First, she used planning as a metacognitive strategy. Before she wrote an English sentence, she usually brainstormed in her mind some tentative sentences.
Then, she picked out the best one and wrote it down. In addition, when she wrote an essay, she stated that she drew an outline so that she knew what to write for each paragraph (2nd interview,05/03/2005) Second, she used resourcing as a cognitive strategy. When she could not think of the right word in English, she usually referred to reference materials such as dictionaries and textbooks. She explained that “When I can not write the word in English, I usually consult with my electronic dictionary or classmates” (2nd interview, 05/03/2005). Finally, she used elaboration of prior knowledge as a cognitive strategy. She used her background knowledge when writing essays in her electronic portfolio.