Thursday 1 November 2007

Purposeful Listening

I've browsed through an intermediate book to prepare two lists that I included below. Check if you would any other activity or kind of text that you can use in your classes.

Review a textbook in current use in your institution and make lists:

(a) Reasons for listening which learners are given as they tackle listening texts
  • listen and check
  • listen and repeat to see different types of pronunciation of the same word
  • match events with their dates. Then listen and check.
  • listen and answer questions
  • listen and repeat, then translate.
  • listen to the weak forms, then repeat the sentences
  • listen and choose the correct answer
  • listen and complete the sentences
  • put the sentences into the correct order. Then listen and check
  • listen and number the pictures
  • listen and write true or false
  • listen, repeat and mark the stress on the words
  • read some options and guess who says them. Then listen and check.
  • put the opinions in the order you hear them
  • complete the song with the words given. Then listen and check.
  • listen and read.
  • listen and complete the table
  • listen and identify the programmes
  • guess the correct answers. Then listen and check
  • tick the options that are mentioned
  • listen and match
  • listen and identify the sounds
  • listen and find mistakes in the sentences
(b) Types listening text they encounter
  • sentences
  • historical events (like documentaries)
  • isolated words
  • dialogues between pairs about everyday life matters
  • conversations between pairs who are comparing two places or things
  • radio programs
  • songs
  • pop facts
  • travel programmes
  • telephone conversations
  • sounds
  • stories


Bibliography

HEDGE, Tricia (2000), Teaching and Learning in the Language Classroom, UK, OUP; Chapter 7 "Listening" (Discussion Topics and Projects # 7- p. 256)

WETZ, Ben and GAMMIDGE, Mark (2005), Adventures Intermediate Student's Book, OUP

3 comments:

Gladys Baya said...

Considering the variety and number of tasks you've listed, Lorena, it looks like Adventures really works to foster students' listening skills... :-)
One word of caution, though: are we talking about listening as "listening comprehension" in all the cases on your list"?
In regard with the type of spoken texts included, what do you mean by "pop facts" What genre would that be? I appreciated the fact that most of them would be real-life-like types, a key factor in the communicative classroom!

See you soon!
Gladys

Maria Lorena Recio said...

Gladys, the activities that say 'listen and read', or 'listen and repeat' are not meant for listening comprehension, to me.
I didn't know how to explain the kind of text 'pop facts' was but it is the biography of pop groups, how the started, their lifestyles, etcetera.
I also like the fact that they were real-life like.
Thanx for your comment,
Lore

Gladys Baya said...

Ah! So it was "biographies" you had in mind.. I like that... and surely students will enjoy them if they're bands they're keen on!

All the best,
Gladys