AUdacity for Listening and Speaking material development

A Workshop on Enhancing Listening and Speaking Skills Using Advanced Sound Editing Software - Audacity Dr. Dilip Barad, Dept. of English Bhavnagar University Bhavnagar. dilipbarad@gmail.com

Major concern as e-resource developer… WHY? HOW? • Today, English teachers of S/F language are constrained to become familiar with emerging learning technologies. • Not only that, s/he has to use resources prepared by other teachers, but also to prepare his own e-resources and e-materials. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 2 Changa, Gujarat, India

Key Issue…. • Well, the major problem is that it is not all English teachers’ cup of tea. • In such case what can be done??? National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 3 Changa, Gujarat, India

Using existing software / programme / web resources… • The best of all idea is to use existing e-resources available. These software are primarily prepared for other purposes but can be utilized for ELL. • So, if a teacher wants to improve writing skills of the students, he can use MS Office - Word, writeboard, blogger.com, orkut, face book, moodle -LMS, wikieducator etc. • If reading skills need to be improved, again above mentioned e-resources can be effectively utilized. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 4 Changa, Gujarat, India

From LSRW, LS skills and available resources… • So far as RW skills are concerned, available resources can be of immense help to teachers. • But the million dollar question is ‘how to how make effective use of available e-resources e- for LS skills’?? • B’coz listening and speaking skills are different than the other two skills it needs to be given special attention. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 5 Changa, Gujarat, India

Available LS skill development material and its disadvantage… • Most of Listening materials used in the class of ESL/EFL are developed by native speakers speakers. • These western courseware are designed to meet general purposes and therefore cannot address needs of learner in specific context. • Often they are culturally biased (Supiyan, 1996). National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 6 Changa, Gujarat, India

Preparing LS skill material and its advantages… • If listening skill material is developed by the teacher looking at the level of students and context, it contributes to skill development. • Studies have reported that learners respond to computer aided / mediated teaching learning materials produced by their own teachers more effectively than prepared by other agencies (Bloomer, 1985). National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 7 Changa, Gujarat, India

Major difference in language lab and sound editing software: Features Language Lab programme Audacity, Praat, Wavepad, Audition, sound forge etc 1. Voice Recording Yes Yes 2. Measure frequency – Yes Yes* voice modulation of recorded voice with pre- recorded voice 3. Models of pronunciation Yes* No – pre-recorded 4. Editing Recorded Voice No Yes 5. Preparing listening skills No Yes test National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 8 Changa, Gujarat, India

But how to do it?? Is it easy to do it?? Can all teachers do it ?? • Here again, the teacher need not sit with the programmer to prepare programme/software. • S/He just has to use some existing software or download some open-source sound editing programme and learn the basics to operate it. • It is as easy as child’s play: - Record, Edit and Play… • And see how wonderfully you can teach your students the most useful skills – listening and speaking. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 9 Changa, Gujarat, India

Audacity - Sound editing programmes • There are several such software available at premium cost as well as free-ware . • Eg. Audacity, wavepad, praat, Adobe Audition, Sound Forge, Magix audio cleaning lab, Goldwave, etc… • We shall have hands on experience of how to record and edit sound onA udacity. y. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 10 Changa, Gujarat, India

Outline of the workshop • Overview of Audacity interface: record, cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, pluck … • Demo of audio effects: amplify, normalize, equalize … • Participants record a self-introduction of 1 min duration and improve their recordings using features of Audacity. • How to download and install? (Audacity, LAME and FFmpeg) • How to convert audio files into mp3 format? National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 11 Changa, Gujarat, India

Why Audacity? •Audacity is one of the most frequently downloaded digital audio editors in the world. * Tens of millions of people have used it to record a podcast, create a demo CD of their garage band, transfer old vinyl records to CD, or just have fun with audio. •But there are dozens of other software programs with similar capabilities...why should you choose Audacity why Audacity? •The simplest reason? Because it's free. •Another reason to choose Audacity is that it's the only audio editing software that runs on Windows,M and Linux computers. ac •The most important reason - easiest to use •Audacity is not likely to die: Open-Source Software National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 12 Changa, Gujarat, India

• FreeD ownload from http://audacity.soundforge.net/ National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 13 Changa, Gujarat, India

Mainframe of Audacity National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 14 Changa, Gujarat, India

The most important buttons… National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 15 Changa, Gujarat, India

Now let us have hands-on experience of Audacity… • The exe file of audacity is already downloaded on your desktop. • Double-Click on the icon with ‘head-phone and fiery frequency’. • You will see ‘getting started’ window – this gives basic introductory links to learn more about audacity. Close this window – click OK. • We are on the mainframe of Audacity. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 16 Changa, Gujarat, India

National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 17 Changa, Gujarat, India

Editing recorded clip Click ‘R’ to record • Click ‘P’ to pause and again ‘P’ for continue recording • Click ‘Spacebar’ for stop. • Click ‘Spacebar to listen. SAVE it on desktop. • • Add ‘Pluck’: – Put cursor line after ‘I am ………… – Generate>Pluck>duration 4 sec>ok. – Put cursor on ‘I am working as ……. At ……… – Generate>Risset Drum>OK. * Now play the track. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 18 Changa, Gujarat, India

Cut unnecessary audio: • The length of falling sound of ‘pluck’ is very long. • Select the ‘tail’ of pluck by putting cursor and dragging the mouse. • ‘Delet’ the selected part. • Similarly Copy and Paste function… National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 19 Changa, Gujarat, India

Adding background score • File>Import>Audio>Browse:sample music in My Music(My Docu). • Message FFmpeg not found. • To install FFmpeg: • Desktop>Audacity>ffmpeg>extract files. Close window. • Come to Audacity: Edit>Preference>Import/Export>Find library>OK>Browse it from desktop>avformat-52.dll>click OK> OK • File>Import>Audio>Browse:sample music in My Music(My Docu). • Volume control on background score. • Copy a track from background and paste it on your recorded track. National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 20 Changa, Gujarat, India

Converting into mp3 file format: • To share this listeneing skill material with students – convert it into mp3 format to play it in mobile or CD/DVD player • File>Export>file name>save as type> select mp3>type details if required> OK. • LAME required: Locate Lame • Desktop>Audacity>right click books icon>extract files>OK>new folder libmp3lame>open>close window • File>Export>file name>save as type> select mp3>type details if required> OK> Locate Lame > Browse>desktop>Audacity>lame folder>open> National Conference Technology in ELT, OK. 1/29/2009 21 Changa, Gujarat, India

Thank You… • Your suggestions / comments / questions / observations are invited: • Write me at: • dilipbarad@gmail.com National Conference Technology in ELT, 1/29/2009 22 Changa, Gujarat, India

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AUdacity for Listening and Speaking material development

by Dilip Barad on Jan 31, 2009

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