INTERACTIVE DICTATIONS

PREPARE A PIECE OF PAPER:

3-WAY DICTATION
a) Dictation is a very old-fashioned language
teaching technique.
b) We dont do dictations in real life.
c) Everyone is involved when they do dictations.
a) Dictation is mainly a writing exercise.
b) Students dont like dictation.
C) Dictation is not a communicative language
teaching technique.

DISCUSSION
a) Dictation is old-fashioned but only when using
the traditional technique.
b) What about writing addresses and messages
dictated by people on the phone?
c) Everyone is involved when they do dictations.
d) Dictation is a listening and writing exercise.
e) Students will like interactive dictations.
f) Dictation used creatively can be a very
communicative teaching technique.

PAIRWORK GAPPED DICTATIONS
PAIRWORK GAPPED
DICTATIONS
Was the activity fun?
There was a strong information gap and
suspense.
Was the activity useful?
It involved careful listening and writing,
including a lot of focus on punctuation.
How efficient was the post-activity checking?
Very: no need to write the text up on the board
since the students can share their versions
RUNNING DICTATION
RUNNING
DICTATION
Did you enjoy the activity? Why?
Its dynamic and competitive.
Why is the activity effective for deep learning?
Students need to memorise the language
(including spelling) while running to and fro.
Could you use it in your classrooms?
Yes, with some adaptation for the traditional
layout of your classrooms.



STORY-TELLING DICTATION
STORY-TELLING
DICTATION
What are the special communicative features
of this activity?
Creativity, information gap, surprise, humour.
Can the teacher easily provide feedback on
the accuracy of students contributions?
Tricky question. Orally yes, but it is not
practical to check every written text.
DICTOGLOSS
Stunned Qantas Airways passengers watched
out of their windows as a large python clung to
a plane's wing during a two-hour flight from
Australia's north-eastern city of Cairns to
Papua New Guinea. The three-metre snake
fought to stay on the plane, pulling itself forward
only to be pushed back by the frigid high-altitude
wind, as cold as -12C. A passenger videotaped
the whole struggle. The python was still attached
when the plane landed in Port Moresby but a
Qantas spokesman said it was dead on arrival.
DICTOGLOSS ORIGINAL TEXT
DICTOGLOSS
What level is this activity appropriate for?
Intermediate to advanced, if the text is carefully
graded.
Why is it effective for practising writing skills?
Students have the basic content but have to
build up the syntax, vocabulary, spelling and
punctuation themselves.
Also students can share their resources and
knowledge, i.e. learn from each other.
PRACTICUM
Get into groups of 4-5.
Each group chooses a short text from the
handout of Mulla Nasreddin Folktales.
Each group chooses an interactive dictation
technique:
Gap-filling pair-work dictation
Running dictation
Story telling dictation
Dictogloss
Be prepared to demonstrate your activity.