Improving Learner
Improving Learner’s Ability with Listening to News Reports
Word count - 2470
Contents Introduction 1 Analysis 1 News reports are: 1 Processes 1 Top-down 1 Bottom-up 2 Where top-down and bottom-up meet 3 Problems and Solutions 3 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Background Research 8 Practical Materials 8 Appendix 1 9
Introduction
For years now I have taught context/gist/specific info/post activity type listening lessons, but my reading on authentic materials and helping students with compensatory strategies alerted me to the fact that I have been testing rather than teaching listening in the classroom.
My learners, who are living and studying in Australia, often view understanding the news as a major achievement in their listening development. It is an authentic text that they have free, repeated access to on a daily basis. However, lower level learners often view news reports as something that is above their level and totally incomprehensible. My aim is to develop my teaching of strategies to help learners become more successful in understanding news reports.
Analysis
News reports are: * Transactional - “the primary focus is on communicating information….(they are) primarily message –focused” (Richards & Schmidt, 2010, pg290). * Instrumental – the listener has a clear aim, in this case to obtain information about what is happening in the world. * Non-interactive – the listener does not have the ability to speak or interact. It is impossible for the listener to ask for clarification. * Authentic – texts which are not graded for language learners, “where no concessions are made to foreign speakers” (Harmer, 2001, pg205). Or, as White states, “the kinds of things which native speakers listen to” (White, 2008, pg11).
News reports also follow a common format of an opening section summarising the news item, followed by a more detailed account of the story. In the main body, information given by the
Word count - 2470
Contents Introduction 1 Analysis 1 News reports are: 1 Processes 1 Top-down 1 Bottom-up 2 Where top-down and bottom-up meet 3 Problems and Solutions 3 Conclusion 7 Bibliography 8 Background Research 8 Practical Materials 8 Appendix 1 9
Introduction
For years now I have taught context/gist/specific info/post activity type listening lessons, but my reading on authentic materials and helping students with compensatory strategies alerted me to the fact that I have been testing rather than teaching listening in the classroom.
My learners, who are living and studying in Australia, often view understanding the news as a major achievement in their listening development. It is an authentic text that they have free, repeated access to on a daily basis. However, lower level learners often view news reports as something that is above their level and totally incomprehensible. My aim is to develop my teaching of strategies to help learners become more successful in understanding news reports.
Analysis
News reports are: * Transactional - “the primary focus is on communicating information….(they are) primarily message –focused” (Richards & Schmidt, 2010, pg290). * Instrumental – the listener has a clear aim, in this case to obtain information about what is happening in the world. * Non-interactive – the listener does not have the ability to speak or interact. It is impossible for the listener to ask for clarification. * Authentic – texts which are not graded for language learners, “where no concessions are made to foreign speakers” (Harmer, 2001, pg205). Or, as White states, “the kinds of things which native speakers listen to” (White, 2008, pg11).
News reports also follow a common format of an opening section summarising the news item, followed by a more detailed account of the story. In the main body, information given by the