______Activities

(Language)

Activity / Date
Books I have read (titles, authors, number of pages)
Journals I have consulted (titles, frequency, media)
Films viewed in the original version or plays in the language (type, title, actors)
Exchanges with speakers of this language (letters, email, telephone)
Presentations carried out in the language (subjects, audience, media used)
Participation in conferences or publications (themes, media used, type of presentation, nature of contribution)
Participation in language clubs
Other:
Other:
Other:

Cultural Awareness

Here I can record information about cultural behavior that I notice or learn during the course, study program or experience. I can also note cultural attitudes and behavior that I don’t fully understand at this time.

In the school

Cultural attitudes and behavior I have noticed and can now understand (1) / Date / Other cultural attitudes and behavior that I do not fully understand (2) / Date

In the world outside

Cultural attitudes and behavior I have noticed and can now understand (1) / Date / Other cultural attitudes and behavior that I do not fully understand (2) / Date

In the workplace

Cultural attitudes and behavior I have noticed and can now understand (1) / Date / Other cultural attitudes and behavior that I do not fully understand (2) / Date

Language Experiences

Language experiences at home and abroad, in school and outside school, from 12 years through adulthood.

Date / Place / Language learning and language experiences / Comments on the most important events

Language Learning and Intercultural Experiences

Language
I have been learning this language for (enter date) / 1 year / 2 years / 3 years
I have been learning this language / At school / At home / Other / Other
I have stayed in a country where this language is spoken for
(enter date) / Up to 1 month / Up to 3 months / Up to 9 months / Over 9 months
I stayed in the country / To attend a language course / For a holiday or vacation trip / On an exchange program / Other
I also have the following intercultural experiences relating to this language:
Certificates and Diplomas
Score/results / Title of certificate/examination / Awarded by / Year

Hosting Exchange Students

Hosting a foreign language speaking guest from a partner school, institution, or family

Language spoken by guest:

Place of residence of guest:

Length of guest’s stay: From to

Place of guest’s stay:

Purpose of guest’s stay:

holiday as family guest

holiday exchange

as guest in the family while attending a state/private school/language school

as guest in the family while gaining short-term work experience at:

as guest in the family while working for:

other:

Comments:

Place/date:

Signature of school/institution/family:

Language and Intercultural Experience

Here you can put down whether you exchange letters with somebody in a foreign language, notes on foreign stays, foreign jobs. Record also any foreign language certificates and diplomas you have been awarded. You may use a separate page to take notes on each activity.

Name of activity:

Date:

Comments:

Name of activity:

Date:

Comments:

Name of activity:

Date:

Comments:

Name of activity:

Date:

Comments:

Language Learning Experience

A language learning experience and language use in a program or country where the language is officially spoken.

Please check where applicable:

Language instruction (class or private institution)

Autonomous language learning (Tandem, multimedia learning center, distance learning, etc.)

Governor’s Foreign Language Academy experience

Participation in an exchange program

University studies or professional training in the language

Short-term work experience

Extended work experience

Holidays or vacation trips

Guest in a family or other social group

Other:

Language:

Location:

Dates: From To

Institution/Company/Family/Program Name:

Information about the language learning experience (e.g. content, goals, frequency):

Comments:

Place/Date:

Signature of school/institution/pen friend:

Pen Pals

Sustained correspondence with a foreign-language-speaking pen or email friend

Mother tongue of pen friend:

Name of pen friend:

Place of residence of pen friend:

Length of correspondence: From to

Frequency of correspondence:

one letter/email per month

one letter/email every six months

other:

Type of correspondence:

correspondence between schools or classes

correspondence initiated at school and continued privately

personal correspondence

Language of correspondence:

only in the language of the pen friend

each writing in his/her own language

mixed (sometimes in the language of the pen friend, sometimes in own language)

Comments: (reflect on interaction at a distance; frequency and nature of the correspondence and the importance of the experience)

Place/date:

Signature of school/institution/pen friend:

Intercultural Experiences

Language:

I have experienced the culture of this language in the following ways (enter dates) (1):

I have been able to use this language in the following situations (enter dates) (2):

I have learned about the culture of this language in the following ways (enter dates) (3):

Exchanges and Study Visits

Take some time to reflect on what you expect from specific aspects of your exchange (e.g., school, host family, leisure time, personal development, etc.)

One month after your arrival write a brief description of an interesting, puzzling, irritating or otherwise striking event that has happened to you. Next, try to interpret or explain the difference. (Date: )

Re-read your journal after 2-3 weeks and write about your experience and about how you reacted to it at the time. What do you think now of your reaction? Has your opinion changed? Can you explain why? (Date: )

Reflection of Important Linguistic and Intercultural Experiences

This is the place for you to give information about important intercultural experiences and reflect on activities that have contributed to expanding your knowledge of other countries and the people, society, and culture of foreign language areas. The information can be organized as you wish: separated according to language or chronologically. You may use a separate page to reflect on each activity or combine similar activities with a comparison.

Examples:

Activity:

How Do You Learn?

