1. Do you agree.with the interpretation? Is it a good
description of you as a language learner?
2. The tone of the quiz is quite light-hearted, but the
content is serious. Read through the Answers section of
the quiz again. Do you agree that the things it suggests are
what a "good learner" does? For example, is it important
to be able to guess the meaning of words? Why/why not? Is
it important to be able to see patterns in a language? Is it
important to have a good memory?
3. The answer to question 3 says that good language
learners make the most of their skills, and manage to
communicate in all sorts of unlikely situations. Think of
ways in which communication can take place other than
with words.
4. The quiz contains some surprising ideas. For example,
the answer to question 12 suggests that good language
learners don't mind being in situations that they can't
control, and the answer to question 14 that they are prepared
to take risks. To what extent is this true in your own
experience?
5. Research does suggest that women are generally better
language learners than men. Can you think of reasons why
this might be so?
6. Researchers also feel that the personality of the learner
must affect the way he or she learns, but no-one quite knows how!
Can you think of any qualities that might help or hinder language learning? The following adjectives might help you: confident, shy, outgoing, extrovert, sociable, tolerant, patient, inquisitive.
