The Relational approach to language learning

Relational learners have important qualities in their favor as language learners:

• Their interest in people, empathy, and desire to have close relationships helps them communicate both verbally and nonverbally.
• Their intuition helps them grasp the language system and infer meaning from context.

Here are some guidelines to follow when you use the Relational approach to language learning:

• Discover as much as you can about the language acquisition process.
• Use your observational skills to observe and to understand what is going on around you.
• Use your social skills to make relationships.
• Use your intuitive ability to recognize patterns.
• Use your creative ability to make up games and to find ways to practice using the language.
• Use your observational and reflective skills to keep a language learning journal.

• Guidelines for Stage 1 of the Relational approach
• Guidelines for Stage 2 of the Relational approach
• Guidelines for Stage 3 of the Relational approach

• Overview module: The Relational approach to language learning
• In overview module: Four approaches to language learning based on lear...
• In modular book: Ways to Approach Language Learning, 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: 21 March 1999

© 1999 SIL International