The Kate Languages Podcast - S2 Ep3 - Listening and reading

Structuring an Outstanding MFL Lesson - Listening and reading

This was the third episode of season two of The Kate Languages Podcast. This season, I discussed the fundamentals of lesson planning, starting with how to kick off your lessons effectively, followed by how to introduce vocab and grammar to your students. The 3rd episode covered the "passive" skills of listening and reading.

I have since developed many of the ideas discussed in this episode further, and have delivered online CPD workshops all about "exploiting one text". You can purchase the recording of my "exploiting one text" workshop here. 

The Power of Passive Skills: Setting the Stage for Language Production

Before we delve into specific activities, it's crucial to understand the role of listening and reading in language acquisition. These are what we call 'passive' skills - not in the sense of being inactive, but rather in the sense that students are receiving and understanding language rather than producing it themselves.

It's important to remember that we need to start with target language into English, focusing on passive understanding before we ask students to produce language themselves. This input-heavy approach sets the stage for successful language production later on.

One Text, Many Possibilities: Maximising Your Resources

Now, let's talk about a strategy that I've found incredibly effective and efficient: using one text for multiple activities. This approach not only saves you prep time but also allows students to engage with the language in various ways, deepening their understanding and retention.

Here's how you might structure this approach:

1. Vocabulary Introduction

Start with a vocabulary activity that relates directly to the text you'll be using. This primes students for the language they'll encounter and helps them feel more confident as they approach the listening or reading task.

2. Listening for Gist

Begin with the text as a listening activity. At this stage, students shouldn't see the written text. Start with general comprehension questions to help them grasp the overall meaning. Here are some ideas:

- True/false statements
- Multiple choice questions
- Sentences with one word changed (students identify the incorrect word)
- Questions in English or the target language (depending on your students' level)

The key here is to focus on overall understanding rather than getting bogged down in details.

3. Detailed Listening

Once students have a general understanding, you can move on to more detailed questions if you wish. However, you might choose to save this for the reading stage.

4. Dictation: Bridging Listening and Reading

Next, try a dictation exercise. If you're reading the text aloud yourself, this is straightforward - read a few words at a time, pausing to allow students to write. If you're using a pre-recorded text, play short segments and pause, rewinding if necessary.

This activity helps students connect the sounds they're hearing with the written words, reinforcing both listening skills and spelling.

5. Reading for Detail

Now it's time to reveal the transcript. You can display this on the board or hand out worksheets. This is where you can really dive into the details of the text. Some question types you might consider:

- Multiple choice
- Positive/negative identification (great for opinion-based texts)
- Time frame identification (past, present, future)
- Sentence completion
- 'Who said what?' (if you're using multiple texts)

Remember to tailor your questions to the content of your text. For instance, don't ask about future tenses if your text doesn't include any!

6. Translation: The Ultimate Comprehension Check

Finally, have students translate the text into English. This activity, which features in GCSE exams, really shows whether students have understood the text at a deeper level.

A Word on Question Types: Avoiding the Guessing Game

When creating questions, be mindful of formats that are easy to guess. We've all had students who'll write 'true' for every true/false question, banking on a 50/50 chance of being right!

To combat this and ensure genuine engagement with the text, ask students to justify their answers. For true/false questions, get them to explain why a statement is true or correct the false ones. For 'who said what?' questions, ask them to highlight or copy out the relevant part of the text.

This approach not only discourages guessing but also helps you identify misconceptions and misunderstandings, allowing you to address them in real-time.

The Beauty of Self-Marking

One of the great advantages of this approach is that it's self-marking. You can go through the answers as a class, saving you from taking home stacks of books to mark. This immediate feedback loop is invaluable for addressing misunderstandings on the spot.

From Passive to Active: Setting the Stage for Production

Once you've thoroughly explored the text through listening and reading activities, you've laid an excellent foundation for speaking and writing tasks. We'll dive into how to scaffold these production activities in our next episode.

Practical Considerations: Sourcing Your Texts

Now, let's talk about where to find suitable texts for these activities. You have several options:

1. Textbook Recordings: These are designed for language learners but can be expensive, especially for individual tutors.
2. Authentic Materials: Radio clips, videos, or written texts created for native speakers. Be cautious with these for beginners, as they can be overwhelming.
3. Reading Texts Read Aloud: This is a great option if you're struggling to find appropriate listening materials. Simply take a suitable reading text and read it aloud yourself.
4. Past Exam Papers: These can be a goldmine of appropriate texts with ready-made transcripts.

Remember, the key is to find texts that match your learning objectives and your students' level. Don't create unnecessary work for yourself by choosing texts without transcripts - there are plenty of resources out there with both audio and written versions available.

Flexibility is Key: Adapting to Your Classroom Needs

While I've outlined a comprehensive approach here, remember that you don't need to use every step in every lesson. The beauty of this method is its flexibility. You might focus more on listening one day and reading the next. You might skip the dictation if time is short or your students find it tedious.

The important thing is to engage students with the language in various ways, deepening their understanding and preparing them for language production.

Wrapping Up: The Power of In-Depth Exploration

By using one text for multiple activities, you're allowing students to engage with the language repeatedly and in different ways. This approach helps to reinforce vocabulary, improve comprehension, and build confidence.

Remember, the goal isn't just to 'get through' a text, but to explore it thoroughly, helping students understand not just individual words, but how they work together to convey meaning.

If you'd like to dive into this topic in more depth, you can now purchase my online course "Structuring an Outstanding MFL Lesson". NB This course is included in the Buy Everything package (but not yearly resources subscriptions).