The document discusses characteristics of Filipino English language learners based on various studies. It finds that high-achieving learners use more learning strategies than low-achievers. Learners display emerging reading patterns like translating and rely on cultural strategies. While elementary students' writing lacks accuracy, learners show improved performance with computer-assisted materials. The document advocates teaching learners strategies to become autonomous and addressing individual differences.

1. TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS: AN ATTEMPT AT CHARACTERIZATION Cecilia M. Mendiola Philippine Normal University

2. Why don’t learners learn what teachers teach?

3. Learners/Learning Language/Culture Teacher/Teaching Figure 1. Diagram of a Language Teacher’s Task (Larsen-Freeman and Long, 1991)

4. “ Language teachers’ decisions about the teaching process should, to a large extent, be informed by knowledge of the subject matter they are teaching (i.e. the target language and culture) and by knowledge of the unique group of learners with whom they are working and of the language-learning process.”

5. “ No improvement in language teaching could be expected unless the characteristics of the second language learners and the learning process were better understood.” -H. H. Stern

6. Do good learners tackle the language learning task differently from poor learners?

7. Do learners have certain characteristics which predispose them to good or poor learning?

8. Good language learners are: 1. Willing and able to guess accurately; comfortable with uncertainty 2. Strongly driven to communicate 3. Willing to make mistakes

9. Good language learners are: 4. Can distinguish relevant from irrelevant clues 5. Eager to seek opportunities to use the language

10. Good language learners are: 6. Able to process information whether or not being called on to perform 7. Can go beyond surface forms and can consider social factors to get at meaning

11. “ Good language learners take advantage of potentially useful learning situations, and if necessary create them. They develop learning techniques appropriate to their individual needs.”

12. A successful language learner has to: 1. Find his/her own way. 2. Organize. 3. Be creative. 4. Make opportunities for practice.

13. 5. Learn to live with uncertainty. 6. Use mnemonics. 7. Learn from errors. 8. Use linguistic knowledge. A successful language learner has to:

14. A successful language learner has to: 9. Get help from the context. 10. Make intelligent guesses. 11. Learn some word strings as wholes.

15. A successful language learner has to: 12. Adopt formalized routines. 13. Learn production techniques. 14. Use different styles of speech.

16. Teach the 10 Commandments for good language learning. - H.D. Brown (2001) Make learners learn how to learn.

17. “ Ten Commandments” for good language learning 1. Fear not! 2. Dive in. 3. Believe in yourself. “ You can’t learn without goofin’.” - Burt and Dulay

18. “ Ten Commandments” for good language learning 4. Seize the day. 5. Love thy neighbor. 6. Get the BIG picture.

19. “ Ten Commandments” for good language learning 7. Cope with the chaos. 8. Go with the hunches. 9. Make mistakes work FOR you. 10. Set your own goals.

20. THE FILIPINO AS A SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNER

21. Figure 2: Areas covered in the study

22. TYPES OF DATA Oral and written L 2 production Self – reports Test – generated data Technology – generated data

23. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS… Give short responses and ask factual questions Perform more and varied communicative acts using L 1 in small group discussion High achievers use more learning strategies than the low achievers.

24. Less successful learners do not use chaining strategies Use metacognitive strategies most frequently Are good comprehenders, interactive readers and risk takers as shown in Think–Aloud protocols s FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

25. Use culture–bound strategies, e.g., risk taking, empathy, relying on Divine Providence, grade–consciousness View reading as meaning–focused and goal-oriented FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

26. Find difficulties in summarizing - constructing a synthesizing statement, combining/deleting ideas FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS… Are not strategic in processing expository text and in dealing with vocabulary problems

27. Display emerging behavior patterns in reading, e.g., translating, re–reading, questioning, using prior knowledge, and agreeing Less proficient readers possess limited repertoire of strategies. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

28. Show better comprehension in the familiar text than in the unfamiliar one Experience problems in text processing due to lack of prior knowledge and inadequate grasp of English FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

29. ESL learners compose texts in linear and recursive fashion. ESL writers display emerging composing patterns -- quick writing of substantive essays, slow starters’ writing pattern, the highly recursive pattern, slow-but- sure writing, unproductive writing pattern and the strategists’ writing pattern. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

30. Elementary pupils’ written output is wanting in content, format and grammatical accuracy. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

31. Manifest learners’ communicative difficulties in oral production through gap marks, namely gestures and facial expressions Bridge oral production gaps by using communication strategies FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

