UNIVERSIDAD DE CALDASUNIVERSIDAD DE CALDAS

FACULTAD DE ARTES Y HUMANIDADE

MAESTRIA EN DIDACTICA DEL INGLE

NEIVA2010

LANGUAGE LEARNING LANGUAGE LEARNING RESOURCESRESOURCES

TASK DESIGN PROJECT

JACKS ROBERT PALACIOS MOSQUERA

EDGAR ALIRIO INSUASTYINSTRUCTOR

Using Radio Programs in Using Radio Programs in the EFL Classroomthe EFL Classroom

RationaleRationaleStudents in ninth A have a good command

of the basic English grammar, and they are also able to comprehend some basic listening exercises, they are not able to speak accurately according to their level. That is why I try to foster speaking through the use of radio programs in this context. It is important for me as a teacher to try out this technique because through the application of this exercises I become a bit more talented teacher; it is also important for the course itself for it is a way to add variety to the process.

Profile of LearnersProfile of LearnersThis task will involve 30 students enrolled in

Ninth A grade in a prestige school in Neiva city; the ratio of ages is from 14 to 17, their learning styles are very varied, since you can find kinesthetic, visual, audio-visual and auditory ones. Most of them lack of metacognitive strategies of studying. The learners are from medium status and some of them have travelled abroad. In spite of it, most of them still take this course (English) because it is compulsory. All students have different backgrounds. They are good at reading and writing, but they definitively lack of speaking ability, thus, they do not communicate effectively when trying so.

Objectives of tasksObjectives of tasks

This task consists of three main objectives:

To make students aware of the importance of developing speaking skill for their English learning process.

To begin to appropriately recognize some sounds of English and their corresponding written form.

To foster the speaking skill in this students.

AdvantagesAdvantagesRadio Programs are easy to get.Radio can bring authentic

content to the EFL/ESL classroom.Teachers can draw content about

any topic or theme of interest to learners.

When It comes to grammar, is possible to teach structure within a natural linguistic context.

A Sample ActivityA Sample Activity

Level: Low and low intermediateMaterial: VOA Special English

programs (Environment report, American stories, news, etc.)

Before ListeningBefore Listening I will write a list of words related to the topic.Then, I will ask the students to guess what the

passage will discuss. Later, I will give the students a script of an English-

language passage they are about to hear delivered at a slow pace. This is aimed at low-beginner listeners of English.

The script should include spaces where words are missing.

Below the script, I will provide definitions for the missing words.

Afterward I will ask the students to read the script and definitions.

Finally, I will tell them that as they listen to the recording, they are going to fill in the blanks in the script.

While listeningWhile listeningThe students now listen to the passage

with the aid of the script. After that, I will give the students a list of

definitions for other vocabulary, but this time in random order for them to define according to what they have listened to, and/or read

After listeningAfter listening

Each Student now will be asked to write a sentence in which he summarizes the ideas he had built about what the article says ad he will prepare an oral explanation of it to his companions that must be no less than a minute long.

CommentaryCommentary

The students were a little shy at the very beginning of the task, but later on they got confidence and most of them did well; I have to recognize that I was also a little excited and nervous for it was the first time I tried this kind of activity in this course. I chose then to the best group I teach for them to give me the insights I needed to implement this type of task in lower levels.

ResourcesResources•http://eca.state.gov/forum/vols/vol44/no1/p28.htm•http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/A-Pair-of-Silk-Stockings-by-Kate-Chopin-104187564.html•http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home/•http://www.elllo.org/

Aspects that went wellAspects that went well

Students’ performance were better than I expected

Comments of what I would do differently

I would give the students the chance to choose the topic they want for the radio podcast they are going to listen to.

Thanks…a lot.Thanks…a lot.