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EFS 693B - STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Listening and Communication

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EFS 693B
Week 8 Notes
 

CLASS OBJECTIVES

0. A note on searching Google videos: use the advanced search function and you can search only for captioned videos: http://video.google.com/videoadvancedsearch?hl=en

I. Opening: Desperate Housewives -- http://www.hulu.com/watch/85647/desperate-housewives-pilot#s-p6-so-i0

II. Vocabulary discussion

    A.  A note on vocabulary learning: words per week; common phrases; connect to context

    B. Discuss vocabulary experience in groups

        1) What did you think of the www.flashcarddb.com (or other) site? Did it help you learn your words? What other technology do you use that helps?

        2) How are you selecting the words you are currently studying? Do you think that's an effective procedure?

        3) How are you studying and reviewing those words?  Do you think that's an effective procedure?

        4) How many words and phrases do you think you should learn in the next year? How many words a week is that?

        5) What can you do to make it possible to reach that goal?

    C. Questions about vocabulary? For a fun way to practice general vocabulary see www.freerice.com.

III. Discussion of FlashACE: www.stanford.edu/dept/lc/efs/FlashACE/: provides processing practice through rapid, intensive comprehension and optional dictation.

IV. Listening to TV Dramas

Dramas are a very popular form of entertainment on television (which these days means not only broadcast and cable TV but also watching new episodes or even reruns online and older ones on DVDs).  As a means of being exposed to language, particularly conversational language, dramas are often better than comedies. This is because the language in general is more real, since the goal is to tell a story and develop characters, rather than to tell jokes. Note, however, that each type of drama has its own specialized vocabulary that you will need to become familiar with. 

During the daytime, the primary dramas are the so-called soap operas. These shows, such as General Hospital, are on every day. There are four main types of “prime time” (evening) dramas. Family/friends dramas like Brothers and Sisters build on interpersonal relationships, particularly among young adults. They are basically evening soap operas. Another type is the crime drama. Here, the streets and the courts provide the dramatic setting: examples include CSI. Then we have the medical shows, like Grey’s Anatomy or House. These bring in the stories of life and death as doctors and nurses help save (or fail to save) the sick and wounded. Finally, there are science fiction dramas, like Sanctuary. There are a few shows which mix comedy and drama, sometimes in rather strange ways. An example of this type of show is Desperate Housewives, about a group of suburban women and their lives, families, and relationships, or Chuck, about a computer technician at an electronics store who starts working for the CIA. It is interesting to note that two of  the most popular drama types from the earlier days of television in the 1950s and 60s have largely disappeared. These are westerns and war shows. They have been replaced by crime and medical dramas and science fiction shows.

Contemporary dramas can offer some insight into American culture, particularly urban culture. However, they tend to distort everyday life by focusing on the sensational, and some have a high degree of violence. If you want to watch dramas for listening practice, they are a good source of conversational English patterns, slang, and idioms. As noted above, in many ways the language is more realistic than in comedies, where the characters’ speech is often full of double meanings for the sake of humor. It is best to find a show and watch it consistently so that you get used to the characters, recurring vocabulary, and locations.

V. Discussion of your independent project experiences: What's working best for you? What are your biggest challenges?

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Homework:

1) This week you make the choice. You may do your minimum three hours in any form you like: every day, three or four times a week, or even just once for a three-hour block. You should pick the one that works best for you, balancing convenience with what you believe to be the most effective learning option.. Note that your reports will be due once again by Monday May 23 at 8:00 PM. Get the report form here.

2) Listening to a TV drama. Go to http://www.hulu.com. Watch a full episode of one of the following, using captions as needed. If you are already familiar with one of these, you should try another. Consult the Wikipedia link to find out about the characters and the story before you watch. then, watch the show semi-intensively, using whatever procedure you think is appropriate to a) keep you interested and b) improve your comprehension, knowledge, and processing. Be sure to use the captions as effectively as you can.

Other options (these have only the most recent episodes available for free--others are available on Hulu Plus)

NOTE: If there is another show you would rather watch, feel free to do so and report on it. It must have captions available though.

When you get to the end, answer the following questions--turn the answers in with your weekly report and bring a copy to class for discussion next week:

  1. How well were you able to understand the show?

  2. Describe the procedure you used to watch it.

  3. How often did you use the captions? Were they helpful?

  4. Do you think the show would be helpful for vocabulary development? Why or why not?

  5. Did you like the show? Why or why not? Do you think you will watch it again?

3) Go to www.stanford.edu/dept/lc/efs/FlashACE/. Go through FlashACE Advanced Lessons 1 and 2. Try to understand the sentence as thoroughly as possible before selecting your answer. Try some dictation afterward if you have time.

 

Last modified May 16, 2011, by Phil Hubbard