A template for a listening activity

Stag e PRE-LISTENING Activity Set the context Generate Interest Option 1 Let Ss know what the goals of the lesson are Pictures/YouTube Display pictures on the Interactive WhiteBoard (IWB) (e.g. Olympic flag or symbol) Show a short YouTube clip as an introduction Option 2 Syllabus fit with work done in previous class Personalise Find someone who (walking around the room is necessary) True/false around the room on paper or computer screens Class survey/ poll on computer or centre desk Opposites on IWB Activate knowledg e Brainstorm questions about what the students want to know about the topic and write on IWB. Other Ss answer the questions or the teacher if necessary. Some questions can be left open if answered in listening text Pre-learn vocabulary (e.g. key words): In a word document, write about 10 key words/expressions from the topic. Open in IWB. After Ss have checked their understanding (with dictionaries/in pairs), open a second page in IWB. Ss try to write down (in notebook/ on IWB) as many words/expressions they can remember. Brainstorm language they might hear: Tell Ss to think of as many words as they can Controlled info hunt / webquest on computers/ encyclopaedia or preprepared fact sheet. This can be done as a jigsaw with some Ss on computers and others in reading corner or centre table and then information is shared Collocation match Choose collocations or phrases from the listening text. Ss match one half to the other. This can be done on IWB using drag and drop, computers or paper cut-ups. Word Games Use the following to introduce vocabulary from the listening text: Hangman Word search Crossword Scategories Anagrams Brainstorm knowledge the Ss know about the subject on the IWB Option 3 Context fit with current affairs (US elections / Olympics) Sound effects No vision Ss listen to a short audio excerpt e.g. for Olympics play sounds or sports or a crowd cheering. Ss guess what they are listening to. Vision on to check

Activate language

List of phrases/collocations Ss are shown a list of phrases /lexical chunks

for the topic of the listening activity (e.g. Olympics) Make a spidergram on the IWB with the students suggestions and add any you think they may need to know.

or collocations and select what phrases they would expect to hear in the topic of the listening text e.g. in a restaurant; Are you ready to order? Ss can add more phrases they might expect to hear to the list on the IWB Who/what/when where? Ss guess from a snippet of the listening text or the pictures and key words who/what /when/where/why? Identify who /what/ where / how? Ss listen and are given gist questions to answer on computer worksheet or on IWB e.g. How many speakers are there? Where are they? What is the speakers relationship? How do they feel? Comprehension check Content questions, gapfill, cross out wrong statements, True or False Play snippet to guess genre Play short extract or listening text and Ss guess what type of audio it is e.g. a song, dialogue, joke, anecdote etc. Initial reaction Ss listen for enjoyment e.g. a poem, joke, story, dialogue and are asked: Do you like it? Is it funny? Is it happy? Is it interesting? Etc. Complete a table / chart/ graphic organiser (e.g. spidergram) with key facts, details etc

Predictio n

Using key words/ pictures With the key words/ pictures displayed on the IWB, Ss predict what the listening is going to be about.

WHILE-LISTENING

While 1 Listening for gist

Check prediction Ss can listen to check that their predictions are correct from the key words and pictures and also can compare the language they have brainstormed or the dialogue they created with the listening. Sequencing (pictures, events, facts, sentences) Pictures Ss put in order on the IWB or on a computer worksheet a series of pictures of events that take place in the listening text. Events /facts Put the main events/facts of the listening text in random order on IWB or computer worksheet and Ss have to sequence them.

While 2 Listening + task

Draw a map / plan If listening to directions or description of a place, Ss can draw a map or plan or fill in a map/plan with missing information. Who said what? Ss match lines of the dialogue to the person who said it. Can be done at desks on paper, on IWB or computer worksheet. NB False clues can be added

While 3

Check answers (repeat listening for task from While 2)

Dictogloss for high levels Ss write down as much as the dialogue as they can. If more than one speakerallocate a speaker to each group of Ss. Students need to listen at least 3 times and can compare with their partner after each listening. Any words they words can be guessed. Ss can then role-play the dialogue.

Put dialogue/ poem in order Cut up lines of a short listening text and Ss put them in order before W3 and check, or while listening. While 4 Repeat listening If necessar y Post Language focus

Transcript cloze Take out important key words or collocations from transcript and Ss fill it in while listening

Listen with transcript and check all completed tasks

Vocabulary Give Ss a vocabulary builder exercise with words from listening. Ss write 3-5 words the have learned and make sentences for them. Highlight 5 new words from the transcript and check meaning, record in notebook

Grammar If theres a prominent /useful and relevant structure highlight on IWB and do grammar building exercises if necessary.

Functional language If theres a prominent /useful and relevant structure highlight on IWB and do grammar building exercises if necessary.

POST-LISTENING

Post Speaking

Re-telling Ss use the key words or pictures from prelistening to re-tell what they heard/learned from the listening text in their own words.

Role-play (for dialogues) Role-play transcript for lower levels Continue the dialogue or add alternate ending for higher levels.

Discussion/ Debate Guided questions on IWB Or Questions / quiz written by Ss for other Ss Write about a similar personal experience Again in an email / letter to friend

Post Writing

Post- Info gap activities (Jigsaw)

Write a letter / blog / forum comment Ss write a response or reaction to what they have heard; advice etc or a letter between characters in the listening Compare with Ss who listened to another text

Write a summary / express opinion Ss write a this in an email to a friend / to the radio station / website /

Compare with Ss who read a text (centre table)

A template for a listening activity

Template for teachers to fill in

Stag e PRE-LISTENING

Activity Set the context Generate Interest Activate knowledge Activate language

Option

Materials/ equipment used

Prediction WHILE-LISTENING POST-LISTENING W1 Listening for gist

W2 Listening + task

W3

W4 - Repeat listening

Post speaking

Post writing Post- Info gap activities (Jigsaw) Post language focus