As you already know, most of our students are more "skillful" when reading or writing instead of listnening and speaking. Sometimes it is harder for us to teach these last two skills because they demand more time. Due to the fact that this course intents to improve listening and speaking, we are going to read the text: "Strategies to Overcome Listening Obstacles and Improve their Listening Abilities"
After reading the document, you are going to post your reaction about it, basically the aspects that called your attention and how you can take advantage of them in order to improve your own listening skills. Remember to comment your partners' reactions (at least three of them)
The document was sent to your e-mails. You have time this week before Friday, 31st
Hello Professor,
ResponderEliminarI received the email and the article. I just want to check with this post that you know that I am following this blog. Oh, Im Laura Gang. My middle name is used in the blog.
Thx
Thank you Laura. I will take that into account.
EliminarOk, I found it. If anybody else asks, you have to click where it says "comentario" and you can read everybodies input.
ResponderEliminarBye
Welcome. I can´t wait to see your comments, I know that you will contribute a lot. See you.
EliminarI have recieved the link, and confirm i'm using the blog. thank you
ResponderEliminarAwesome! Thanks for letting us know.
EliminarHi everybody!! I received both emails.
ResponderEliminarHave a nice week!!
Marifer
Thanks Marifer
EliminarHello guys, it's me Laura. Ylenia is my middle name.
ResponderEliminarI read the article today and several ideas are in my mind. It was interesting to read about how some Chinese instructors teach English mostly in CHinese than in English. It is surprising to me because I would have expected this country to make use of more updated teaching teachniques. However, I have also seen how some teachers decide to switch back to their native language when/is there students are having problems grasping a specific grammar point. I'm not saying I agree with that, but I can relate to it. Using this idea hinders the student's opportunity to be immersed in the second language. BUt, I also have to tell you that my father, who is a language teacher, believes that if there is a vocab or grammar point that a student isnt grasping, one can explain BRIEFLY in the native language so that students dont get 'stuck' and then, once the doubt is explained, one continues in the second language.
A second idea that I'm not in complete agreement with is related to what the author emphasizes as being crucial to listening comprehension. He says that students should master the phonetic symbols. I consider that student should have knowledge of phonetics, pronunciation and intonation, but I don't see the need to become masters at it. It's a language element that not even the native speakers of a language know or master.Yes, pronounciation and its sub skills are important for correct communication among each other however should we master the symbols? I don't think so.
Finally, I consider that the most important element for one to improve listening skills is knowing about the culture. Learning idioms, context, slang, social groups, trends, and other topics that are of a specific place will add vocabulary and situational contexts that bring about specific ideas.
I think that the proposed strategies are a great way to begin improving listening skills. All of the obstacles that were mentioned in the article can truly hurt the proper development of communication. Moreover, I suggest that it is necessary to add other listening strategies that help a listener become more aware of the purpose for listening. Once a listener is aware of the objective (for enjoyment, to listen to group of words, mimic...) the brain is therefore activated, awake and ready to acquire sounds, words, phrases, sentences, ideas...so on.
Finally, I end with with an anecdote that supports my belief of how one acquires a language and a second language, lots of mimicking and listening, listening, listening...>
My baby niece, who is learning how to talk, mimicked my father's melodic sounds when stretching. When she is aware that he reacts to it, they both engage in a stimulating game of sounds. He said aaaaouuu, she repeated. He said iaaaaauuueee, she repeated...and of course we all laughed! SHe then realizes that with her sounds she can communicate ideas.... :)
Thanks, Laura G.
Laura
EliminarI really like the way you contrasted the ideas.Also, it is important to disagree with authors, many people think that what is written has to be accepted, and actually, it doesn't have to be that way. When I read the article, I didn´t agree with the author about the master of phonetic symbols. I used to think like him (the author), in fact, seven years ago, I used to teach phonetics in Conversational English classes in high school, but people change and that's why permanent education is important in teaching. Culture is another aspect that cannot be delated, as you said, it is almost everything. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
Hi Laura I will love to meet your niece!!! I agree, I would have expected more technology and updated techniques in their teaching. Also as you mention before, this strategies appear to be useful. But also students must be aware of the main goal of listening .We are engaged to help our students. What a better way to start than with ourselves!
EliminarHi Laura. Yes, right.I agree with your opinion.
