Part of what we do that is so essential is help our students plan and teach them how to learn. They need to stay on target and use their time efficiently. To do this, it is effective to give them a clear picture of what concrete steps they can take to get to where they want to with English.
For that, you need to formulate a study plan. The following framework will help you with organising a student's approach to learning.
- issue setting;
- hypothesis building;
- defining output & deliverables;
- work planning;
- learning; and
- evaluation and reconsideration.
If this seems jargony, it is. It's from consulting, but it is a good process. Our students might recognise it and identify better with the process.
1. Issue setting
This is basically just finding out what situation the person is in, why they need English (what is the "job to be done") and their English learning history.
2. Hypothesis building
What are you going to tackle first in your course? What's going to happen after that? What are the student's strengths and weaknesses? What kinds of learning would be effective for this person?
3. Defining output & deliverables
Heavy on the jargon, but basically how does the student measure or know when they are making progress? Set some defined tasks or study habits, like listening practice, written work, modifying behaviour in lessons or vocabulary building.
4. Work planning
This is the planning bit of the plan. Define habits and objectives:
- take X lessons per week;
- practice pronunciation for ten minutes every day;
- listen to 1 podcast every week;
- read a page of a book a day;
- take the test in 3 months;
And so on.
5. Learning
Do what you have agreed to. Make sure you come back to the plan you have made for the student and check that they are doing what was agreed.
6. Evaluation and reconsideration
When you write a progress report for the student, revisit the original plan. What worked? What didn't? What have they achieved? What do they still need to work on?