TEYL - Keep Listening Active

Summary

This video guides English teachers on effectively teaching listening to young learners. Emphasizing that listening is an active, interpretive skill, it highlights the importance of preparing clear, simple classroom language and instructions. The video suggests making listening engaging by giving students purposeful tasks, such as pointing, drawing, or performing actions, to demonstrate comprehension. It stresses that children are not just learning to listen—they are listening to learn—and encourages teachers to design activities that keep students focused and actively involved, ensuring that every listening activity has a meaningful goal and promotes understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Listening is a critical skill that is practiced more than speaking, reading, or writing, with individuals typically listening twice as much as they speak.
• 😀 In English classrooms for young learners, listening is the main form of communication between teachers and students, and it's vital to approach it thoughtfully.
• 😀 Teachers need to be very conscious of the language they use when giving instructions to young learners, ensuring that it is clear and simple.
• 😀 Classroom language should be prepared carefully, using short, understandable sentences, and teachers should be ready to repeat or rephrase instructions as necessary.
• 😀 Listening is an active, interpretive skill, and it’s essential for teachers to create engaging ways for students to actively process what they hear.
• 😀 Checking comprehension through varied response types (e.g., pointing, moving, performing actions) helps students demonstrate their understanding of what they listen to.
• 😀 Giving students a listening task with a clear purpose is essential for keeping their attention and making the listening process more engaging.
• 😀 Teachers should avoid the common mistake of playing a song or audio without giving students a clear task to focus on, which can result in disengagement.
• 😀 Activities like 'listen and point' or 'listen and draw' are great ways to make listening tasks more interactive and fun for young learners.
• 😀 Always provide a reason for listening. For example, students should listen in order to identify the correct picture or complete a specific task, which will help them stay focused and motivated.
• 😀 Remember that young learners are not just learning to listen, but they are listening to learn, which means that active listening tasks should be part of every lesson.

Q & A

Why is listening an important skill in the context of teaching young learners?

Listening is crucial because it is the main source of communication between the teacher and the students. In English classes for young learners, most of the instructional input comes from the teacher, making it essential for students to engage actively in listening.

How much more do we listen compared to speaking, reading, and writing on average?

According to Morley, on average, we listen twice as much as we speak, four times more than we read, and five times more than we write.

What does it mean for children to be 'listening to learn'?

Children are not just learning to listen for comprehension; they are also learning language through listening. This involves preparing to understand and use classroom language, not just listening to activities in their books.

Why should teachers be mindful of their classroom language when teaching young learners?

Teachers need to carefully prepare their language because young learners may struggle with complex instructions. Using simple, clear, and concise language ensures better comprehension and active listening.

What are some ways teachers can make listening more active in the classroom?

Teachers can check comprehension through various response types, such as pointing, moving, raising hands, performing actions, or drawing. These activities encourage students to engage with what they are listening to and demonstrate understanding.

What are some examples of activities that help make listening more active for young learners?

Examples include listening and pointing to body parts, listening and drawing a crazy animal, or listening and completing tasks such as filling in blanks or selecting the correct picture based on the audio.

How can teachers ensure their young learners stay focused during listening activities?

Teachers can give students a clear task or purpose for listening, such as pointing to the right picture or drawing a specific object. Providing a task keeps students engaged and focused on understanding the content.

What is the importance of preparing instructions in a way that is accessible to young learners?

Preparing instructions in simple, understandable language helps young learners follow directions more easily. Rephrasing and repeating instructions when needed ensures that all students are able to comprehend and engage with the material.

What should teachers avoid doing when conducting listening activities with young learners?

Teachers should avoid simply playing a song or playing a tape without a task or purpose for the students. Without a specific task, students may lose focus and fail to engage with the listening content effectively.

Why is it necessary for listening activities to be paired with a task or response?

Pairing listening activities with a task ensures that students are not passively hearing but actively processing and demonstrating their understanding. This makes listening an interactive and engaging skill rather than a passive one.