EliminarIt is interesting. Right?
In South Korea, a teacher mostly teach in Korean than in English. It's a big problem. So a lot of Koreans leave for another country to learn English.
And pronunciation is important factor for improving listening skills.
We can listen well when we know correct pronunciation.
I think that the strategies that were proposed in the article are a very practical way to overcome the obstacles
ResponderEliminarstudents normally have when using listening skills.
There were many intresting points in the article that were very intresting; for example the first one that caught my attention is how chinesse teachers develop heir English clases which i consider this as an obstacle for studens since it interfers with their learning proces, when they need to they will not be able to express properly or in extreme case at all. I believe the lesson should be given in the target language and if students
don't something or hesitate about something the instructor should explain in their native language.
As as second point is when the author refers to the importance on knowing the phonetic, which as Laura says it
something that not even native speakerzs use adequatelly.
A final point in which i agree is that one of the best ways to learn a language it's by its cultural background, history
technology, science,society, idioms, etc. would help language learners to get a better context of everyday situations and improve their vocabulary.Also as th author says that the process of communication can create knowledge.
And finally it is important also for the teahcer
to pay attention to the students needs and
interests so they can feel motivated and be able to overcome the obstacles so that student can have a better self-estem
and improve their abilities.
Natalia
It is an interesting point that you make that often times native speakers have trouble in terms of phonetics. Since the language was acquired instead of actually being
Eliminarstudied as a foreign language this aspect can be quite tricky. Native speakers may often times be able to determine what sound is being made however they may not
be able to identify the actual name or symbol of the sound. Another aspect that may be difficult is transcription. Taking a word and dividing it according to
the sounds that it contains may be a challenge for some. Often times the education system in the United States may focus on other aspects of the language such as
grammar and pronunciation. Even pieces of literature are analyzed and studied in class. However it is few and far between the times were the IPA symbols will be taught.
Dear Jennifer
EliminarThanks for your opinion. It is true everything you said. I would summarize your idea to one word: CONTEXTUALIZATION. When we contextualize learning, the objectives are reached easily. A good student is not the one who knows that name of all the IPA symbols, but the one who knows how to apply them when speaking.
Este comentario ha sido eliminado por el autor.
EliminarHello Natalia. I share with you the idea of teaching English through cultural background and history. Indeed, the best way to teach LONG LASTING MEANINFUL learning is taking into account students' background and previous experiences. In fact, it is not a secret for teachers that the principles of constructivism have to do with contextualization as our professor said before. I do not believe in teaching based on only one pure teaching approach but I consider that constructivism is still up to date for our EFL classrooms.
EliminarHello, I have always thought that from the moment of learning a language, we are directly or indirectly learning about a different culture, which is going to give a more world-wide. Taking into account that each place has their customs and traditions, by means of the language can enrich us a little more. It is a fact that we can take in our classes and to emphasize.
EliminarHi, Natalia.
EliminarYou caught the point of this reading!!
i think so too. If I should learn another language, I know about that country's culture. Like history, politics, custom and so on.
This reading was very helpful to me too!!!
Laura here, Good way to bring insto a clases culture, I believe is by adding authentic materials to class. And, like Natalia says , if consider Ss needs we should be able to find the materials that ar motivating for them.
ResponderEliminarDear Laura,
EliminarAuthentic materials are a must, definitely.
I believe that some aspects of the article don´t apply to the English learning context of our country. First of all, our students don´t have a lot of trouble with listening because they are exposed to English in many ways. For example, young people and also adults listen to a lot of music in English and when we go to the movies, most of the time the films are not dubbed. Also, even beginner courses in English, whether in universities or institutes, are taught in English, and the native language is used only if meaning cannot be conveyed (just as Natalia commented). Students get used to hearing and listening to English very quickly and usually it is their strongest skill. This aspect can also be seen in preschool children from bilingual schools, who can understand everything their teacher says even if they can't produce much.
ResponderEliminarRegarding cultural knowledge of the target language, I agree that is it totally necesarry to offer students additional information whenever possible. This can be done even when using the textbooks (which often bore the student) by introducing interesting facts and differences related to the subject. I can understand that this aspect is even more relevant for Chinese students, whose culture has more differences that ours in relation to the American culture.
