How to set your language learning goals

1. Make a detailed list of the situations and activities where you will use the language.

   Tip:	If you are going overseas to work with an organization, ask specific questions about what you will do. You might be in a situation in which you will need to use more than one language. In that case, you will need to go through each step for each language.

2. List the basic language skills (listening, speaking, reading or writing) you need to develop to handle situations and activities.

   Tip:

   In most cases you want to develop all four skills, but in special circumstances you might concentrate only on reading or listening comprehension. If you only need to read articles or books in your new language, then you can concentrate only on the written language form. If you are going to live in a place where your new language is spoken, you will need listening and speaking skills in order to communicate. If the language is written and the population is literate, reading and writing skills will also be important.

3. Decide on a proficiency goal for each basic skill you need to develop.

   See:	Guidelines for setting proficiency goals for suggestions on the proficiency level that will meet your needs.

• How to manage your language learning program

• Task module: How to set your language learning goals
• In task module: How to manage your language learning program
• In modular book: Managing Your Language Learning Program, by Carol J. Orwig
• In bookshelf: Language Learning

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 3.5, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 15 September 1998

© 1999 SIL International