Developing listening skills in MFL

1. Developing Listening
Skills in
Modern Foreign
Languages

2. Rhubarb
I can't remember where I got this idea from and have no
idea why it's called Rhubarb, but my students go crazy for
this one.
In groups everyone has a copy of the text to read
along. One person starts reading it and if they make a
mistake, or someone thinks they do, they shout
"Rhubarb" and tell you what they think went wrong. If
they are correct the student who shouted out ‘Rhubarb’
takes over reading and wins a point for their team. If they
hadn’t actually made a mistake, the student who was
originally reading gets a point for their team and carries
on reading.

3. The Actions Game
This is another way of getting students to really focus on the text
when you or a student are reading it out loud. They are given a
list of actions which correspond to certain things within the text
and they have to do the action when you get to that part of the
text.
I read the text first just so they had the pronunciation, then I
chose a few students to read a paragraph each. I then wrote up
any words which they weren't pronouncing correctly and we
spent a few minutes practising them as a class.
Idea from: http://elvisrunner.blogspot.co.uk/

4. Say the next word/sound
This is a great way of getting the students to practise their reading and
listening skills, as well as their pronunciation. It’s so simple to do and,
once you have your text, barely requires any preparation.
Simply read the text out loud stopping at certain points and students
have to say the next word. It means that they actually have to focus
and read through the text and can't just switch off.
Example 1 - Say the next word
Teacher: "Je m'appelle Amelie. J'ai"
Students: "douze"
Example 2 - Say the next syllable
Teacher: "Je m'app"
Students: "elle"
Example 3 - Guess the pattern and say the next word
Teacher: "Je...Amelie...douze...au" (miss a word)
Students: "J'adore"
Idea from: John Slade

5. Jigsaw Reading
In pairs students are given the same text but with different
words missing from each. Person A reads their text out loud
to Person B while they fill in the blanks on their sheet. Then
vice versa. It can even be differentiated as the lower ability
students could be provided with the missing words and would
just have to put them in the correct gaps. Students could also
try to guess the missing words before their partner has read
out the text.

6. Draw it
Here is yet another brilliant idea which I, unfortunately, can’t claim credit for.
A fellow colleague told me about this and it has worked particularly well with
Y9 and 10 so far, but it can be used with all years. You read out a text to your
students and, instead of them answering questions or writing what they hear,
they just draw a picture of it. As they aren’t restricted to answering certain
questions, students usually feel quite positive about the activity and it allows
them to be quite creative. Once they've done this I usually get them to
feedback what they heard. This could be done in the target language or just in
English, depending on the ability. To make it even more of a challenge you
could get them to feedback using third person or using the past tense.

7. Radio

8. YouTube videos
Lots of videos in the TL on YouTube which are
great for developing listening skills.
Could be used as starters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-
EBZGG_nig

9. Basho & Friends
My HoD told me about this great site and I can't
wait to use it with my students. I'm always on
the lookout for ways to make my lessons a bit
more engaging and what student doesn't love
watching a cheeky little YouTube video? These
videos will hopefully be a nice way of developing
students' listening skills, as well as their
Spanish/French pronunciation. I'm planning on
using these videos to introduce a new topic at
the start of the lesson.

10. Coloured Reading
‘It’s a reading and listening activity.
Colour code sentences in a text.
Project it. Read out a sentence,
pupils have to say the colour
before you finish. Same in groups.’
Idea from: @reebekwylie

11. Guess the Next Word
‘Students have transcript, read
along. You turn sound down to
silent, wait a while and press
pause. They have to guess what
the next word will be (when you
press play again with vol up) gets
very competitive!’
Idea from: @vickilewis2014

12. Listening Activity
‘Students write down a number of words
that they think they may hear then tally
every time they hear it!
Read and followed a text today, then
closed the book, students had to choose
three words and stand up each time they
heard their words, quite funny when
quite a few chose soy when describing
themselves.’
Idea from: @spanishsjhs

13. Heads Down Thumbs Up
‘Heads down thumbs up- students listen
for a particular type of word.
E.G. Opinions, then put their thumbs
up/raise an arm when they hear one and
then put it back down again. Having their
heads down means you can gauge which
students manage to hear and the ones
who can't don't feel embarrassed.’
Idea from: @profescammell

14. Blind Listening
‘Couldn't think of a better name! All students listen
to same listening track, but have varying levels of
help. Level 1 get the question @ the start have a
help sheet in front of them (could be transcript) and
hear the task twice. Level 2 students get the
question @ the start (no other support, just like in a
test). Level 3 students do it "blind". They DONT get
the question @ the start, but instead have to make
notes the first time they hear the extract. Just
before I play it a second time, they are then given
the question / answer sheet. Works well at KS4,
especially with mixed ability classes.’
Idea from: @tinohill

15. Find the Errors
‘Provide the class with the transcript of a
listening, but change some of the words. Their
job is to find the 'errors' and for higher ability,
write the correct word also.
Use the brilliant website 'lyricstraining.com' with
KS4/5’
Idea from: @felizz7