Warming up listening lesson by listening short stories

Through practice at high schools in Trieu Son district in general and at particular high school in my province, especially in mountainous areas, I see that almost teachers only focus on

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 BACKGROUND 2

1.1 Reasons for choosing the theme 2

1.2 The purpose of studying 3

1.3 Studying scope 3

1.4 Methods of studying 3

2 Contents of theme 4

2.1 Theoretical basis of the problem: 4

2.2 The reality of studying listening skill before applying to the theme 4

2.2.1 To the students 4

2.2.2 To the teachers 5

2.2.3 To the school 5

2.3 Solution and implementation 6

2.3.1 Solution………6

2.3.2 Implementation………6

3 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 17

3.1 Results 17

3.2 General conclusion 1818

3.3 Proposals 1818

4 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS 1919

Page

1 BACKGROUND 1.1 Reasons for choosing the theme.

In the context of deeper integration, English has become an essential tool not only bring success in business, education, but also in life As English has affirmed the role and the importance of improving their quality of teaching is the most important issue Thus the task of every teacher is to innovate teaching methods, improving the quality of teaching and learning in their respective classes schools

Learning each of any a different language requires learners to study four skills: listening, reading, writing,speaking and use them smoothly and fluently

Through practice at high schools in Trieu Son district in general and at particular high school in my province, especially in mountainous areas, I see that almost teachers only focus on teaching grammar and ignore the studying of English skills, which is the reason why all of the students leaving the school can’t speak and listen English or communicate with foreigners by simple statements Because of these problems, I have been an English teacher for 10 years, I have thought about them so much and made decision to change the methods helping my students to focus on studying English skills and grammar simultaneously

Listening is one of the most difficult skills for all students at high school I am teaching the 10th grade this year Whenever I give them listening lesson on textbook, they feel bored, tired and don’t have motivation to study because they can’t hear anything and can’t do exercises To solve this problem, I decide to warm up them in listening part by letting them listen a brief of English story At first,I had a lot of difficulties because each unit on textbook has one listening lesson and I have to finish it within 45 minutes There are three periods per week for English subject, which is not enough time for me to focus only listening skill and to incorporate English stories Then I find a number of methods for positive, simple, easy to understand practical ensure science to develop thinking ability; speculation and creativity of students I choose a warm up for the listening lesson which is a short English stories from easy to difficulty.The students like this way and they feel excited and enthusiastic with the lesson In the process of teaching 10th grade English in the past year as well as during the school year I have studied the textbook program, instruction manuals and have related documents office, internet,discuss with experienced colleagues in professional meetings, summer training to find a way to overcome difficulties, to help them learn better, apply the knowledge learned

to do the exercises as required

Based on the collected experience by myself and the knowledge gained through the references, I wrote this little theme to contribute to improving the quality of

teaching of the subject, innovative teaching methods and learning With this small

range of initiatives I boldly go into a problem “Warming up listening lesson by listening short stories”

1.2 The purpose of studying

The use of “Warming up listening lesson by listening short stories” that I give to

help students be primarily interested in learning a foreign language and reduce the maximum inhibition in studying foreign language at high school Moreover, I wanted to stimulate learners to listen English, the active form of communication

In addition, I want to enhance my professional work on my own, and to exchange experiences with my colleagues

1.3 Studying scope

For foreign language lessons in grade 10 elementary

1.4 Methods of studying

1.4.1 Method of theoretical studies.

- Base on the documentation and innovation of high school education methods in English by the Department of Secondary Education - Ministry of Education and Training issued

- Collect songs on the theoretical journal, the presentation on the Internet

1.4.2 Studying Methodologies include: observation, investigation, analysis,

exchange, statistics, aggregation, comparison, summarization

1.4.3 Method specialists.

- Refer to the experience of a number of teachers who have a passion and experience in the use of modern methods in teaching subjects in English

