You are here: Home > Listening Activities
Listening Activities
DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE

"We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking."

Introduce Spanish listening comprehension activities during the first days of class while students are most receptive to learning and incorporate many listening comprehension activities throughout the course.  When teaching Spanish, it is important to first conduct input activities (listening and reading) then output activities (writing and speaking). 

Why is listening comprehension so important? 

  1. Students learn a lot of vocabulary and grammar from listening activities.
  2. Listening is one of the most difficult skills to learn because students must listen at someone else’s pace.  It is the only skill over which they have little or no control.   
  3. Students communicate better in the target language when they understand.  If they cannot understand there is no communication taking place.  

So how do you teach students to become effective listeners? 

  1. First, help students understand by teaching effective listening comprehension strategies.
  2. Next, plan effective listening activities that include:
  3. Have students keep a listening journal to record listening practice outside of the classroom.  This can include any conversations they overhear or have with Spanish speakers, music they hear in Spanish, Spanish heard in movies or TV shows, etc.
  4. Assign listening activities for homework such as:
    • Interview a native Spanish-speaker
    • Listen to audio clips on a tape, CD, or online
    • Listen to Spanish radio
    • Watch Spanish TV

The more students practice listening comprehension, the more their skills will improve.

Go to Listening Strategies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

back to top