Content (General): Listening / Speaking

Research indicates that about 45% of communication time is spent listening and another 30% speaking. The sequence for learning one's native language is listening, speaking, reading and finally writing. Since oral language is primary, the basis for written language, it should be emphasized with beginning E.S.L. students.

Strategies for Developing Oral Language

• Play a game, clapping the rhythm of a sentence and having the student repeat it.
• Give a sequence of commands to improve auditory memory: Stand up. Stand up and go to the door. Stand up, go to the door, and open the door. etc.
• When possible, have an able student or tutor summarize content lessons in simple language and "teach" the E.S.L. student language using that summary as a basis.
• Set up a listening center where E.S.L. students can listen to music or repetitive folk stories several times. Be careful to choose clearly illustrated material with simple language.
• Hold up two pictures. Describe one. The student chooses the correct picture.
• Sing songs that require a physical response, such as Hokey Pokey, Lobby Loo.

Seuqenced Listening Exercise

• Choose a story (authentic folk tales and repetitive stories are good).
• Possibly adapt the story somewhat by simplifying sentence structure and vocabulary.
• Choose and introduce key sentences that when linked together are a bare outline of the story. Have the students repeat those sentences.
• Introduce key vocabulary using pictures in the book.
• First have the students listen for facts. Ask simple questions and elicit responses at appropriate places in the story.
• Read the story a second time. Students answer true-false questions after appropriate paragraphs.
• Read the story a third time. (These readings can take place on succeeding days.) Ask thought questions. Why? How?
• Follow-up activities can include role-playing, drawing, etc. Students may choose parts and act them out as the teacher retells the story.

Some suggested stories:

• Three Billy Goats Gruff
• Three Little Pigs
• Little Red Riding Hood
• Gingerbread Boy
• Goldilocks and the Three Bears
• Hey Diddle, Diddle
• Little Jack Horner
• Humpty Dumpty
• Little Miss Muffet
• Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater
• Jack and Jill

It is not easy to find good stories for older students. One good story is Squares Are Not Bad.

Go on to "Reading"
Back to E.S.L. Handbook Contents
Source: www.SusanCAnthony.com, ©Susan C. Anthony