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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Apr 05, 2001 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
A library of listening materials for ESL learners at a range of levels. The purpose of this site is to serve as a listening materials resource for individual learners of ESL and for teachers seeking listening materials for classroom use. |
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| Strengths: |
In addition to being divided by proficiency level, the materials are divided into general survival skills and academic subjects. Each listening sequence is accompanied by a description box that spells out the level, content and type of listening format, the number and gender of the speakers, and the length of the listening activity. Each selection's script is also available along with idiomatic expressions highlighted and explicated, a pre-listening activation activity where new vocabulary/concepts are set, a comprehension quiz for which explicated feedback is provided, and post listening activities. The integration design for aural and textual material is a sensible one. |
| Concerns: |
The scripts are intended to be authentic and colloquial, but this is dependent on the acting ability of those whose voices are recorded: authenticity varies accordingly. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
An excellent resource for independent student work as well as in-class group listening. The range of resources and activities attached to each listening sequence and the quality of the recordings make this engaging work for the individual student or group of students. Teachers can readily integrate by topic and level of difficulty. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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The quality of the audio using both the RealPlayer and the downloadable Divace player is excellent.
The site's design is clean, clear, and renders these valuable recordings readily accessible for specific purposes. |
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