2 Contents of theme.

2.1 Theoretical basis of the problem:

English, which is an international language is communicated all over the world One-fourth of the world population speaks English So teaching English is the most important issue in Viet Nam Actually, We haven’t had suitable methods to teach and study English, which results all of students in Viet Nam can’t communicate in English and always of talking with foreigners They are not confident enough to talk Because we often focus on teaching grammar and ignore teaching the skills and vocabulary Both teachers and students haven’t had motivation to develop the lessons To help students have amenities of studying, the teacher should change the different methods to inspire for students Listening, which

is one of the most difficult skills to learners and teachers is easy to make students tired when studying Therefore, before starting listening unit, I motivate them by listening a short English story I think that an interesting English story will make them have amenities of lessons

There are many ways to enhance the listening skill for students such as

watching English films, talking with the foreigners, listening to music, listening the English tape lessons Besides that, nowadays, there are also many kinds of books

introducing the methods to improve listening skills : Tactics for listening – basic

( author- Jack C Richards), Listen carefully (Jack C Richards), Listen in ( David Nunan),Big Step Toeic ( Kim Soyeong và Park Won)…

I chose the English stories to stimulate my students to study listening skill

2.2 The reality of studying listening skill before applying to the theme 2.2.1 To the students

English has become one of core subjects such as different subjects, but this subject is difficult, only a few students who can absord it easily Especially,

those students in rural and moutainous areas learn English badly

In recent years, according to program of new textbooks, new methods of teaching and learning, many students are interested in studying English, but some students ignore to study it and they don’t have inspiration in learning English Many weaker students don't understand the knowledge, they don’t have active learning methods, learn passively, wait for the results of his friend made In adddition, many children are afraid of speaking in class practices, afraid of saying before the class because they think it would be wrong Some of them have not read the written proficiency, not even record the material in class, do homework This fact shows that this object is not a favorite subject of many students

Some students, especially poor students, lack of sense of learning, lack of patience in learning, have not kept pace with new learning methods, they become confused with the acceptance and adoption of knowledge on practical skills Many

are unaware on this matter, do not fully understand the meaning of the subject during the international integration Some of them learned is due to their curiosity, relaxation Therefore, they are not really serious about learning and trying

I also have language lessons students feel depressed, tired, hard to acquire knowledge, even for those who are students with good and excellent Whenever I teach listening part, my students feel bored with it and they don’t like studying because they can’t hear anything and can’t do the task They don’t know more new words and don’t focus on pronunciation, which is a reason makes them listen badly

To improve their listening lesson Firstly, I inspire to them, stimulate them in each listening part by using the short English stories to warm them up Secondly, I teach them from easy to difficult

School year 2018 – 2019 I was assigned to teach two classes 10A and 10B Through practical investigation in the early year I obtained the following results:

Total

students

Percentages of Students likes studying listening

Numb

95

Learning capacity of students

Numb

2.2.2 To the teachers

Through practical projects at the time, there are a lot of teachers don’t renew their methods, change perceptions and teaching habits although they know that their students don’t like studying listening, even some teachers don’t teach listening part, only teach grammar, writing, reading, speaking.They think that their students can’t have the ability to listen When I gave my theme, some teachers strongly supported ,but others didn’t like They thought that it was a waste of time using this way and it made noise, which affected other classes They want to spend more time to focus on grammar because it serves their tests

Through the exchange and survey from my colleagues I get the results

Total

teachers

Using English stories in warm up listening part

Often Sometimes A little Never Numb

er % Numb er % Numbe r % Numb er %

2.2.3 To the school

Facilities not really full The outstanding teaching aids, reference books which serve lessons are limited This is an disadvantage for teachers and students

2.3 Solution and implementation

2.3.1 Solution:

Before beginning each part of unit in the textbook, the teachers warm up the students by playing a game or ask some questions about things related to the lesson

To listening skill, I often warm up my students by listening a short English story At first, some students don’t like because they can’t hear and can’t do the task asked by

me Gradually, I am still patient step by step ,I give them some stories from easy to difficult, which inspire them At the end of first term they are exciting about my listening strategy Each part of unit has to finish within 45 minutes So there are a lot of activities for it I try my best to plan and distribute suitably for each section:

