Presented By Dr Rosemary Westwell

Session Details

This study provides a rich description of the language learning process in a mature language learner. This learner/researcher reflected on her learning of Spanish as a beginner and had direct inside information into phenomena that influenced her.  The conclusions provide a foundation from which teachers and learners can develop their own hypotheses about what works best for them.

About Dr Rosemary Westwell

Dr Rosemary Westwell is a researcher, learner of Spanish and teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Piano, Singing and general English. She lives in Cambridgeshire UK.  

Her PhD thesis "The development of language acquisition in a mature learner" was completed in 2007/8. After acquiring a small flat in Spain in her 50s, she studied the language learning process as she learnt Spanish as a beginner. The research took place over 2 and a half years.

Her PhD was completed at the Institute of Education in London with Anita Pincas as her tutor. Her PhD thesis is freely available on the web: google "Rosemary Westwell PhD thesis IOE" for a copy. 

Two books are proposed:

"Teaching Language Learners" which consists of a brief summary of current language learning theory with additional insights from this study and 30+ ideas for teachers to apply this directly while teaching.   and

"A language learner's diary" which consists of the full diary she kept which provides raw data for other researchers to analyse.

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