EFS 693B - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Listening and Communication
EFS 693B - STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Listening and Communication
EFS 693B
Notes: 2-1
I. Opening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90YsTGklRqA&feature=related; discussion of research project
II. Review homework
1. General Service List and vocabulary learning: plan to learn the words on your lists as quickly as possible
a. www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r21270/levels/: a set of tests at various levels.
b. Babylon: www.babylon.com; Google definitions; Longman Learner's Dictionary www.ldoceonline.com
Note that for listening, you need to connect to the sounds, not just the spellingc. Keeping a list and reviewing it:
i) note unknown words that 1) you've seen before, 2) that seem important:
decide whether to take time to learn them (e.g., check frequencies at http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/bnc/--set a reasonable target, e.g., everything below 9K level)
ii) get the word, its definition, and a sentence from the context you saw it in if possible
iii) collect in groups of 10-20 and review regularly (till you know them)
iv) try actively to notice these words in other contexts, and use Google to find more examples2. Listen to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=448493458864593229 again. Try to find as many new words or phrases as you can (at least 5). If you are unable to hear/spell the word clearly enough to look it up, write down the phrase or sentence it occurs in.
a. Go over word lists together
b. Do gap filler exercise
c. Review vocabulary: How do you know which ones to learn? Again, see http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/bnc, do a Google count (> 1-2M), or just decide it's interesting and useful)
d. Lesson learned: try to find material with a transcript to support vocabulary development
2. Review a part of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_fdyA24BdU. Who are the three main characters? How well do you understand what's going on?
3. Watch the first few minutes of http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3211083609505219709&ei=MGfQSdB1oNqoA8uf2PoD. How easy was it to understand after watching the previous videos? Watch more of later if you liked it.
4. Introduce concept of narrow listening: see http://esl-advices.blogspot.com/2006/08/narrow-listening-effective-method-of.html for a simple description and rationale. See http://www.sdkrashen.com/articles/eta_paper/07.html for a more academic view.
III. 3 keys to improving listening.
A. Learning to comprehend more effectively
- Getting the basic meaning
- Retaining important points (notes & memory)
- Interpreting and integrating
B. Improving processing
- Comprehending faster speech
- Comprehending a range of accents
- Making processing more automatic: improving accuracy, speed, and capacity
C. Increasing language knowledge
- Sound system (phonology): individual sounds, sound clusters and syllables, linking, reduction, rhythm, and intonation
- Vocabulary (words and phrases), including recognizing pronunciation of known items
- Grammar: recognizing the meaning in grammatical endings (like -ing), words (like prepositions and modal auxiliary verbs such as can), and structures (like passive or present perfect)
- Discourse: typical organizational structures of lectures, newscasts, discussions, etc.; how speakers introduce and shift topics and comments
IV. In groups, discuss the problems you are having in listening:
1) Situations/settings
2) Type of content
3) Particular speakers
Consider these for planning and for independent projects:
V. Discussion of independent projects: spend three hours
or more per week with media/materials that will help you improve.
Examples:
· Recording of professor (you supply)
· Stanford's Entrepreneur Corner: http://ecorner.stanford.edu/. Note: to get the transcripts, you must first turn on the subtitles.
· Some Websites
o
Randall’s listening lab:
www.esl-lab.com. Recorded dialogues by ESL teacher Randall Davis. Many are
humorous.
o
o
English Language Listening Lab Online
www.elllo.org.
Interviews and other listening activities. Good for practicing listening to
different accents
o CNN student news: www.cnn.com/studentnews/. A 10-minute program of news and features aimed at US secondary school students.
o PBS Online News Hour: www.pbs.org/newshour/
o This I Believe audio/text essays: www.thisibelieve.org/view_featured_essays.php
Note: anything else is possible, but try to pick something that is interesting, familiar, and useful. Also, for this first round don't just do a TV comedy/drama or movie.
VI. New topic: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpLc5nM64RM. What is this about? Is this a problem for society? For you personally? See also www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv99WA0xyNk
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Homework 1:
Spend some time exploring and trying out possible material
for your independent project. Consider at least 2 options and come prepared to
discuss them in the individual meetings this week.
1. What listening objective(s) do you want to work
on and why? (e.g., improve processing, increase vocabulary, understand
culture...)?
2. What materials have you located that would help
(at least two sources: could be online, broadcast, CD/DVD...)?
3. How do you plan to use the materials? (note: you will need to do at
least three hours per week, divided among at least three sessions on
different days)
Homework 2: Watch "The importance of selective information," Carly Fiorina: http://ecorner.stanford.edu/authorMaterialInfo.html?mid=1716. Take notes for each of the questions below and come to class prepared to discuss them next week.
A. Prepare for listening--think about what you can do to make this easier
B. Listen once straight through without pausing; think about the main ideas. Do not use the subtitles or transcript
C. Listen a second time--try to get more details; think about some specific questions you might have before listening.
D. Dictation. Take the first minute and try to write down verbatim (exact words). Check your answers against the transcript.
E. Think about Fiorina's speaking style. What makes her easy or difficult to understand?
F. Review the language support options for this site. Go over vocabulary profile in the transcript: http://www.lextutor.ca/vp/bnc/. Note: to get the transcript, you must first turn on the subtitles.
G. Now, watch the other five clips from Fiorina's talk: go through each clip once or twice without subtitles, then turn the subtitles on.
Homework 3: Vocabulary. Take the "A" tests at www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/r21270/levels/ at the 3000 and 5000 word levels (do not take the B and C tests at this time). Send me a report of your scores with the report in #4 below (I'll give you the form later)
Homework 4: Prepare a report of your first experience with your independent project: I will provide the details here in a day or two, but plan to do at least two hours this week (it will be three in the future). The report is due by 8:00 PM Monday October 5.