Finally, concerning theoretical phonetics, I do believe it is very useful for students to know well the transcription and pronunciation of English sounds because this makes it easier to teach difficult or new words. Even some knowledge of phonology is necessary in my opinion. However, as Jennifer stated, neither of these apects are relevant for the native speaker and there is no need for them to study this unless they are going to teach ESL. Contrary also to what the Jia and Fu state, I don´t think that speaking skills go hand by hand with listening. Like I said before, our English students normally have very good comprehension even if their grammar and pronunciation are poor. Still we have to take into account that the article refers to Chinese speaking students learning English, and in our case, Spanish and English have more linguistic similarities.
Hello Deyanira. You mentioned some key points. Regarding the idea of providing the students with additional information and textbooks, I have to say that right now, we do no have a variety of textbooks that can be applied to the Costa Rican reality. What personally works in my classes is to prepare my own material based on students' interests and knowledge. I guess that currently one of our weaknesses is the lack of textbooks for EFL based on our culture.
EliminarMelissa is true what you say, there is not enough material of that type, but what you apply is very intresting, students are leaning about their culture from what you know and what you are giving them , but they can also apply some of their knowledge too...But also there are other tools that can be use to teach about this culture
Eliminarhey guys! we tend to forget that in terms of teacher prepared materials, specifically designed to learn, we are in the red or that the textbooks w have are not good enough. however, if consider authentic materials there, are more than we think we have. we just need more development of strategies and techniques that guide teacherss on th proper and most effective ways to use them.
EliminarHi Deyanira I hold with you that for spanish speakers it is easier to learn English because of the linguistic similarities that you mentioned before. I can see it with my kids. Right now thet are starting their reading and writing process in english and when it is already accomplished they will learn to read and write in Spahish with no difficulty at all
EliminarThere was a part of the article that caught my attention it said "Hirschi’s (1979)...defined that listening can be regarded as the process whereby the human ears receive
ResponderEliminarsound stimuli from other people and through a series of steps interprets the sound stimuli in the brain and
remembers it." This quote made me think about the listening exercises that students are given. I think it is vital that teachers analyze prior to giving a listening activity to students. Several factors need to be taken into consideration such as the level of the group, needs, population, etc. Listening is stimuli for the brain however it needs to be stimulated accordingly.
Hello Jennifer. I am completely agreed. The reason why teaching listening works together with brain stimulation has to do with the input-output theory. Just to remember a little about this theory of language aquisition, it explains the importance that has exposure in the first stage of language learning. As you said, the students have to receive all the input possible. Later, there is a stage in which they process all that input or vocabulary and in the last stage the students are going to be able to produce by themselves. But many teachers have the wrong concept about asking the students to produce orally first and then, they are exposed to listening but our brain does not work that way.
EliminarListening, is a skill that we put too little in practice in our lives. I think that you there is something more interesting than listening to a person who has interest in telling us something. From there we can learn, we can suggest, and even form an approach different from the situation and even the same person. It would be interesting to see what our students say, don't you think
EliminarHi guys,
EliminarI am glad you brought that up. It´s not a matter of including any type of listening activity without further consideration or analysis, it´s a matter of understanding how to take full advantage of the resource and activity we are trying to incorporate in the classroom. In order to do that, we definitely need to understand the purpose and process behind it. =)
Althought the article is based on a completely different reality which is the EFL teaching in China, it refers to a reality that also happens in Costa Rica; that is, the fact that; sadly, reading and writing are the major focus in the process of teaching, listening and speaking are neglected due to I would say two main factors.
ResponderEliminarThe first factor is that the Communicative Approach which is the one suggested by MEP is indubitably promoting Dumb English mentioned in the article. If students know how to speak dumb English, they need to know neither about grammar nor about phonetics. The main purpose of this type of English is that the student communicate a message.
The second factor I can mention is that many active teachers do not know how to teach activities for improving the speaking skills whether because they do not manage the language or because they have never received any type of training about the new approaches for teaching communication.
I certainly enhance my collegues to start applying speaking activities in their classrooms not only because students need a proper environment to practice but also because the speaking activities encourage cooperative learning and the students are going to become autonomous and they are going to have a lot of fun within the learning process.