- Warm up: 10 minutes : listen the English story and do a small task I give them the story on a sheet of paper with gap, they have to listen and fill the gap

- Pre-listening: 7 minutes: I often supply new words and phrases relating to the listening lesson, which helps them to listen and do the task better

- While-listening:21 minutes : I play the tape and conduct the student to listen and do the tasks

- Post-listening:7 minutes: ask students to review the lesson or do the task, summarise the main points of the lesson and assign the homework

2.3.2 Implementation

Within a short time in warm-up, It is difficult for me to choose the short and interesting English stories, which is suitable with their tastes and can inspire them.With the new method, I only give them a task while listening is filling the easy gap.The most important thing is to make them enhance their listening skill.There are

40 students in my class and the classroom is very large, I ask my headmaster for two good speakers and laptop to serve my teaching I also choose the easy stories with familiar words I hope that from my point of view, my students will like and improve listening skill

Some methods of organizing the implementation of enhancing listening skill

- Inspire for the students by using variety of English songs

- Ask them to listen at home many times everyday because “ Practice makes perfect”

- Watch English films, listen to music, talk with foreigner and listen to the tape from text book regularly, which also help them improve the listening skill

- Ask them to remember the 10 principles of listening:

+ Stop talking.

+ Prepare yourself for listening

+ Put the speaker at ease

+ Remove distractions

+ Empathise

+ Be patient

+ Avoid personal prejudice

+ Listen to the tone

+ Listen for ideas – not just for words

+ wait and watch for non-verbal communications

I gave my students each story sheet with 10 or 15 blanks in in every listening part of the textbook 10 and let them listen twice Each story included From 3 to 4 minutes While listening they had to fill the words into the gaps After that I would give them keys to check It was a new way to study with students in my school and in a year implementation, I realised that my students were interested in listening

Within a short time I only give some stories as examples, which I use them to warm up my students in listening part

Going into detail each Unit as follows:

Unit 1: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10

I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.

NAME: _ DATE: _

Belling the cat

Long ago, the mice 1 a general council to consider what measures they could take 2 outwit their common enemy, the Cat.Some 3 this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, 4 he

thought would meet the case."You 5 all agree," said he, "that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us Now,

if we could 6 some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her."

"IT IS EASY TO PROPOSE IMPOSSIBLE REMEDIES."

Unit 2: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10

I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.

The rat and the elephant

A Rat was 1 along the King's highway He was a very 2 Rat, considering his small size and the bad reputation all Rats have As Mr Rat walked along—he kept mostly to the ditch—he 3 a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand procession came in view It was the King and 4 retinue.The King rode on a huge Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings With the King in his luxurious howdah were the royal Dog and Cat A great 5 of people followed the

procession They were so taken up with 6 of the Elephant, that the Rat was not noticed His pride was hurt

A resemblance to the great in some things does not make us great.

KEY: 1.had 4 which

2 to 5 will

3 said 6 receive

Unit 3: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10

I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.

The jay and the peacock

A Jay venturing 1 a yard where Peacocks used to 2 , found there a number of feathers which had fallen 3 the Peacocks when they were moulting.He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks When he 4 near them they soon discovered the cheat, and strid-ing up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes.So the Jay 5 do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behaviour from a distance; but they 6 equally annoyed with him, and told him:

'It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.'

KEYS:

1.traveling 2 proud 3 Noticed

4 his 5 Crowd 6 admiration

Unit 4: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10

I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.

COST OF THE BELL

Everyday, a shepherd used to 1 his cows for grazing He had tied a bell to each of the 2 he had so that he could know where they were grazing The best cow had a costly bell tied around her neck

One day, a stranger was going 3 the pasture Seeing the costly bell around the cow's neck, he went to the shepherd and asked if he would sell the bell

Out of greed, the shepherd sold the bell But now he could not 4 where his best cow was grazing

On getting an opportunity, the 5 stole the cow Thus, the shepherd lost his best cow just because of his 6

KEYS:

1 into 2 walk 3 From

4 came 5 could 6 were