Longman Dictionary of

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individual differences
which an inference is drawn about the abilities underlying their performance
on the test. An example of an indirect test of writing includes a test
that asks test takers to locate errors in a composition; an example of an
indirect test of pronunciation is a test where test takers are asked to select
a word that has the same pronunciation as the one in the STEM.
see also DIRECT TEST, SEMI-DIRECT
individual differences n
factors specific to individual learners which may account for differences
in the rate at which learners learn and their level of attainment. While
much research in SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING has the goal of discovering
processes and stages of development that are common to all learners, this
has always been accompanied by a complementary concern for differences
among learners. Given the same learning environment, it is often
observed that some learners are highly successful and others are not.
Individual learner factors that have been frequently identified as possible
causes for differential success include age (see CRITICAL PERIOD), APTITUDE,
MOTIVATION, COGNITIVE STYLE, the use of LEARNING STRATEGIES, and
PERSONALITY.
individualization n
also individualized instruction, individualized learning
a learner-centred approach to teaching in which
a goals and objectives are based on the needs of individual learners
b allowances are made in the design of a CURRICULUM for individual differences
in what students wish to learn, how they learn, and the rate at
which they learn
Individualized approaches to language teaching are based on these
assumptions:
1 people learn in different ways
2 they can learn from a variety of different sources
3 learners have different goals and objectives in language learning
4 direct teaching by a teacher is not always essential for learning
Individualization includes such things as one-to-one teaching, home
study, self-access facilities, self-directed learning and the development of
learner autonomy, since they all focus on the learner as an individual.
Indo-European languages n
languages which are related and which are supposed to have had a
common ancestor language, called “Proto Indo-European”. Languages in
this group include most European languages, e.g. English, French,
German, and the Celtic and Slavonic languages. They also include the
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