Supporting English Listening Comprehension
with Video Text Prompts

TESOL 2008 Electronic Village Presentation

Presented by Kristi Newgarden
University of Connecticut American English Language Institute (UCAELI)

Friday, April 4, 8:30 a.m.

Abstract: Authentic listening materials such as Internet radio broadcasts can be turned into video-enhanced listening comprehension material for ESL students.

Video text prompts may improve students' listening comprehension by:

• Engaging them with the material
• Providing visual clues that reinforce sound/spelling connections and key vocabulary and
• Facilitating awareness of the sequencing of the information or story conveyed

This webpage contains all of the elements of my TESOL EV presentation.

Content of this Webpage:

• The technique for creating a text-enhanced movie file from downloaded audio and teacher-created text prompts is detailed in downloadable pdf file and accompanying links to Quicktime movie tutorials below
• Examples of online lesson plans incorporating listening comprehension movies of this type can be accessed by following the links provided below.
• Recommended sources for online audio
• Examples of two types of media files that can be created
• Additional ideas for using the text-enhanced audio files
  
  

The software used here includes Garageband, Keynote, iMovie and Quicktime Pro. PBWiki has been used for organization and presentation of the lessons.

Teacher feedback is welcomed. Please email me with questions or comments at: kristi.newgarden@uconn.edu

Examples of Media file types

Different files display differently online. The .m4a file below can only be displayed at the size you see here. The .mov file size can be made larger as an embedded web file. Both file types offer the option of saving to the desktop as Quicktime movies. This allows the viewer to adjust the size of the movie as they like. It also allows the viewer to see the chapter markers and skip around to different parts of the movie.

This is an .m4a file also known as an Enhanced Podcast.

This is a .mov file. To create this type of file from an m4a or other type of file, you need to use Quicktime Pro software. The advantage of the .mov file is the ability to make it appear larger online.

Recommended Sources of Online Audio

Check individual websites for policies on use of copyrighted material.

• StoryCorps David Isay from NPR initiated this project that collects American's stories for sharing and archiving. Stories are short, so very easy to work with the complete original audio file.
• This American Life (Chicago Public Radio) An award-winning weekly radio program and podcast hosted by Ira Glass. Since March '07 also a TV program on Showtime. Slice of life stories of Americans of all walks of life. Episodes are divided into Acts which are described on website. Good topics for generating discussion.
• Radio Lab (New York Public Radio) Five episodes relating to "big question" topics are released each season. Website has archives of past 5 seasons with descriptions of each episode. Podcast is also available. Interesting topics that will appeal to a wide audience.
• Radio Diaries These are audio episodes created from people's personal audio diaries which chronicle their often incredible stories. The stories are often used on NPR's All Things Considered program. Subscription to the podcast is the best way to download the audio files.
• Hearing Voices Hosts an hour-long show produced from audio pieces found on various radio programs and Internet sites. Series pieces and individual stories are available from the website. Listen to files on site and see length of audio programs.
• NPR Podcasts
• iTunes podcasts - go to the iTunes store and search the podcasts available. You can subscribe, then see contents and length of individual episodes in the iTunes player.

How to Create the Audio/Video File

• Download Instructions in pdf format (Note: This was created from my presentation slideshow. Tutorial movies will not run in this file.)

The following movie clips accompany the slideshow above:

• Get mp3 from website
• Subscribe to a podcast
• Open Garageband podcast file and import mp3 file
• Export slides as image files
• Add chapter markers to Garageband file
• Type in slide names
• Add slides to Garageband file
• Edit slide positions
• Export Garageband file
• Use QuickTime Pro to save file in .mov format

Sample online lessons based on enhanced audio movies:

These online materials are designed for adult students in a university-based Intensive English Program.

Sample #1 In this lesson, I used an episode of "This American Life" as the central focus for new vocabulary, listening practice and discussion. The video enhanced audio file here was created using iMovie 06, so the text scrolls as if it were movie credits. The lesson is hosted on PBWiki.

http://ucaeliteachers.pbwiki.com/kristi's+multimedia+lesson+plan

Sample #2 In this lesson, I used an episode from "StoryCorps" as the central focus for vocabulary, listening practice and discussion. This audio/visual file was created using Keynote slides and Garageband. The lesson is hosted on PBWiki.

Other techniques/applications for text-enhanced audio files:

• Enhanced podcast versions can be downloaded by students for viewing on iPod, mp3 players or cell phones and assigned as listening homework
• Text can include cloze type exercises, phonetic representation of key words for pronunciation practice, notes to the listener to detect tone of voice, emphasis, stress or other clues, definitions of a word, etc.
• Add photos (or have students add photos!) or even short movie clips to further enhance the listening experience
• Jumble parts of the audio and have students listen and put the numbered parts into the correct order