Many ESL students spend a lot of time and attention on their speaking skills, which is vital to becoming fluent in English. However, being able to listen is just as important, not only for increased comprehension, but to improve speech as well.
Often, ESL textbooks will include a CD to be used in the classroom or at home. These are a great resource, but because they follow a pattern established in the text, students may be able to eventually predict the listening, decreasing its value as an aural tool.
There are a few other options for the ESL teacher to include in the classroom at little to know cost. Here are a few activities for the classroom that focus on listening.
ESL Podcasts: Free Material for English Students
There are hundreds of free podcasts available online that focus on learning English in varying levels. Typically, these podcasts are recorded by native speakers and cover a wide variety of topics, from basic introductions to more advanced subjects, like idioms and phrasal verbs.
Most podcasts are free, updated regularly, and several include written transcripts of the podcasts at little to no extra cost. For more information, take a look at these Free ESL Podcasts.
Sing a Song: Music in the ESL Classroom
Music has been proven to be a valuable tool for language learning. There are several ways music can be introduced into an ESL program. For example, singing simple songs can work wonders on reinforcing new vocabulary and concepts with younger ESL students.
Older students, particularly teenagers and adults, might not be as enthusiastic about singing in the classroom. However, most will be more than willing to listen to recordings of popular tunes with English lyrics.
One fun idea would be to provide a lyrics transcription to the students and allow them to read along. Afterwards, have a discussion about the slang, idioms, or other aspects of the lyrics. Another angle would be to play the regular version of a song, followed by the instrumental version, then let the students write their own lyrics. The braver students may even be willing to give a performance!
Improve Listening Skills: Teachers Speak
Clearly, all teachers spend a decent amount of class time speaking. However, try setting aside a specific time during class where the students know they must focus on listening to the teacher as the main part of the activity.
For example, the teacher can read aloud a short story to the class without giving the students written copies. Based only on what they heard, the students and teacher can have an open discussion about what they learned, what the story was about, what they didn't understand.
Afterwards, the teacher can provide a written copy of the story to the students. Allow them to read quietly, then read the story aloud one more time so they have a visual to go along with what they misunderstood before. Follow up with a final discussion about what they guessed correctly, what was wrong, and what they learned.
Improve ESL Aural Skills
The best way to improve listening skills is to listen to as much English as possible! Homework typically involves writing and reading; try introducing a listening component into homework from time to time. The more students are exposed to the language, the more fluent they will become.
For more ESL classroom ideas, try:
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