Listening Activities for Advanced Learners

Those who would speak a second language must first learn to listen to it. Listening teaches students how native speakers pronounce words and helps them learn the rhythm and flow of a language. Teachers ideally ensure that students actively engage the material they have listened to by following listening activities with questions, conversation and reading. A variety of listening activities can help engage students and keep their interest.
  1. Classroom Materials

    • Students learn the spelling and pronunciation of a language when a teacher reads the language aloud from a textbook. Read a paragraph slowly, then more rapidly. Use this activity to introduce new vocabulary and grammar to students. Most school books progress from simple to more advanced materials, so that students can gradually accustom themselves to the advanced features of the target language.

    Listening Laboratories

    • Many schools offer listening laboratories to students, and students may find additional laboratory materials online. A listening lab may afford students the ability to easily rewind a portion of advanced dialogue and review it. Many labs incorporate activities that require the speaker to describe the dialogue or to say it aloud.

    Weather Forecast

    • Play a weather forecast in the target language and ask students to listen carefully. If necessary, play the forecast multiple times. Students then answer questions about the forecast and the expressions used by the forecaster. Ask students to listen to an additional forecast, or to write their own. In this way, students become conversant with weather-related terminology as well as the language in general. Students will find this exercise helpful as people everywhere frequently speak about the weather. Forecasters often speak very rapidly, making this a challenge even for advanced learners.

    Simon Says

    • To teach advanced vocabulary for bodily movement, ask students to play a game of "Simon Says" in the target language. Students stand and listen carefully to the teacher's rapidly spoken instructions and attempt to follow them. To make this appropriate for advanced students, speak rapidly and use lesser known terminology. Students find this activity a pleasant break from more mundane language learning techniques.

    Recorded Interviews

    • In this activity advanced learners rely on recorded interviews in the target language to improve their ability to function in the target language. Make or obtain a recording of a person speaking in the target language. After listening to the recording, have students fill out a chart or answer questions that test their understanding of the interview.

    Movie Review

    • Have students view all or a portion of a movie in the target language. Then require students to answer questions about the movie and give their opinion of it. Students explain the motivations for characters and recall specific dialogue. Before showing the film, distribute worksheets with bits of uncompleted dialogue and ask students to listen for the dialogue and complete it on the sheet.

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