Melissa
EliminarThanks for your comment. I was thinking about what you said when referring to "dumb English" because it is true. In my personal opinion, I disagree to teach English just to communicate because people can say "She don´t, she have 27 years old or she are" and they don´t want to correct themselves because they are communicating the idea. I'm no pretending to be perfect, but the integral teaching of English must not be omitted.
Hi. Melissa.
EliminarReally? Does that happen in Costa Rica?
oh, I didn't know that!!! South Korea is too.
When the students are taking a class, we don't speak English.
Only speak Korean. A teacher too!!!
And, you're right. I really agreed with your opinion.
Students need a proper environment to practice listening skills.
hey you all!
Eliminari agree with melissa that many teachers are not giving students the needed practice in speaking or and listening skills. as i mentioned in a previous post, i believe many teach in the teaching-for-the-test and we sacrifice important adpects of language .
part of our responsibilities as teachers i to develop , improve, so we can be aware of our students needs. we should all become more knowledgeable in teaching list and spk.
i loved marifer seed , plant, flowers analogy!its so true. i add to that that we should be teachers that are alive and our ckasses shoukd represent the same. :)
HI Melissa,
EliminarI definitely agree with you, I believe there should be more training in teachers in order for them /us to learn how to properly apply and take full advantage of speaking and listening skills. Well prepared teachers = well prepared students. Well prepared students are those capable of grasping the fundamental parts of a language and all that entails =)
Good evening. It was an interesting reading. I liked it.
ResponderEliminarI can differ that listening is an active and integrated process in which many areas are developing at the same time. It´s integrated because physical and emotional aspects are involved.
Feelings and emotions are part of our life. People need to feel pleased, comfortable, happy and motivated in order to have good results. Not only for an English class it's for all aspects in our life.
The author says that phonics is “the basis of listening”. I think that phonics it’s a very important part but not the “basis”. For me it’s like the seed that you need to plant in order to have a tree or a flower, and it has to start growing with the time, the water, the light, etc. This is an example of one part of my job, I teach Phonics to 5 years old kids. This is where all starts. I am planting the seed!!! Now I agree that a “wrong pronunciation and intonation” will affect the whole process, because we are modeling to little kids. It’s important to take into consideration that we are teaching a foreign language to native speakers. And we need to stimulate and develop all the pre skills they need.
I think it is easier when you start in the childhood. Children learn fast. Also our culture plays an important role. Nowadays we are exposed to "English". You can see it everywhere, tv shows, toys, games, restaurants, every day and everywhere. It’s a fact that all the extra material and resources that a student could have, brings benefits the process.
About the cultural knowledge “is the soil of my plant” and the most important aspect for improving the language´s learning skill. Customs, history, culture, food, idioms are part of it.
For me, teaching English to preschoolers it’s a beautiful process. Because it’s their first formal contact with a foreign language. And its my job to create an integrated environment where feelings, and meaningful experiences as well as academic contents take place. Therefore and as the author mention it, teachers must bring real life into the classroom every day.It's wonderful listening 5 years old kids trying to communicate and express their ideas in English. Most of the time they use “spanglish” or a weird accent, because they always want to be the teacher
On the other hand I also have to struggle with speech disorders that makes duty a little bit harder, but it is part of my job
Finally as the author says “If teachers believe in students, they believe in themselves”
I agree that is better an easier to start the teaching process at a young age (with children)they learn very fast and absorb everyting. And it is important to always have stimulation in all their skills.
EliminarTeachers are motivating by nature. You have students interested in our bounces, which promotes participation, who really want to learn a second language in us this and not only attend a normal class. Here my opinion part that the professor should suit their classes the students criteria based, find a reliable communication mode, where they can express their opinions, tastes, thoughts, and so make a striking class, practice and more important, interactive.
EliminarMariFer; concerning phonetics,I agree to what you said about its importance, I think that they should not overpass other relevant aspects such as a good intonation, for example. Memorizing phonetic symbols is not the point; for that reason, in that aspect I also disagree with the author.
