CONSTRUCCIÓN DEL APRENDIZAJE 

Developing Listening and Speaking skills

Velazquez Notthoff Jazmin. ISCB. 2nd year.

1. Why is it important to contextualize activities?

Contextualizing activities means that learners should be given activities that reflect real life and
that are developmentally appropriate for them. Teachers are in charge of this and also to give
them the background knowledge that they might need to understand the context of what they are
listening to. It is important to build schemata, and create a context for students.

2. Why are students asked to listen and point, and listen and repeat during the first stages?

With the aim to keep learners active every listening act should be meaningful and have a purpose,
they will be more focused and more active in the listening process. For example; Listen and point
or listen and match are activities that should be set before the listening activity starts so the
students follow the ideas and keep focus on that particular task.

3. Why is it said that students begin interacting by using “unanalysed chunks” at the
beginning?

As speaking is a difficult skill to develop and it takes more time to learn to do it in an effective way.
Before speaking in a fluent way, learners’ interactions are based on unanalysed chunks or
formulaic language. These chunks are the first steps that allow students to move from listening to
speaking and to begin with speaking and to participate in interactions with others. It also has the
aim to begin to figure out meanings by context.
4. Activities may be controlled, guided or independent. Explain the differences.

● Controlled activities are those in which the responses are completely predictable,
with very little chance of making a mistake, and the use of target language
structures is completely controlled by the teacher.

● Guided activities are those that are still structured but give students some
choice. 

● Independent activities are the ones that are open-ended and do not have
predictable responses. These are message oriented and more focused on
meaning and communication than correctness. This is the most challenging
because there are more chances for error.

5. Why is it important to personalize activities?

Personalized activities are important because if activities are developmentally appropriate for
students; they will be more motivated. As teachers we have to take into account the age, the
background of our students to help them develop the language and engage them to practice, to
check comprehension and encourage self-expression.

1. Look at the following lesson taken from ISLAND 1 – pupil’s book. Pearson 

a. What is the aim of the lesson? What is the topic? And the context? 
▪ The aim of the lesson is to acquire new vocabulary and practice patterns. In this
case the topic is parts of the house. And the context of the lesson is connected to
part of the house.
b. What skills are students going to develop? 
▪ Students will develop listening and speaking skills.
c. Complete this table: 
 Procedure Aim(s)
1. Students are asked to listen and point to ● To introduce the new topic 
the different parts of the house / The ● To familiarize students with
teachers asks the stds to …./ The teachers the new vocabulary 
will ask stds to …  ● To work on spelling and
sound association (visual,
auditory and kinaesthetic -
VAK –) 
1. The teacher will ask students to listen and To practice pronunciation.
repeat.
1. The teacher will ask students to look for To practice vocabulary.
different things. As a game (look and point …
the bathroom, a bed) To encourage participation.

1. Students are asked to listen and write ✓ or X To reinforce vocabulary.

on the answers. (where’s waldo…)

1. The teacher asks students to listen and To incorporate new vocabulary.

repeat all together.
To consolidate vocabulary and
meaning.

1. Students will be asked to listen and write. To assimilate pronunciation.

The teacher will show the first sentences as an
example and ask them to continue. To practice patterns.
2. Then they will sing a song.
STORY (9)  To develop listening and reading skills.
The teacher asks students to listen to the story
and then act it out. To encourage students to interact with
each other.