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Tom, a 45-year-old high school history teacher wants to improve his Spanish language ability. He plans to go to Mexico in 6 months on a 2-week vacation. Tom remembers little of the Spanish he learned in high school. Tom enjoys learning things on his own and is curious about many things. He likes setting and achieving his own goals. Most often, he finds his own resources to accomplish these goals but occasionally he needs guidance from others.

He recognizes that he does not have enough time to become fluent in Spanish. He wants to learn what he calls “Tourist Spanish,” which includes learning how to ask and understand responses to questions concerning directions, time, prices, ordering food in restaurants, and making polite conversation about the weather. Tom purchases books and tapes that suit his needs but soon realizes that he needs to practice Spanish with other people in order to truly understand it. He decides to enroll in a 10-week Beginning Spanish course at Open U—a community organization that offers night classes. Tom is engaged in a self-directed learning project. His process is clear. He has set a goal, made steps toward that goal, and adjusted his plan by attending a course at Open U.