Teaching Listening and Three Recommended Resources
TEACHER A

TEACHER B

Most students of English as a second language have few opportunities to improve their English listening by listening to authentic English in context. To give students more opportunities to listen to comprehensible English, teachers can turn to technology for help, increasing the opportunities for their students to be exposed to authentic English listening resources.
Before the Internet, teachers, such as Teacher A, might require their students to listen to a casette tape played on a boombox for additional English listening practice. However, the resources teachers shared were often prerecorded in an unnatural manner, which tended to demotivate students and turn them off of English listening.
Fortunately, students nowadays can practice their English listening by using eResources selected from the internet, such as online videos as introduced by Teacher B. Students can easily choose from unlimited English eResources that are both authentic and available anywhere, anytime. Unlike listening to a boombox, which was usually operated by the teacher, students can enjoy more control when listening to online resources, including pausing, rewinding and fast forward. Both teachers and students can choose content, and the student can be in control of the pace. Moreover, with the support of eResources, students can even talk to native English speakers and get feedback in real time, making their learning experiences more interactive and intriguing than ever.
What eResources can be used for teaching English listening?
Here are 3 apps we consider favorable to teaching English listening. Choose one or two of them that seem most useful to your lessons to begin with. Don’t forget to teach students how to use the apps before your lessons.
1. Features
Accessibility | Usability | Interaction | ||||
Format | Cost | Interface | Integration | Human-device | Human-human | |
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native app (iOS ONLY) |
paid (HK$ 38) |
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Music Library: iCloud Drive; Audiobus |
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hybrid app (website; iPad ONLY) |
free, paid (HK$ 465+/yr) |
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Google Images; Google Maps; Google Drive |
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hybrid app (website; iOS; Android) |
free, paid (HK$ 89+/mo) |
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LMS; YouTube |
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2. Functions
Learner Diversity | Learning Focus | Learning Support | Learning Mode | |||||
Grade Level | English Level | Intensive | Extensive | Context | Feedback | Independently | Collaboratively | |
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p1-p6 | elementary; intermediate; |
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all levels | elementary; intermediate; advanced |
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all levels | elementary; intermediate; advanced |
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How do you use eResources to teach English listening?
Now that you might realize what apps you can use in your classes, you can send your ideas to us at info@eteachers.online. We will be thrilled to hear what you think about the apps and how you plan to use them.