Communication strategies for developing the learner’s autonomy

Direct Strategies

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  Memory Strategies
  
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    Creating mental linkages;
    
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    Applying images and sounds;
    
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    Reviewing well;
    
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    Employing action.
    
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  Cognitive Strategies
  
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    Practicing;
    
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    Receiving and sending messages strategies;
    
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    Analysing and reasoning;
    
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    Creating structure for input and output.
    
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  Compensation Strategies
  
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    Guessing intelligently;
    
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    Overcoming limitations in speaking and writing.
    

Indirect Strategies

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  Metacognitive Strategies
  
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    Centering your learning;
    
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    Arranging and planning your learning;
    
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    Evaluating your learning.
    

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  Affecting Strategies
  
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    Lowering your anxiety;
    
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    Encouraging yourself;
    
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    Taking your emotional temperature.
    
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  Social Strategies
  
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    Asking questions;
    
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    Cooperating with others;
    
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    Empathising with others.
    

In Oxford’s system, the Memory strategies are those used for storing the new information, Cognitive strategies are the mental strategies the learners use to make sense of their learning, while Compensation strategies enable the learners to use the language either in writing or speaking despite the knowledge gaps. Direct Strategies, as Oxford says “require mental processing of the language” (Oxford, 1990, p. 37). Indirect Strategies provide indirect support for language learning. Metacognitive strategies help the learners to control their learning; Affective strategies assist learners to manage their emotions, confidence and attitude towards learning, while Social strategies facilitates interaction with other people, speakers of the target language.
Stern (1992) advances five main Language Learning Strategies. They are as follows:

1. 
   Management and Planning Strategies; they are related to the learner’s intention to direct and control his own learning;
   
2. 
   Cognitive Strategies; they refer to the learning steps that the learners take to transform the new material;
   
3. 
   Communicative- Experiential Strategies; 4. Interpersonal Strategies;
   

5. Affective Strategies.

4.