Next up was Barbara Sinclair bringing her worm with her all the way from Nottingham. Barbara began her talk by showing us some pictures of worms!  Some were really horrible but many were quite beautiful.  She drew our attention to the aquatic fan worm and explained how it could be an appropriate metaphor for Learner Training as it has branches that spread out and explore its environment.   



The term “learner training” was examined both during Barbara’s presentation and in the discussion following.  Barbara explained that many people had a problem with the term “learner training” but not with the concept.  The term has been criticized for being too narrow and implying too much emphasis on the teacher’s role.  What Barbara means by the term “learner training” is people learning how to learn and the gradual move towards autonomy.  The nodding heads in the audience indicated that all were in agreement that this is what we want to achieve with our own students. I noticed that the British Council online discussion is inviting us to vote for our favourite term.



Barbara traced the earliest mention of autonomy and discussed whether it is something that can be taught and the role of the teacher in it all.  She showed us a continuum with teacher-led at one ended and learner-led at the other and explained the characteristics of each of the learning environments. She reminded us of the “plan-do-review” model, reviewed the area of strategy instruction and ended by reminding us that much more research is needed in the area and that the “learner training worm” is far from being an endangered species!



Following the talk, a good discussion ensued about re-naming “learner training”, context-specific approaches to learner training and how to help students become better language learners. Lucy Cooker told us about how at Kanda University of International Studies they run an optional course in their SAC called “First Steps” which introduces students to strategies for learning and ends with the drawing up of a personal study plan.



You’ll notice that I took good notes on this session.  This is because each of us committee members were assigned one of the speakers to introduce and to take notes on the session and I requested Barbara because I know her the best and feel her work relates closely to what I try to do.  I am hoping the other committee members will add to my blogs on Ema, Viljo, Marina and Flávia.