Research Unit in Language Acquisition and Pedagogy

Invitation to webinar:

Helping learners to take charge of their own learning: From theory to practice

Thursday 7 November at 09.00 – 11.00

The research unit in Language Acquisition and Pedagogy has the pleasure to announce a webinar by Prof. Jo Mynard (Kanda University of International Studies, Japan):

This webinar is designed for language teachers who want to inspire their learners to take charge of their own learning long after classes have finished. We will touch briefly on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1987; Ryan & Deci, 2017), a meta-theory of motivation which helps us create the conditions for language learners to thrive outside the classroom (Mynard, 2022). We will draw on research and case studies to examine some practical ways that we can equip our learners with the skills, opportunities and support they need to take significant steps towards mastering languages. We begin with raising self-awareness, which helps learners take action by implementing a reflective learning cycle involving goal-setting, strategy and resource selection, the implementation of a learning plan, and monitoring and evaluating learning. This process is facilitated by reflective dialogue and preferably takes place in a supportive and social learning environment. Participants will try some learning tools and engage in reflective dialogue (Kato & Mynard, 2016), which will inevitably lead them to take action in their own teaching and learning contexts.

Overview:

● Theoretical framework

● Practical applications

○ Awareness raising

○ Learning skills

○ Learning cycle

○ Reflection

○ Dialogue

○ Supportive social learning communities

What’s next? Taking action in your context.

References

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (1987). The support of autonomy and the control of behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 53(6), 1024-1037. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.53.6.1024

Kato, S., & Mynard, J. (2016). Reflective dialogue: Advising in language learning. Routledge.

Mynard, J. (2022). Reimagining the self-access learning centre as a place to thrive. In J. Mynard & S. J. Shelton-Strong (Eds.), Autonomy support beyond the language learning classroom: A self-determination theory perspective (pp. 224-241). Multilingual Matters.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. Guilford Press.

Link to the webinar: https://aarhusuniversity.zoom.us/j/66664033492 

Everybody is welcome!

About Jo Mynard:

Dr Jo Mynard is a Professor, Learning Advisor, and Director of the Self-Access Learning Center (SALC) and Director of the Research Institute for Learner Autonomy Education (RILAE) at Kanda University of International Studies (KUIS) in Japan. She has co-edited and co-authored several books, as well as more than 100 papers in the areas of advising, learner autonomy, and social learning spaces. She is one of the founding editors of SiSAL (Studies in Self-Access Learning) Journal, Relay Journal, and the Journal for the Psychology of Language Learning.

Organizer: Susana S. Fernández