You are here: Home > Listening Activities > During Listening > Radio
Listening Activities

Listening Activities Home

Listening Strategies:
   Unfamiliar Words
   Give a Focus
   Context Clues
   TQLR

Planning Effective Listening Activities

Pre-Listening Activities

During Listening Activities:
   Card Activities
   Categorize Words
   Charts
   Cloze Activities
   Commands
   Commercials
   Dictations
   Illustrations
   Interviews
   Listening Games
   Movies
   Native Speakers
   Newscasts
   Pictures
   Puzzles
   Questions
Radio
   Songs
   Sounds
   Statements
   Stories
   Textbooks
   TV shows
   Video Clips

Post Listening Activities

Listening Assessment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Radio
DISCUSS THIS ARTICLE


Radio DJs tend to speak fast.  At first, it may be difficult for students to understand.  Reassure students that with time it will be easier for them to understand as they grow accustomed to the fast pace of the speaker.  In the end, students’ listening comprehension skills will have drastically improved.  I always preview the clip and prepare activities for students to complete.  I play the same clip everyday for two weeks with different activities each day.  At the end of the two weeks, students take a test on the material. 

 

Radio Activities
  1. Record radio clips and preview them first rather than playing the radio live. 
  2. Play clips that include:
    • Commercials
    • DJ speaking
    • Listeners calling
    • Songs
  3. Make a transcript of the recording including the lyrics to the song. 
  4. Include activities for students to do while they are listening such as:
    • Answer questions.
    • Fill in cloze activities with missing words.
    • Identify ten words they know from recording and use them in an original sentence.
    • Identify the mood of the speaker.
    • Keep a log of advertisements.  Tell what is being advertised and when it was played.
    • Listen to ads and match products to stores. 
    • Listen to ads and write down phone numbers. 
    • List the song title, name of the artist, and what the song is about.
    • Pick out the three main points made by the speaker. 
    • Students pretend they are the DJ and make a tape of their own, imitating the station's style and format.
    • Summarize an advertisement.
    • Summarize a news item.
    • Write a journal page about how they feel and what they think about as they listen to the radio clip.  
    • Write comments, compliments, or suggestions for improving the station.
    • Write down phrases mentioned often, and tell when and why they were used. 
    • Write out or tape record a dialogue with a classmate discussing what is on the radio and telling what they think about the radio clip.
  5. Play recording each day for a couple of weeks.
  6. Give a test at the end of the two weeks. 

 

Resources

Live Radio Stations - Listen to live radio from all over the world!

Worldwide Radio - Live radio streaming from radio stations all over the world.  I like this site because you can click directly on the radio station.

Multilingual Books – Many radio stations from Spain and Latin America.  All stations are organized by country and include the website link, city, and what kind of music or programs or music they offer. 

Radio Locator - You can search for radio stations in Spain and in Latin America. 

Spanish Language Radio Stations in the US - Links to US Spanish language radio stations.


Are you confused by all the choices?  Here are a few recommendations:

Argentina
Radio Mitre - Live radio from Argentina Colombia

Caracol Colombia - Live radio from Bogota, Colombia including, news, sports, and  interviews.  There is also an archive of audio recordings. 

BBC Estudio 834 - Listen to BBC radio live on the internet.


Costa Rica
Radio Columbia  - Costa Rican radio station.  I recommend the programs Salud para todos y Charlemos.


Mexico
Radio Centro  - A variety of radio stations from Mexico with live radio streaming.

Imagen - I recommend the programs Qué tal Fernanda, Crónicas de Salud y Qué Hacer

Radio Formula - Radio stations from Mexico with links to a variety of radio stations you can listen to live. 


Puerto Rico
Pop Radio - Pop radio station from San Juan, Puerto Rico


Spain
Onda Cero - Radio station from Spain that you can listen to live online.

Cadena Cope - Latest news and live online radio from Spain.

Radio Nacional de España - Live Spanish radio stations with news, interviews, classical music, Spanish music, oldies, and popular music.  You will even find archives of radio programs. 

Roadcast Live - Online Spanish radio, TV and newspapers. 

Radio España - Top radio stations transmitted in Spain.

Cadena Ser - Live and archived radio and news from Spain.


United States
Radio Bilinguë - Radio for the Latin American community in United States.  I recommend the program Línea Abierta.

 

Recording Radio from the Internet

Audacity – Free audio software you can use to record live radio. 

iRecordMusic - This is like a Tivo but for radio! You can record internet audio that are supported in a variety of formats.

Replay A/V - Software to record Internet radio. You can download a free demo and record up to five minutes of material at a time. 

Total Recorder This software allows you to record live streaming radio.  There is a free trial version so you can see how it works.  One thing I like about this product is that you can schedule timed recordings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

back to top