Language record

What and why?

One of the most important and useful tools in learning a language is a personal record of what you have learned. A written record enables students to look back on what they have done in class and refresh their memories. It also encourages them to make sure that they have a clear understanding.

In early levels of CEWw, the Student's Book contains Language Record pages where students could make a note of the meaning of words and the grammar/functions they learned. From CEWw 3 onwards, this idea is taken further and students build up their own personal record in a separate notebook.

Practical ideas

• You can decide with the students what word groups they would like to build up in their notebook. Word groups are groups of words around a common topic. For example, they could have a page entitled 'Names of clothes' or 'Words connected with school'.
• The Vocabulary maps (CEWw 3 and onwards) give an example of how word groups can be organised.
• As students finish their work in the Topic and Language Units, or if they have TIME TO SPARE, you can direct them to work on their Language Record.
• Initially, you can allow time in class for students to work on their Language Record, so that you can check that they have a clear understanding of how it works. Later, they can also work on it for HOMEWORK.
• While they are working on the Language Record, you can go round MONITORING AND GUIDING.