EPC 2403 Teaching Practicum 2a

Task 5

‘Observing a Teacher
during a Listening
Lesson’
 EPC 2403 Teaching Practicum 2a

Observation Task 5:

Observing a teacher during a Listening Lesson

References:

Brewster, J. and Ellis, G. (2004) The Primary English Teacher’s Guide. Essex: Pearson. (pp. 102-104).

Brewster, J. (1999). Listening and the Young Learner in Brumfit, C., Moon, J. and Tongue, R. Teaching
English to Children. From Practice to Principle. London: Longman

Objective

To consider EFL learners’ success in listening and to reflect upon ways of improving their listening
skills.

Procedure

 You will need a copy of the Observation Table: Teaching Listening to observe and make
notes during 2 listening lessons.

Before the Observation

 Refer to both readings above and outline what the stages in a listening lesson. Consider
carefully what suggestions are made in order to deliver a lesson effectively – e.g how many
stages are there? How many times should students listen etc.

 Arrange to observe a lesson that focus on listening.

During the Observation

Complete the Table: Teaching Listening. Make notes in the appropriate column on:

Pre Listening
 What did the teacher do prior to the listening task to prepare students – how did she engage and
prepare students for learning?
 The time spent on preparing learners to listen

During listening
 The learners' purpose in listening: was it stated by the teacher?
 The type, topic and length of listening text
 The number of times learners listened to the same text or part of the text
 EPC 2403 Teaching Practicum 2a

Post Listening
 Did the teacher check answers?
 Was there a follow up activity?
 What materials were used?

Example of a completed row of the Observation Table for Listening

No. of
Purpose stated
Pre-listening Time spent Activity times text
(Y/N)
heard

T showed picture of father and

daughter and elicited what they
No Students answering
might be talking about. T gave
questions about a
true/false questions out before 5 mins 0
picture
tape was started.
Yes
Teacher introduced some
(to understand
vocabulary
the new words
in the text)
No. of
Purpose stated
While listening Time spent Activity times text
(Y/N)
heard
Students completed a
task in the book while
Yes they listened.
Students listening to a short
(to listen an They had to read the
conversation between a father
6 minutes decide if the sentence in the book 2
and daughter about her birthday
written and decide if the
party
statements answer was true or
were true or false
false)
 EPC 2403 Teaching Practicum 2a

After the Observation

1 What preparation (i.e. pre-listening activity) did the teacher give the learners
before they listened to the text?

If they had some preparation, select (a) if they did not, select (b).

a. How did the pre-listening activity aid student understanding?

b. What pre-listening activity might have been done to help them understand the target
language better?

2 Were the learners engaged in while-listening activity/activities?

If they were, select (a); if not, select (b).
a. What were the aims of the while-listening activity/activities?

b. What while-listening activity/activities might have helped the learners more to

understand what they were listening to?

3. Did the learners have a post-listening activity/activities?

If they did, select (a); if not, select (b).

a. What were the aims of the post-listening activity/activities?

b. What post-listening activity/ activities might have helped the learners more to
understand what they had heard?

4. How many times did the learners listen to the text / recording?
a. Would it have increased their understanding if they had been allowed to listen to the
text/recording again? Explain.

b. Did the learners hear the whole text at once, or in parts?

If so, which was the most helpful?

Reflection
Think about the advantages and disadvantages of using the model of pre-, while- and post-listening
activities to teach a listening lesson. Write first from the perspective of the teacher and then from
the perspective of the learners.
 EPC 2403 Teaching Practicum 2a

Observation Table: Teaching Listening Lesson

Section:kg2\3 Number of learners: 26 Date: 30\10\2018

Length of lesson: 20 Name of teacher observed: Mahra

Language Learning Goals: English

Materials used: White papers \ Plants \ Pens \ leaves.

Time spent
Was purpose No. of times text
Pre-listening on Activity
stated (Y/N) was heard
preparation
First of all she introduce some 5 Minutes Yes - Show them 0
plants and she starts to show (to listen and different types of
them the plant parts. know part of plans.
Can you guess which plant has the plants)
this leaves ( the teacher shows
them the leaves ).

Time spent
Was purpose No. of times text
While listening on
stated (Y/N) Activity was heard
preparation
 Allow students to compare the 8 Minutes Yes - They had more 1
types of leaves and guess (To guess than 5 types of
which plant is that. the types of leaves and they
the leaves) started to compare
sizes of the leaves.

Time spent
Was purpose No. of times text
Post listening on
stated (Y/N) Activity was heard
preparation
Ask the student to summarize 7 Minutes Yes - Give them a paper 0
all the new information that (To check and ask them to
they had learned in this class. their draw a plant or
The students start to standup understandin leaves.
and speak in-front of the class. g)