It's so important for students to hear a variety of speakers and accents when learning a new language, because that's what they will encounter during authentic communication. In my classroom, I want students to develop their listening skills as soon as possible. And with YouTube and other resources so readily available, there are millions of ways to introduce students to native speakers from all over the world! And now with distance learning, it's more important than ever to provide them with continual comprehensible input. How to introduce listening practiceBefore you begin, I recommend clearly setting your students expectations and providing them with strategies to succeed. Otherwise, you will inevitably hear a chorus of: "S/he speaks too fast! I didn't understand anything!" I tell my students: "This will probably sound fast to you. That's ok. Spanish speakers do tend to speak more quickly than English speakers. Your goal is to keep listening and not shut down. Before we start, I'm going to share some insider tips!" Strategies for beginners1. Tell students to pre-read the questions and make a prediction about the main idea of the recording. 2. Encourage them to ask questions about words on the page they don't understand. 3. Assure students that they will listen to each recording more than once. During the first time, they should only listen for some of the answers. If it feels easier than expected, they can listen for a few more. The next time, listen for the rest or check your work. When students know what to expect, they generally respond better. Additionally, this introduction lets them know that I am on their team and want them to be successful! How to find level appropriate listening activitiesThis can take a long time. YouTube is jam packed with free resources, but who has the time to look through all of them?
I do! Well, not really, but I have accumulated some great activities from a variety of websites and created over 30 thematic activities to save you time!
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