transfer what they have learnt into written language
3.3.The input material
The lesson is based on a dialogue which the teacher prepared and recorded in
advance. (for a transcription of the dialogue see appendix V) It is about a man who
talks with a hotel receptionist about booking a room. While recording the dialogue,
the speakers did not speak out of a written text but they used a set of notes instead so
that their conversation can simulate authentic language as much as possible. They are
not native speakers and the students had the chance to listen to accents other that the
ones usually presented in published materials. The language of the dialogue gives
students the chance to learn what language people use in asking for information and
how they express agreement.
3.4. Description and justification
The lesson is organized in pre-, while- and post-listening activities.(see lesson
plan, appendix IV) The function and the rationale behind each activity are analyzed
below.
3.4.1 Pre listening activities
Task 1 (see appendix VI) asks students to identify two pictures showing a
hotel in order to initiate a discussion about what similar experience the students might
have. Students are asked to say why the believe people stay at such places . The
discussion helps students recall what they know about the topic and activate relevant
scripts. In case some students do not have similar experiences the discussion will help
them get some information on that topic.
Task 2 (see appendix VI) informs students that they are going to listen to a
dialogue and they are asked to make guesses about the topic of the conversation, the
place it occurs and the relationship of the participants. This arouses expectations of
what they will listen to and gives a purpose for listening.
3.4.2 While-listening activities
Task 3 (see appendix VI) asks students to listen to the dialogue in order to
answer a number of general questions. In this way students are encouraged to listen
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