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The Self-Access Centre is a study facility set up in a way to enable learning to take place independently of teaching. Learners can choose and use self-access material on their own and the material gives them the ability to correct or assess their own performance. Learners are, thus, able to assume responsibility for and direct their own learning.
In any classroom teaching situation, all members of a group have different needs and ways that they like to and need to learn. It is not easy to cater for these different needs in the classroom and, therefore, the purpose of self-access learning is to help learners to work at their own pace, in their own way and to help and encourage everyone to take responsibility for learning. This understanding and approach to responsibility is essential for the Croatia Armed Forces as we move towards NATO accession and development of a military for the 21st Century.
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Self-access Centre in the Foreign Language School ‘Katarina Zrinska’ |
The English Language Self-Access Centre (SAC) in the Language School in JETC is designed to allow learners full access to a wide number of paper-based language tasks with feedback, covering work on grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing, pronunciation and military-focused materials (e.g. SOPs, NATO abbreviations and acronyms, language related to peace support operations, STANAG practice tests, military magazines, etc.).
The SAC has state-of-the-art computer and internet facilities.
For students on English language courses in the Foreign Language School, work in the SAC is connected to their coursework.
‘Open Access’ time in the Self-Access Centre is available for all personnel in the Croatian Ministry of Defence and the General Staff.
The open-access time is from 15.30 to 18.00
Mondays to Tursdays and 13.30 to 15.30 on Fridays.
For individuals who wish to frequent the SAC in Open-Access time, support is given in the form of a placement test and questionnaire to assess their general language level and a student log with a recommended level and areas on which to focus their work.
The placement tests for the SAC take place every second and fourth Friday of each month at 14.00 hours. Subsequent to the test candidates are requested to fill in a questionnaire regarding their perceived language strengths and weaknesses. Individuals may then return on the following Wednesday for induction (introduction) to the SAC. They are then given a student log with target areas for their study in which to record their work and reflections on their study skills.
Students may use the SAC in open-access time as frequently as they wish. It is recommended that at least two 90-minute periods per week are spent in the SAC.Anyone wishig to take the placement test prior to working in the SAC, should contact the FLS Education Department.
Study groups of learners may use the SAC in Open-Access time according to a set time-table. Support to these learners may be given in the form of an initial interview to identify their needs and set learning objectives. Learners may be requested to construct a portfolio which demonstrates what they have been doing in self-access learning and the progress they have made over a period of time. The portfolio is presented to self-access counsellors for assessment.
Other methods of assessment include generic tests used for self-assessment as well as multi-level teacher-administered tests.
Self-access counsellors provide counselling services for individual learners twice a month. Counselling is by appointment.
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