EliminarHi, everyone
ResponderEliminarWe all know that speaking and listening skills play an important role in our daily as teachers and students routines. However, these abilities are far from being a reality practice in our workplace. On the one hand, the good practice of a combined with a person that conversation really this concentrate in the talk, as an easy context to understand and discuss. Here part of Comprehensive Language, which seeks to give a total twist to our usual custom concrete. The idea of having a conversation with a cup of coffee can help us convert, to create a different world, where the receiver can feel involved in the conversation as a character more. To see, it can express your point of view, give suggestions, or simply predict that could pass. In our classrooms, the situation is a little different. The class develops in an environment where the grammar is the skill that Queen, leaving aside the others. The student is highly affected when it seeks to find a way to concentrate to a practice of listening, you feel lost and until resignation to make it. The lack of resources, planning, methodology, makes that the student does not feel motivation to move forward.
On the other hand, the teacher is responsible for ensuring because this activity of develops most frequently and which, in turn, the student advance so have best results together. Within the article, provide us with some suggestions, for example, help the student to q feel confident to perform the exercises, with certain exercises: take notes while is listening the recording, recognize the context, look for details that will help you answer some questions, among others. In my opinion, the idea of putting in practice a course where skills are applied in general help the student to progress from any point of view. An integrated course you would help the student a: know a little of everything, enrich your vocabulary, acquire new expressions, new grammar, phrases language, among others. I think that everything is depending on the approach and commitment that has professional education to your class.
Hello, Jason, unfortunately you're right. That's why we are asked to make a difference, and that would be possible if we use those resources are missed (as you said)into our classes.
EliminarI just didn´t get one of your ideas, maybe you can explain that to me. I will copy it: "On the one hand, the good practice of a combined with a person that conversation really this concentrate in the talk, as an easy context to understand and discuss"
I also agree with you. The main problem we have as teachers is that we are constrained by programs and textbooks, which gives little opportunity for meaningful learning. After we talked about this situation with Doña Marta on our first class, I have decided to make some big changes in my future courses. Fortunately I can do this because I have the support of the Director of the program; however, it's not always this way.
EliminarHi. It's Jenny.
ResponderEliminarI can understand this reading.
Because I have been here for 6 months. just 6 months.
So i'm nervous while I' attending a class.
I know that listening skill is very important.
I think, when I listen well, I can speak well too.
This article was very helpful to me. After reading this article,
I felt that the study of listening is important as much as the study of speaking.
China's method is quite different. I understand this.
Because South Korea is much the same. I studied sentence structures, the grammar, vocabulary, the words in Korea. So I do better in reading and writing than listening and speaking.
A lot of Koreans can't speak well. So they leave for another country to learn English. Like me!!!
In my case, it's more difficult to listen and speak than read and write. Listening is a complex and interactive process.
In listening, pronunciation is an very important factor.
In Korea, a teacher doesn't speak English while taking lessons.
When we read an English book, we'll find the words we don't know.
And that time, we should look up a word in a dictionary.
Besides, we learn pronunciation by a dictionary. it's a problem.
Of course, grammar and vocabulary is important too.
we can listen and speak when we understand grammar and vocabulary.
So they're very important factor. So you want to improve your listening skills, remember these things!!
First, we should understand the cultural background like history,culture,custom,politics and so on. Cultural background has a close relationship with listening comprehension.
Second, "Practice makes perfect!!!"
You should invest a long time in listening. Listen over again!!Repeatedly!!
The last one, "The easy one is beautiful."
You don't need to watch difficult news and broadcasting. Instead of these things, you can see a movie or animation for a little child and school children.It will be more helpful than difficult news and broadcasting.
Thanks . Jenny Park.
Greetings, Jenny
EliminarWow, I was really interested by reading what you said about Korea. Definitely, it is valuable to see differences in education in order to enrich our worldview, and you're lucky becuase comparisons are easier for you. The point with this is that since we are getting information to become better, we can put what we read into practice. Theory is important, but practice is essential, as you said "practice makes perfect" So that applies for us as teachers, too.
Hi Jenny thanks for sharing your experience with us, I really appreciate it. It´s a very interesting point of view. Now I can understand it better.
EliminarThe important thing is that with this classes, readings and testimonies. As professionals we can decide what should we do or not do in order to improve our skills.
Hi Jenny,
EliminarI am glad to encounter such an honest comment and positive input. Determination is the key to success. Right now a lot of aspects may be difficult to you, but as you stated from the reading “"Practice makes perfect!!!"” Meaningful Learning is not an easy task, listening and speaking skills are difficult to acquire for any non native speaker. Nevertheless, with effort and patience learners can realize that by learning a new language- they will encounter a new world in front of their eyes.