Improving Listening and Speaking with Free Online Tools

Improving Listening and Speaking SkillsKatie Bain English Language FellowBarranquilla, Colombia

ObjectiveParticipants will learn methods for teaching listening and speaking skills and will design lessons that they can use in the classroom.

Components of Listening and Speaking InstructionMeaning-focused inputMeaning-focused outputLanguage-focused learningFluency development

(Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York. )3Meaning-focused InputReceptive SkillsStudents main focus is on making meaning, understanding, and comprehending the input they are receiving. i + 1

(Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York. )

Meaning-focused OutputProductive SkillsThis strand focuses on students producing meaningful meaningful speech that they can use in the real world.

(Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York. )

Language-focused LearningAccuracyGrammarPronuciationVocabularyPunctuationSpelling(Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York. )

Getting to FluencyStudents make the best possible use of what they already know. The students focus is on conveying and understanding meaning.

(Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York. )

Characteristics of An Effective Listening Activity

the listening text is brief (1 3 minutes) the purpose for listening is identified and shared with learners the listening text is supported by visual clues the listening exercise requires an appropriate responsethe listening text is repeated several timesthe activity provides immediate feedbackthe activity has elements that contribute to motivation

Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.Facilitating Listening/Speaking ActivitiesHelp learners focus their attentionSet up the activityLet the learners do the activity (whole class, pairs, groups)Evaluate the activityProvide follow upMiller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.ACTIVITIES!

Activity 1: Picture DescriptionPicture DescriptionsFind a large photo. Show the picture to the entire class and ask a series of questions related to the picture. Elicit responses from learners.Have students bring pictures in that represent their identity, culture, or interest. Compare photos from U.S. and Colombian perspectives. Have students make and present photo collages to identify aspects of culture and identity. Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Activity 2:Language Experience ApproachAs a class, or from one learner, elicit an account of a real experience from work, community, family or friends. Write the account on the board as the learner speaks. When finished, orally ask comprehension questions about the account written on the board. Utilize a variety of WH-information questions, yes/no questions.Language Experience Approach Video

Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.Activity 3: InterviewsQuestionStudent 1Student 2Student 3Student 4What is your name?What do you like to do in your free time?What is your favorite holiday? Why?Tell me about your family.Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Activity 4: Minimal PairsExamples of Minimal PairsActivities pat, bat lift, list have, has, had base, vase bat, vat peas, keys

Same or Different

Odd Word OutMiller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Activity 5:Dictation

Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Activity 6:Past, Present, FuturePast Right Now Future______________________________________________________Every Day

Prepare short lists of 10-12 level-appropriate sentences that are pertinent to the life skill topic or subject matter currently being studied. The sentences should utilize verb tenses already studied and practiced by learners.Learners mark the tense of each sentence based on what they hear and check their answers with partners or as a class.Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.Activity 7: News Quips and QuestionsLocate a short, level-appropriate newspaper story that is pertinent to the life skill topic or subject matter currently being studied. Prepare a set of 4-6 comprehension questions based on the article. Read the story aloud at a natural pace while learners listen to get the gist. Next, give learners the set of comprehension questions.www.voanews.com Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Extensions on News QuipsShow various news clips and discuss the differences in perspectives. Introduce news videos from Colombian sources about U.S. issues and from U.S. sources about Colombian issues. Discuss how perspective influences reporting and how cultural biases can foster misconceptions or generalizations. Have students practice reporting in fair and objective ways and discuss the challenges. Activity 8:Whats in the bag?Locate 4-6 objects for which learners know the vocabulary words. Place each object in a separate brown paper bag. In the manner of a riddle, give learners a series of clues about each object as its bag is displayed, (Examples: what color it is, what it is made of, what it is used for, who uses the object, how much it usually costs, what it weighs, etc. When learners have heard all the clues, they guess what the object is.Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.

Activity 9: Song LyricsChoose a song based on what you are learning or what students need to know. Give students copies of the lyrics with certain words omitted. Students try to fill in the missing words.Sing along!Hello Goodbye, by the Beatles

Activity 10: Expanding SentencesMake a list of 5-10 very simple sentences. As a whole class, or in groups of 4-5, ask each learner in turn to add a word, phrase, or clause to the sentence so it gradually expands and becomes more complex. After a certain period of time, or when groups are unable to expand the sentence further, ask each group to write their final sentence on the board.Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.Activities using the World Wide Web!!!!!!!!