Everyone learns in a different way. Here are some examples and ideas to try in order to see what fits best for you. You may wish to exchange ideas with others and experiment with different learning styles.

Complete the following survey and check the appropriate box according to the scale below:

4 - frequently 3 - sometimes 2 - seldom 1 – never

4 / 3 / 2 / 1

Organizing Work

I organize my work space.
I check to see that I have everything in my backpack.
I keep a day planner and assignment folder.
I plan my workweek.
I have the right supplies for my class.
I have scheduled study time.
I set goals and periodically review them to see that I achieve them.

Learning Vocabulary

I make and use flashcards.
I use my text and dictionary as a resource.
I group words by themes.
I form new words from roots, e.g. power – powerful.
I look for words that have antonyms, e.g. tall – short.
I look for words that have a similar meaning, e.g. big, large, tall. Then I determine which word fits where.

Pronunciation

I repeat, imitate, and learn sounds, words, and phrases. (Cassettes, CDs)
I speak and records words and sentences and compare with the original.
I practice intonation and pronunciation by listening to radio and television.
I memorize short texts and present them to a friend who helps me with cues, prompts, and pronunciations.
I use the phonetic alphabet in the dictionary to pronounce new words.
Developing and Evaluating Listening Skills
I determine if I should listen for all details or if it will suffice to get the general gist.
I identify key words for meaning.
I take notes from listening and jot down things I don’t understand to clarify later.

Reading Comprehension

I know the purpose of my reading, e.g. reading for pleasure, for information, for knowledge, for general comprehension, etc.
Based on the type of text I am reading, I know how to use the dictionary and the appropriate grammar resources to read for meaning.
I take notes.
I record words and idioms that I want to learn.
I summarize the content of important text.

LinguaFolio Biography

4 / 3 / 2 / 1

Editing and Proofreading My Own Writing

I determine what I will write about and support and develop this idea with details that keeps the readers reading.
I organize my writing so that there is order, presentation, or internal structure so that it guides the reader purposefully through the text.
I consider the voice of my writing so that the text is lively, expressive, and engages the reader.
I choose the best words and check to see that I am using them correctly. I can use synonyms and antonyms to lend variety to my writing.
I review the sentence structures to make sure that there is an easy flow and that the sentence makes sense.
I check to see that my errors are non-existent or minimal so the reader is not distracted or confused.

Acquiring and Anchoring Grammar Skills

I know where the grammar rules are summarized and explained in my text.
I can explain the grammar rules in my own words.
I paraphrase grammar words in my notebook.
I find examples for each grammar rule.
I look up unfamiliar grammar structures while reading.
I compose a list of frequent mistakes that I make and I correct them.

Recognition of the Unique Circumstances of Language Learning

I understand that not everything can be translated word for word.
I understand that I have to remember frequently used, common idioms.
I have to collect proverbs and idioms.

Additional skills or activities that help me learn:

Learning Inventory:

What have you already accomplished using a foreign language?

Complete the following survey and check the appropriate box according to the scale below:

4 - frequently 3 - sometimes 2 - seldom 1 – never

I have: / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Worked with a textbook
Used supplementary materials and media that support and accompany the text book, e.g. cassettes, CDs, computer programs, web site
Deciphered posters, signs, and labels in my everyday life
Memorized rhymes, verses, and songs
Read children’s and adolescent’s books
Played computer games
Read newspapers and magazines
Listened to the radio and gleaned specific information
Heard pop songs and/or video clips and tried to understand the language
Attended a theater production
Watched ads and understood what they wanted to sell
Watched video/films for information and/or entertainment
Worked with diagrams, statistics and graphic organizers in the language
Used the Internet and CDs to locate resources and use information
Read excerpts from literary works
Read a complete work of literature, e.g. novel, play
Recorded my new vocabulary in a notebook or kept a file of flashcards
Reviewed and corrected my writing
Worked together with teams or groups or others
Used and tested my language skills with native speakers
Communicated with someone in another country
Participated in a cross-cultural or international project
Conducted interviews outside of school related project
Conversed with friends on the telephone
Purchased something using the language
Ordered a meal in a restaurant using the language
Contacted an individual and kept the conversation going
Used resources in the other language to be used in other classes (math, science, etc.)
Served as a translator
Written a dictation in the language
Completed fill-in-the-blank exercises
Rewritten, continued, and finished texts in my own words
Written text about my city and hobbies
Written and reported about my experiences or adventures
Written about myself or another person
Written short personal notes or e-mails to friends
Summarized the content of films, texts, radio, and TV programs
Written about my own opinions and thoughts
Written short poems, skits, and stories
Written an autobiography
Written a letter of application


Language and Intercultural Experiences

The new and interesting things I noticed when traveling or staying in other countries

Country
Language / Date from
To / Staying with friends or family / Travel / Study / Work
Cultural differences I experienced:
Country
Language / Date from
To / Staying with friends or family / Travel / Study / Work
Cultural differences I experienced:

LinguaFolio Biography