This document describes metacognitive and task-based strategies for content and language learning. Metacognitive strategies involve planning, monitoring, and evaluating a task. Task-based strategies include using background knowledge, making inferences, and applying organizational skills like note-taking, summarizing, and using graphic organizers. The strategies provide tools for learners to set goals, check comprehension, seek resources, and work with others to complete learning tasks.

1. CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
METACOGNITIVE STRATEGIES
Before beginning a task:
-Set goals.
-Plan the task or content sequence.
Plan / Organize
-Plan how to accomplish the task
(choose strategies).
Planner
-Preview a text.
While working on a task:
-Check your progress on the task.
-Check your comprehension as you
use the language. Do you
understand? If not, what is the
problem?
Monitor / Identify
Problems
Check
-Check your production as you use
the language. Are you making sense?
If not, what is the problem?
After completing a task:
-Assess how well you have
accomplished the learning task.
-Assess how well you have used
learning strategies.
Evaluate
-Decide how effective the strategies
were.
I did it!
-Identify changes you will make the
next time you have a similar task to
do.
-Determine how you learn best.
-Arrange conditions that help you
learn.
Manage Your Own
Learning
-Seek opportunities for practice.
Pace Yourself
-Focus your attention on the task.

2. CALLA Content and Language Learning Strategies © 2006 Anna Uhl Chamot 2
CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
TASK-BASED STRATEGIES
USE WHAT YOU KNOW
-Think about and use what you
already know to help you do the
task.
Use Background
Knowledge
- Make associations between new
information and your prior
knowledge.
I know.
-Use new information to clarify or
modify your prior knowledge.
-Use context and what you know to
figure out meaning.
Make Inferences
-Read and listen between the lines.
Use Clues
-Go beyond the text to understand
its meaning.
-Anticipate information to come.
-Make logical guesses about what
will happen in a written or oral text.
Make Predictions
-Make an estimate (math).
-Make a hypothesis (science).
Crystal Ball
-Relate new concepts to your own
life, to your experiences,
knowledge, beliefs and feelings.
Personalize
Me

3. CALLA Content and Language Learning Strategies © 2006 Anna Uhl Chamot 3
CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
TASK-BASED STRATEGIES
-Apply your linguistic knowledge of
other languages (including your
native language) to the target
language.
Transfer / Use
Cognates
Coffee/Café
-Recognize cognates.
-Use a synonym or descriptive
phrase for unknown words or
expressions.
Substitute /
Paraphrase
Make it work
USE YOUR SENSES
-Use or create an actual or mental
image to understand and/or
represent information.
Use Images
-Use or draw a picture or diagram.
See it in your
mind
-Say or read aloud a word, sentence,
or paragraph to help your
understanding.
Use Sounds
-Sound out/vocalize.
Sound Out
- Use your “mental tape recorder” to
remember sounds, words, phrases,
and/or conversations.

4. CALLA Content and Language Learning Strategies © 2006 Anna Uhl Chamot 4
CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
TASK-BASED STRATEGIES
--Act out a role, for example, in
Readers’ Theater, or imagine
yourself in different roles in the
target language.
Use Your
Kinesthetic Sense
-Use real objects to help you
remember words, sentences, or
content information.
USE YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
-Apply a rule.
-Make a rule.
-Recognize and apply letter/sound,
grammar, discourse, or register
rules.
Find/Apply Patterns
-Identify
(genre).
abacus
patterns
in
-Identify patterns in math, science,
and social studies.
-Categorize
words
according to attributes.
-Classify living
natural cycles.
Classify/Sequence
literature
or
things;
ideas
identify
-Identify order and sequences in
math, science, and social studies.
-Sequence events in history.
Life cycle

5. CALLA Content and Language Learning Strategies © 2006 Anna Uhl Chamot 5
CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
TASK-BASED STRATEGIES
-Write down important words and
ideas while listening or reading.
Take Notes
-List ideas or words to include in
speaking or writing..
PDA
-Use or create visual representations
(such as Venn diagrams, time lines,
webs, and charts) of important
relationships between concepts.
Use Graphic
Organizers
A Venn diagram
-Create a mental, oral, or written
summary of information.
Summarize
Main Idea
-Focus on specific information,
structures, key words, phrases, or
ideas.
Use Selective
Attention
Focus

6. CALLA Content and Language Learning Strategies © 2006 Anna Uhl Chamot 6
CALLA CONTENT AND LANGUAGE LEARNING STRATEGIES
STRATEGY
DESCRIPTION
TASK-BASED STRATEGIES
USE A VARIETY OF RESOURCES
-Use the dictionary, the internet, and
other reference materials.
Access Information
Sources
-Seek out and
information.
use
sources
of
-Follow a model
Look it up!
-Ask questions
-Work with others to complete tasks,
build confidence, and give and
receive feedback.
Cooperate
Together
Talk Yourself
Through It
(Self-Talk)
- Use your inner resources. Reduce
your anxiety by reminding yourself
of your progress, the resources you
have available, and your goals.
I can do it!