Hello Donna and classmates
This 3rd week of The Webskills Course has been
interesting. I feel I am learning to use to new tools to enhance my computer
skills as well as my classes.
This week’s main discussion topics were about
websites for Oral/Aural Skills and the use of Computer Assisted Language
Learning (CALL) applications and Computer Assisted Pronunciation Training
(CAPT) systems in teaching pronunciation.
It is widely accepted the fact that Listening
is the most frequent skill that we use in everyday life. However, the resources
and activities that have been applied in class for teaching this skill have not
been the most accurate for developing and improving it. Most ESL/EFL textbooks
include a CD or cassette to practice listening and pronunciation and also do
different activities such as gap filling, answering questions, songs, chants,
and so on. Now the big questions are: Does these activities reflect “the
reality”? Are these activities created with authentic information and
resources? Are these activities helping our students improve their listening
and speaking skills? Can these activities help our students face and understand
what is happening in the real world? Some of us might say: “Yes, they understand
the instructions that I say and the activities that they listen in the textbook
CD”. Some others might say: “well, they need more practice because listening and
speaking are hard to improve”. If your opinion fits with the second answer,
feel happy because you are going the right way. But how can we do it? Well… KEEP IT
REAL!!!
Authentic materials and resources for teaching
listening and speaking create a real environment and our students will be able
to use English the same way that people do in the real world. It is advisable
to use radio programs, TV shows, movies, phone conversations, the internet, and
some other authentic sources of information. The next step is to create an
activity using the following structure: PRE (before) LISTENING – WHILE (during)
LISTENING – POST (after) LISTENING.
This structure helps students get more benefits
from a listening activity. The reason is that they don’t feel stressed and the
pressure to understand 100% of the information that they are listening to. These
types of activities are meant to enhance our students’ listening and speaking strategies to interact in real situations.
Related links:
For listening & speaking activities created with authentic materials:
Dear JC
ReplyDeleteSo glad to comment on your blog.
Your idea about keeping the authenticity of the learning materials especially for listening is very interesting. I agree that although we cannot have native speakers all the time for the speaking partner or our learners, we also have to choose the computer assisted language learning materials wisely. Some examples such as from breakingnewsenglish.com probably can't be totally taken. There should be some adjustment we have to do. I am also using some softwares such as Encarta students, English tutot, etc. to help them to get and make authentic material for CALL.
Nice sharing JC
Herman