EFS 693B - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Listening and Communication
EFS 693B - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Listening and Communication
EFS 693B
Week 10 Notes
I. Course Review: Check the class notes for more details
A. General model of listening activities
1. Listening to improve comprehension
2. Improving language processing: focus on linking the form (sounds, words, phrases and grammar) along with the meaning
3. Increasing language knowledge
B. Preparing listening activities
1. Setting objectives: identify what specifically under (A) you are aiming to improve in a given activity
2. Selecting appropriate materials
- Materials with familiar content are
generally better for focusing on language
- Video is usually better than audio
only
- Listening to several different
recordings on the same topic provides natural reinforcement of both concepts and
vocabulary
3. Determining procedures: be sure that they fit the objectives; don't use exactly the same procedure all the time
C. Listening to dedicated ESL software
1. Examples: www.esl-lab.com; www.englishbaby.com; www.elllo.org
2. Adjust the challenge: e.g., summarize content orally/in writing before quiz; hide multiple choice answers; turn volume up/down; pause frequently & reflect; skip pre-listening occasionally
3. Use different procedures for different objectives and to change the listening experience: e.g., add dictation; do quiz first; read script first
D. Listening to native speaker media
1. Examples: http://ecorner.stanford.edu/; www.ted.com; www.cnn.com/studentnews;
2. Look for material with captions and/or transcripts--this is important not just for comprehension but for vocabulary and processing practice. Remember you can use the advanced search feature for captioned videos: http://video.google.com/videoadvancedsearch. Try searching for captioned google tech talks.
3. For TV and movies, try www.hulu.com; www.crackle.com
4. Use different procedures for different objectives and to change the listening experience: e.g., add dictation sometimes; read script first; view video with sound off...experiment!
E. Vocabulary development
1. Be aware of your vocabulary level by checking word lists like the General service list or Academic word list. Try taking the "B" tests at www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r21270/levels/
2. Note new vocabulary, decide whether it's worth learning: www.lextutor.ca/vp/bnc can help
3. Keep a personal word list and review it regularly; be aware of the value of spaced repetition: see http://flashcarddb.com/leitner
4. Learn both words and phrases: the Google "define" command can help.
F. Some general techniques (we've covered others besides these)
1. Use "pause" regularly; rewind as needed
2. Expand the playbar/go full screen on video to enhance control
3. Load video from an embedded player to a full player when possible: the vlc player is highly recommended www.videolan.org/vlc
4. Adjust the graphic equalizer (if available) to optimize it for speech
5. Adjust speed if possible to the best level for you--80%, for example, will allow more time for processing without much distortion
6. When doing dictations, use "chunks" rather than full sentences and try to expand the length over time; typically, only listen once or twice before checking your answer.
7. When available, toggle captions on and off as needed, depending on comprehension and objective; don't leave them on all the time.
8. Spend a few moments reflecting after a listening session: keep a journal or log of what you did, when you did it, how you did it, and what you learned
9. In general, interact with the material, don't just follow it passively
G. Final advice
1. Set goals and objectives for listening and vocabulary development
2. Schedule regular times for your listening practice and vocabulary review, and stick to your schedule
3. Collect useful listening resources in a separate folder under your browser favorites
II. Discussion of www.imdb.com, www.englishcentral.com, http://www.22frames.com/esl.aspx, recording summaries and comments (helps you concentrate, helps you discover what you can and can't so easily, helps you identify vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation problems)
III. A final video: http://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_5_ways_to_listen_better.html
IV. Final assessment: Picture Identification Test
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Homework:
1) Bonus meeting: I would be happy to help you continue with your progress in listening and vocabulary. You can email me to let me know if you would like to get together this week (I have a few times left open) or at the beginning of spring quarter.
2) Keep practicing with the material you love best....