*learn production (e.g., techniques for keeping *learn production (e.g., techniques for keeping
conversation going) conversation going)

*learn different styles of speech and writing and learn to *learn different styles of speech and writing and learn to
vary their language according to the formality of the vary their language according to the formality of the
situation situation

Rubin and Thompson (1983) Rubin and Thompson (1983)