DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE
In order to prevent students from becoming so overwhelmed during a listening task, you can provide students with a focus so they will listen for key words, phrases, or information. This is especially helpful in beginner classes when you incorporate authentic listening texts. Students complete tasks during the listening activity to give them a focus such as:
Expressions
- Provide expressions from the listening passage and identify:
- who is speaking
- where the speaker is located
- why the speaker is speaking
Grammar
Information
- Tell the product being advertised.
- Identify the problem or conflict.
- Write as many details as they can remember.
- Tell the teacher or a partner as many details as they can remember.
- Identify the main idea, gist, story line, or topic.
- Identify certain letters, sounds or accents. For example, indicate which words contain the “u” sound.
Key words or phrases
- Check off or circle words from a list as they hear them.
- List words from a particular category as they are mentioned, such as fruits.
- Indicate which word does not belong in a sequence.
- Complete a cloze activity.
Statements
- Distinguish sentences, questions, and exclamations.
- Match a statement they hear to its response.
- Indicate if they heard a specific statement in a passage.
Additional Listening Strategies
Unfamiliar Words
Context Clues
TQLR