Beginning Level ActivityListen to an audiofile as a class.Ask students a gist question:Example: Was the story about the Internet or newspapers?Listen again and again, with readiness promptsExample: Listen forthe prediction of the future of the newspaper. List at least one prediction.

Example: On the Media

http://www.voanews.com/Example: http://StoryCorp Story

(Chinnery, George M. . "Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources." English Teaching Forum. 43.3 (2005): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013.)

Intermediate Level ActivitiesTeachers prepare T/F or multiple choice questions before listening to an audiofile.Students work in pairs or groups to create a headline for a story.Students script and record their own narration to match a topic.Write a Headline for This Story

(Chinnery, George M. . "Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources." English Teaching Forum. 43.3 (2005): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013.) http://www.onthemedia.org/

Advanced Level ActivitiesStudents re-write and record a more simplified version of an audio segment.Students discuss to compare and contrast two audio files on the same subject.Example: Listen to a story on the same subject from CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Compare and contrast the differences in the way news is presented or how different networks present the same topic. CNNFox NewsMSNBCAl Jazeera(Chinnery, George M. . "Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources." English Teaching Forum. 43.3 (2005): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013.) Websites for ActivitiesReady-to-Gowww.esl-lab.comwww.literacynet.org/cnnsfwww.americanenglish.state.govhttp://www.voanews.com/

Create-Your-Ownhttp://www.npr.org/http://edition.cnn.com/http://tv.msnbc.com/http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/http://www.timeforkids.com/photos-video

Interactive Listening/Chatting Optionswww.englishclub.com/esl-chatwww.eslcafe.comSkype Ask a friend to speak to the class.Connect to a language learning classroom in the U.S. and developconversation partners. Google HangoutFacebook Chat or Video ChatGlobal Schoolhouse

(Chinnery, George M. . "Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources." English Teaching Forum. 43.3 (2005): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013.)

Digitally Recording Student SpeechHave students record and upload presentations on Youtube. Record short utterances in class and have students send the videos to eachother and prepare and record responses as homework or classwork.

(Reilly, 2012)Create a DatabaseFrom projects and/or listening activities, create a listening and/or speaking database that future teachers can reference and use in their classrooms. Include audio and video clips, student recordings, transcripts, and comprehension and discusion questions. Community Member TalkInvite a friend or colleague to the class in person or via skype to discuss a topic that is important to the class (the environment, public health, education, crime, etc.).Broadcast a Ted Talk. Use the talk as a springboard for discussion and research in your classroom.Develop a class project on a critical issue based on the talk. http://www.ted.com/(Reilly, 2012)

Color Vowel Chart

How does it work?ColorVowelWordList.pdfWords are placed into categories based on their vowel sound. Vowel sound that defines which color a word is is the stressed syllable. Color Vowel YogaDemo Lesson with the Color Vowel ChartTheColorVowelChartPresentation.pdf

Action Plan!Work in pairs or small groups.Using ideas from the presentation (or your own!), create a lesson plan to help students improve their listening and speaking skills. Include the unit title, theme or topic, important vocabulary, lesson objective, classroom activities, and assessment plan.Present!

Lesson PlanUnit Plan or TitleTheme or Topic of LessonImportant VocabularyLesson Objective: Students willLesson Plan Activities:Assessment:SourcesChinnery, George M. . "Speaking and Listening Online: A Survey of Internet Resources." English Teaching Forum. 43.3 (2005): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013. Luzon Marco, Maria Jose. "Internet Content-Based Activities for English for Specific Purposes." English Teaching Forum. 1.1 (2002): n. page. Web. 15 May. 2013. Miller, Jane C. (2010). Listening and Speaking Activities for Adult ESL Learners. Colorado Department of Education, Adult Education & Family Literacy.Nation, I.S.P., Newton, J. (2009). Teaching ESL/EFL listening and speaking. Routledge, New York.

THANK YOU!Katie Bainktbain53@gmail.comwww.elfellowkbain.wordpress.comwww.americanenglish.state.govwww.shapingenglish.ning.com

The Future History of the Newspaper IndustryWNYC, New York Public RadioOn The Media2013Audio333608.4xxx - Copyright 2013, nypublicradio.orgThe Future History of the Newspaper IndustryWNYC, New York Public RadioOn The Media2013Audio333608.4xxx - Copyright 2013, nypublicradio.org