Listening

=Listening =

=Annotated Review - Listening Activity =

**Name of Activity:** Recession Spawns an Expanding Lexicon for a Shrinking Economy


 * URL:** http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/Wordmaster/2009-03-10-voa4.cfm


 * Definition:** This ‘Special English’ broadcast from VOA News is not, strictly speaking, a listening activity, but provides learners with the opportunity to improve their English while keeping them informed about world developments (in this case, the new lingo inspired by the //crecession// (crisis+recession))


 * Language Level:** This broadcast is intended for upper-intermediate to advanced level learners.


 * Content:** This site is generally very user friendly and is updated daily. This allows learners to visit it every day if they want to, keeping up to date with world news while learning English. News categories are clearly separated and navigating from one to the other is very simple. You are also given the option of streaming audios directly from your web browser or downloading them onto your hardisk in several formats (mp3, real audio etc.). Furthermore, each audio is accompanied by a typed text version. VOA’s Special English section has several unique qualities which make it an excellent real-world recourse for non-native (and sometimes even native) speakers of English. This is achieved through several means: the core vocabulary used in all broadcasts is just 1500 words of which most are simple, descriptive words (some are more difficult), each audio uses short sentences that contain only a single idea which is expressed through active voice, and without the use of idioms. Lastly, the broadcasters themselves (always native speakers) read at about 2/3 the speed of Standard English. This is hardly discerning to the naked ear, but helps learners hear each word clearly giving them time to process the information they are receiving. This, according to the website, also helps native or near-native speakers understand complicated topics.


 * Classroom Suitability:** Audio news articles from VOA are not traditionally intended for classroom use but there are a number of ways they can be adapted to suit the classroom environment. For example, the teacher could play the audio several times in class and turn it into either as formal (written) or informal (oral) listening comprehension activity. Furthermore, given the current, real-world content of the material, students are likely to be keen to discuss it with each other during class, therefore encouraging real communication. Additionally, the teacher could have students break off into small groups and try to come up with a few new recession inspired words of their own. They could then present them to the class explaining their choice.

=Annotated Review - Listening Activity 2 =

**Name of Activity:** The Farmer’s Day


 * URL:** http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3602842.stm


 * Definition:** A 2004 short BBC news clip about the day to day life of a British farmer and his family. The story focuses on the difficulties faced by farming communities due to falling produce prices. The man being interviewed had a strong northern accent.


 * Language Level:** This news clip can be turned into an activity for almost all language levels, although higher intermediate to advanced level learners are likely to gain the most from it.


 * Content:** This news report was not intended as a resource for L2 learners of English and therefore its content is very specific, providing information about a socioeconomic issue. It is a straight forward, three minute audio clip accompanied by relevant still images (i.e. a slide show consisting of pictures of the speaker working on his farm). It is a monologue not an interview.


 * Classroom Suitability:** Beginners could benefit from this piece of audio material as, even though they would probably not understand most of the content, it would expose them to natural speech and different accents. As previously mentioned, however, this audio would be much better for more advanced learners. It could be used in the classroom as a listening comprehension exercise, as a starting point for further discussion or just, as in the case of beginner, as natural exposure to the English Language.

 This document provides information about the practice of teaching listening and the ways in which technoloy can help