Summary
The Challenge of Teaching Listening Skills
Teaching listening has some difficult problems for teacher. That are listening is not like writing and speaking have its specific exercise, also, listening has no rules as in grammar teaching. On the other hand, mental block is the largest problem for student when they are learning listening. However, there are some methods for teacher to teach their students to improve their listening skills. First, convince students not understanding the spoken English is OK. Second, encourage students listen English four or five times a week but short period. They will improve their listening skill one day.
The Challenge of Teaching Listening Skills
The Challenge of Teaching Listening Skills
Teaching listening skills is one of the most difficult tasks for any ESL teacher. This is because successful listening skills are acquired over time and with lots of practice. It's frustrating for students because there are no rules as in grammar teaching. Speaking and writing also have very specific exercises that can lead to improved skills. This is not to say that there are not ways of improving listening skills, however they are difficult to quantify.
One of the largest inhibitors for students is often mental block. While listening, a student suddenly decides that he or she doesn't understand what is being said. At this point, many students just tune out or get caught up in an internal dialogue trying translate a specific word. Some students convince themselves that they are not able to understand spoken English well and create problems for themselves.
They key to helping students improve their listening skills is to convince them that not understanding is OK. This is more of an attitude adjustment than anything else, and it is easier for some students to accept than others. Another important point that I try to teach my students (with differing amounts of success) is that they need to listen to English as often as possible, but for short periods of time.
I like to use this analogy: Imagine you want to get in shape. You decide to begin jogging. The very first day you go out and jog seven miles. If you are lucky, you might even be able to jog the seven miles. However, chances are good that you will not soon go out jogging again. Fitness trainers have taught us that we must begin with little steps. Begin jogging short distances and walk some as well, over time you can build up the distance. Using this approach, you'll be much more likely to continue jogging and get fit.
Students need to apply the same approach to listening skills. Encourage them to get a film, or listen to an English radio station, but not to watch an entire film or listen for two hours. Students should often listen, but they should listen for short periods - five to ten minutes. This should happen four or five times a week. Even if they don't understand anything, five to ten minutes is a minor investement. However, for this strategy to work, students must not expect improved understanding too quickly. The brain is capable of amazing things if given time, students must have the patience to wait for results. If a student continues this exercise over two to three months their listening comprehension skills will greatly improve.
My favorite TV program -- Sex and The City -- Final
There are many America TV programs and my favorite one is "Sex and The City". Not only in America but also in Taiwan, many women like this TV program. "Sex and the City" has six seasons totally. The first season was produced in 1998 and the final season ended in 2006. People who don't like this program feel it is just a program about sex, males and famous brands of clothes, bags and shoes and etc. On the other hand, people who like this program, including my friends and I, think it is a good program because it shows us many things that we are shy to discuss, such as sex, and it also shows how to social with other people.
There are four main characters and they are Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte. They are close friends and every one of them has different personalities. Carrie, a columnist, has a good sense of humor so that she writes many columns about love. Her feeling and inspiration of those columns are from her three close friends and their lives. Samantha is outspoken and she always tries to be herself so that she won't hide her mood. For example, she will tell you what the problems are when she feels unhappy.Also, she is the one who likes having sex the most. Miranda is a successful businesswoman but sometimes she doesn't know how to express her love and feeling. Charlotte is very romantic and always has lots of beautiful imagination about her love or marriage.
The plots of Sex and The City are similar to many other females' lives, but women in Taiwan are shy to talk about their sexual life or their own opinions. This program shows us how to social and get along with other people, friends and lovers. Even though this program has some sexual plots, the most important thing is that this program wants to express the emotions, like happiness, sadness, anger, depression and love to everyone who surround us. That is why I love this program. If you are attentive to what this program wants to express, you can learn something from it.
