H. D.

BROWNS
PRINCIPLES FOR
TEACHING LISTENING
SKILLS
Slides by Daniel Beck
(aka SamuraiTheologian)
samuraitheologian@gmail.com
 PRINCIPLE #1

Include a
FOCUS ON
LISTENING
in an integrated-skills course

 Teachers sometimes
incorrectly assume that
the input provided in the
classroom will always be

converted into intake.
 PRINCIPLE #2

Use techniques
that are
INTRINSICALLY
MOTIVATING

 Since background
information (schemata) is an
important factor in listening,
take into full account the
experiences, goals, and
abilities of your students as
you design lessons.
 PRINCIPLE #3
Use
AUTHENTIC
LANGUAGE
and contexts

Authentic language and real-
world tasks enable students to
see the relevance of classroom
activity to their long-term

communicative goals.
 PRINCIPLE #4

Carefully

CONSIDER
THE FORM
of listeners
responses

 We can only infer that

certain things have been
comprehended through
students overt responses to

speech.
9 Ways to Check
Listening Comprehension
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

1 doing

the listener responds physically to a

command
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

2 choosing

the listener selects from

alternatives such as pictures,
objects, and texts
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

3 transferring

the listener draws a picture

of what is heard
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

4 answering

the listener answers questions

about the message
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

5 condensing

the listener outlines or takes

notes on a lecture
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

6 extending

the listener provides an ending

to a story heard
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

7 duplicating

the listener translates the

message into the native language
or repeats it verbatim
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

8 modeling

the listener orders a meal, for

example after listening to a
model order
9 Ways to Check Listening Comprehension

9 conversing

the listener engages in a

conversation that indicates
appropriate processing of
information
 9 WAYS TO CHECK LISTENING
COMPREHENSION

1.doing 6.extending
2.choosing 7.duplicating
3.transferring 8.modeling
4.answering 9.conversing
5.condensing
 PRINCIPLE #5

Encourage the

DEVELOPMENT
OF SPEAKING
STRATEGIES

LISTENING STRATEGIES
 Listening Strategies

Looking for Key Words

 Listening Strategies

Looking for Nonverbal

Cues to Meaning
 Listening Strategies

Predicting Speakers
Purpose by Context of
Discourse
 Listening Strategies

activating ones
background knowledge
(schemata)
 Listening Strategies

guessing at meanings
 Listening Strategies

seeking clarification
 Listening Strategies

listening for general gist

 Listening Strategies

various test-taking
strategies for listening
comprehension
 LISTENING STRATEGIES

looking for key words

looking for nonverbal cues to meaning
predicting speakers purpose by context of discourse
activating ones background knowledge (schemata)
guessing at meanings
seeking clarification
listening for general gist
various test-taking strategies for listening
comprehension
 PRINCIPLE #6

Include both

BOTTOM-UP
&TOP-DOWN
listening techniques

Bottom-up processing
proceeds from sounds to
words to grammatical
relationships to lexical
meanings, etc., to a final
message.

 Top-down techniques are
concerned with the activation
of schemata, with deriving
meaning of spoken discourse.

 PRINCIPLES FOR TEACHING
LISTENING SKILLS

1. Include a focus on listening in an integrated-skills course

2. Use techniques that are intrinsically motivating

3. Use authentic language and contexts

4. Carefully consider the form of listeners responses

5. Encourage the development of speaking strategies

6. Include both bottom-up and top-down listening

techniques
 H. D. BROWNS
PRINCIPLES FOR
TEACHING LISTENING
SKILLS
Slides by Daniel Beck
(aka SamuraiTheologian)
samuraitheologian@gmail.com