[CUFS_Ohio TET] Week 9. Answers to the Warm Up Questions

1. What method have you used to improve your listening skills or your students' in a language learning classroom?

-I teach two classes listening. To improve both their listening and speaking skills in a short period of given time they usually have for class, First I make them not look at the textbook when they are listening because it distracts their attention from listening in details. Preventing them from looking at the book while listening is also for them not to prejudge the answer.

Then I make them repeat after each sentence of the dialogue all together and check the students' comprehension or I give them explanation needed for their better understanding in Korean sometimes, but I try not to use Koreans as using it, I believe, rather gets in the way of their use of English during class.

Finally, we check the answers for the questions in the book together. I usually find students more confident of giving their answers and responding in English(even if it's not in a full sentence), after going through the process mentioned above.


2. What technological methods can you think of to teach listening in a more interesting way?

-I often use YOUTUBE for my listening classes. If the theme of a lesson is to be 'clothes', I usually go hunting on Youtube for short clips that have appropriate images and sounds for the lower level learners to catch up. One time I showed my students a clip about men/women clothes. And there went underwear. Everyone shouted and giggled at the point, which was, in turn, hilarious for the class.