TeachingEnglish
Exploiting tape scripts
Submitted by TE Editor on 16 September, 2009 - 09:49
When I do extended listening exercises using pre-recorded material, I always have a photocopy of the tape script ready for the learners. I sometimes give this to them after we have finished comprehension activities and get them to read and listen again. This has lots of benefits: We can analyse the language, which is often authentic, in more detail. We can confirm answers to comprehension exercises. We can focus on pronunciation of both individual words and connected speech. My students can ‘fill in the gaps’ in their understanding; and, importantly, this kind of activity can help motivation by showing learners how close their understanding is to what was said.
By Paul Kaye
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Listening materials are a very rich source of language input. In a text-based lesson, listenings will always generate language to be analysed and, above all, allow learners to capitalise on lexis. As Brazilian Portuguese is a syllable-timed language - English is stress-timed - the script is an invaluable tool so as to draw learners' attention to pronunciation features, say, at both segmental and supra-segmental levels. Hence, shadow reading is one strategy I often use to get learners to pick up rhythm and intonation. That said, once learners become aware that working on those differences will lead them to similaries, they feel more confident and will transfer such features to their daily speech.