32. Some computer students experience lathophobic aphasia. Use Tagalog–English (codeswitch variety) in cognitively oriented academic discussions Pupils’ English ratings significantly correlate with learning opportunities. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

33. Females are better critical thinkers and more language proficient than males. Highly proficient language learners are better critical thinkers, but not better academic achievers. Motivational behavior remains learner’s significant determinant of achievement. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

34. Learners’ motivational behavior is influenced by goal setting, valence, and self-efficacy. Learners’ communicative competence may be influenced by language facility, vocabulary and communicative practice. FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

35. Learners respond positively to intervention programs. Show improved performance using computer-assisted grammar materials FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

36. Demonstrate improved composition through process writing Display improved attitudes toward technical writing using computer-assisted materials FILIPINO SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS…

37. ‘ ONLINE’ PROCESSING OF IDIOMS

38. Emergent Pattern (Familiar Idiom) Idiom: “Our cornicks are selling like hotcakes . We don’t ever have to advertise. TAP: So ‘selling like hotcakes’ So hotcakes are, the nature of hotcakes, very popular. It’s ahh… tawag dun, masyadong mabenta. Masyadong sikat na hindi na kailangan ng advertisement. So selling like hotcakes means ‘popular.’ It is very well known. So parang there is a trademark .

39. Identifies idiom Focuses on key word ( hotcakes ) Gives meaning in Tagalog (mabenta) Paraphrases idiom 3x Strategy Loop

40. Emergent Pattern (Unfamiliar Idiom ) Idiom: Guingona was plagued by a problem that he is a politician and was virtually a babe in the woods in the foreign office. He bungled his job and blundered his way early in his term. TAP: So pa’no ba ito? Siguro, kung titingnan natin in Filipino translation, ahm, ‘sanggol sa kakahuyan’ So alam naman natin ano yung characteristic ng isang sanggol Kumbaga, walang kapasidad na gawin ang isang bagay Walang kakayahan Salat sa karanasan Kumbaga lacks experience Ahm, is an expert of nothing Kung ilalapat dito sa ano sa sentence dito Kumbaga na si Guingona umano has less experience or lacks experience in handling ah the said office or position or job. Siguro I’m quite certain about sa ibinigay kong definition. Kumbaga, lacks experience or expertise about a position or a work or a job

41. Translates key word to Filipino Characterizes key word 5x Relates key word to context Reiterates meaning Quizzes oneself on what to do Evaluates given meaning Strategy Loop

42. TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION OF ESL LEARNERS

43. RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

44. RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

45. RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

46. RESPONDENTS’ DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

47. TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS… Enjoy doing tasks/activities in dyads, triads or small groups Code switch from English to Filipino or vice – versa when reciting in an English class ( Always Observed)

48. Use technology, mostly the computer and the Internet in accomplishing reports, projects, etc. Show interest in and drive to learn English Use strategies, e.g., oral reading, using the dictionary/references, note-taking, highlighting TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS… ( Often Observed)

49. Are willing to take risks, don’t mind being corrected, don’t worry about making mistakes Seek teacher’s and/or classmates’ help when faced with difficulties Remain silent when asked to recite TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS… ( Often Observed)

50. Make time for language–related activities inside and outside of the classroom Display good study habits TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS… ( Rarely Observed)

51. Monitor (self–edit) themselves in grammar, pronunciation, spelling or when speaking or writing in English Use language terms such as relative clauses, verbals, prepositional phrases, etc. when describing/analyzing sentences TODAY’S ESL LEARNERS… ( Rarely Observed)

52. POINTS TO REFLECT ON… Are you willing to adjust your teaching style/methods to differences in the learning styles/strategies and personality characteristics of your students? Will you ‘teach learners how to learn’ so they will become autonomous learners?

53. POINTS TO REFLECT ON… Are you going to sensitize yourself to differences in predispositions with which different learners will approach language learning? Will you be more tolerant of students’ code–switching behavior?

54. POINTS TO REFLECT ON… Will you heighten your technology skills to enhance learning? Will you encourage your students to take a more active role in their own learning?

55. POINTS TO REFLECT ON… Will you encourage, build and sustain effective language learning strategies in your students? Do you realize that learning a second language is such a complex process that knowing who the learners are is only one of its facets?

56. When I began the interview, I was hoping to find out what the successful language learners did alike. If we could teach their secrets to our students, I thought that every one else would become as successful as the people I had talked with. It soon became apparent, however, that learners are even more different from one another than I had expected. Success with foreign language, I found, does not come by one single formula.” - E. Stevick, 1989

57. Thank you!