Student self-reflection | British Council

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Student self-reflection

Submitted by Lindsay on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 20:01.

I know this is something that it's better to think about at the beginning of the year, but how can I get my students to reflect on how much they've learnt on their course without using formal tests?

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Comments

Nik Peachey

Self-reflection

Submitted on Wed, 04/16/2008 - 21:24

Hi Lindsay

One good way of doing this is by encouraging students to keep a portfolio of their work, especially writing or any recordings of their spoken work. Getting them to look back at examples from the beginning of the year or term can be really powerful (that is assuming they have made progress).

Keeping a learning diary can also be a really good way of doing this too. I wrote an article some time ago on Learner Diaries which you can see here.

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/articles/learner-diaries

Best

Nik Peachey | Learning Technology Consultant, Writer, Trainer

http://nikpeachey.blogspot.com/

http://quickshout.blogspot.com/

Visit my office in Second Life at: http://tinyurl.com/ytz5go

ShaunD

Self reflection

Submitted on Sun, 04/20/2008 - 07:06

Like Nick I suggest that when you initiate a new semestre you plan the course so the learners make records of what they are/have been doing. As Nick said diaries are a good idea, writing portfolios, a class blog, regular article reading, it will depend on your learners and their particular style of learning.

All of these ideas are quite autonomous and they may need some intial learner training but this investment is worth it for all involved

I started using lexical notebooks to record all of the vocab my learners discover ( my learners needs require a more effective recording devise) and this leads off into so many others memories we make during the course. Reflection takes place quite naturally without specifically making learners reflect

So, something to accompany their course of study is what is needed I think. If you don´t build up information you will have nothing concrete to reflect on.

BTW Nicks blog is great

Shaun

Mentor, Brasilia, Brazil