Success with Foreign Languages

Classroom Techniques and Resources

by Earl W. Stevick

This book contains Earl Stevick's analysis of the strategies used by seven successful language learners and the implications for becoming a more successful language learner yourself. There are extensive excerpts from taped interviews with the seven learners, with Stevick's comments on the strategies and beliefs of the various learners. The book ends with Stevick's summary of what we can learn from the experiences of these learners. This book shows the diversity of approaches and beliefs that can be held by successful language learners and can provide suggestions for strategies that may work for you.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction, Linguistics

272 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1989

Reviews

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

No real surprises here: different types of learners require different types of learning. As applied to language teaching (and learning), this means that what works wonderfully well with one person might fail miserably with another, which is a good lesson for any of us who are learners or teachers. Those who don't do well with one method might be a good candidate for another method. One example is a student who was completely lost in a foreign language class where the teacher recited sentences, and dialogues, that the students had to listen to and then repeat back to her in unison. No written support, no visual cue as to what she was saying, just listen and repeat. When the student tried to follow this method as presented, she was anxious and not productive; the student then went out and bought the book the teacher used for her spoken texts, and, lo and behold, by SEEING the text before hearing it, the student was able to visualize the words being used, and so could repeat back what she heard.

This book makes the point that each learner has to find the methods and resources that work for them, and that this is even more critical in language learning, where reading, listening, speaking and writing all have a role to play. An interesting read, especially for language learners and teachers.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a lot of helpful ideas about language learning from this book. For example, the concept of instrumental vs. integrative motivation. I really got a lot out of the comparisons between learner profiles.

[Tú · Rating 1 out of 5]

gosh, the worst book ever written in English.