Effective Listening Skills Lesson Planning & Project-Based Learning

Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Teaching & Education

A Framework for Planning a Listening Skills Lesson

Developing strong listening skills empowers students to become more independent learners and improves their vocabulary and grammar. A structured approach to listening lessons includes three key phases:

Pre-Listening

Prepare students by motivating them with interesting text selections and engaging tasks. Arouse curiosity and provide context. Explain any specific vocabulary or expressions they may encounter.

While Listening

Focus student attention and guide their understanding. Multiple listenings (3-4) are recommended. Initial tasks should focus on simple comprehension (e.g., single words, ticking, graphical responses). Subsequent tasks can demand more detailed understanding. A final listening can be used for self-assessment.

Post-Listening

Help students integrate new knowledge. Encourage reactions to the text (agreement, disagreement, belief). Analyze language through verb forms, vocabulary, or collocations.

Applying the Framework to a Song

  • Pre-listening: Brainstorm song types, describe a favorite song, predict words/expressions in a love song.
  • While listening: Determine mood (happy/sad), order verses, check answers, correct errors in a summary.
  • Post-listening: Discuss likes/dislikes, consider purchase, write a review, compose another verse (content focus). Identify verb forms, define new words, note collocations (form focus).

Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a teaching method where students actively engage in real-world, meaningful projects. Learning goals address community needs and apply hands-on STEM skills.

Five Keys to Rigorous PBL:

  1. Real-World Connection: Motivates students by working with familiar concepts.
  2. Core to Learning: Clear expectations for student success.
  3. Structured Collaboration: Effective teacher-student communication.
  4. Student-Driven: Students are accountable for their time management.
  5. Multifaceted Assessment: Tools like rubrics provide insight and understanding.

Benefits of PBL:

  • Increased engagement and self-directed learning.
  • Deeper learning and transfer of knowledge.
  • Improved or equal performance on assessments.
  • Enhanced problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Guide students in processing new information and thinking critically.

Assessment

Two main assessment types exist: formative and summative.

Formative Assessment

Evaluates how a person learns. Ongoing process used to check student comprehension. Teacher-student communication is crucial for improvement.

Summative Assessment

Evaluates what a person learns. Used at the end of a unit or year for grading and promotion. Rubrics are effective organizational tools.

Three Bad Habits of Teachers

  1. Excessive Teacher Talking Time: Students passively listen without participation.
  2. Echoing: Unnecessary repetition of understood concepts.
  3. Not Admitting Mistakes: Creates a culture of infallibility.