Study Planning

Key aspects of being a successful independent learner revolve around being structured, managing time (and avoiding wasting time), working at the best time of day, setting deadlines.

As a starting point in this area, you might want to consider some of the tasks in the Brunel University Personal Tutoring Toolkit. In particular, pages 8 to 12. The handbook is aimed at tutors but contains useful questions and tasks to help you in an introduction to independent learning. A useful guide to study planning aimed at students can be found here from University of Reading. Planning tips for students are also here from University of New South Wales along with some templates.

===Independent Learning Stages ===


 * 1) Identify needs
 * 2) Set goals
 * 3) Plan learning
 * 4) Select resources
 * 5) Select learning strategies
 * 6) Practice
 * 7) Monitor progress
 * 8) Assess and revise

From a practical point of view, set out the above on paper or use software/apps to do it. Perhaps see it as a cycle that runs for a week e.g. at the beginning of the week, identify your needs, and at the end of the week, assess and revise.

Open University provides tips on various parts of the above process.

Time management is very important. University of New South Wales give some handy tips, as do Sheffield

Language Learning Strategies
A good starting place to review your language learning strategies is Oxford's SILL (Strategy Inventory for Language Learning). Although it is old, it provides a useful checklist for ideas.