Armchair learning
Adults studying at home or on the move use a range of informal methods to develop their language skills – self-study techniques such as a commercial distance-learning language courses, use of on-line and CD-ROM resources, television or videos such as those produced by the BBC. A 2003 BBC survey showed that for those learning at home, only a small minority use on-line and televisual resources. The majority of home learners prefer to use books, cassettes and CD-ROMs. Anyway, there is no right answer or best practice – use whatever seems to work most effectively for you.
Here are some starting points:
BBC
Educational resources in the Languages staff room.
DIY techniques for language learners (CILT)
A highly practical guide to language learning that can be used directly by learners themselves or by their teachers and advisers.
European Language Portfolio for adults
The UK European Language Portfolio (ELP) for adults was developed by the Languages NTO and CILT, to provide an attractive, portable and motivating way for the individual learner to maintain an up-to-date record of their language learning experience and to track their changing levels of performance.