Breaking the Sound Barrier: Teaching Language Learners How to Listen

by Gianfranco Conti and Steve Smith

Breaking the Sound Barrier: Teaching Language Leaners How to Listen.To cite use Conti and Smith (2019).This book is for language teachers who want to help their students become more effective listeners. It focuses on the processes involved in aural comprehension, blending the latest research evidence with over 200 engaging listening activities, as well as lots of useful practical classroom ideas and lesson sequences.Chapters include the principles of "listening as modelling", developing phonological and lexical retrieval skills, grammatical parsing, interpersonal and task-based listening. There are also chapters on how to make the most of songs, cognitive and metacognitive strategies, assessment and preparing for examinations. The final chapter offers a framework for language teachers or departments who wish to develop a strategy for improved listening. The book aims to place listening at the forefront of lesson planning.Gianfranco and Steve have around 60 years of classroom experience between them and a track record of offering instantly usable, low-preparation activities for the classroom, supported by second language acquisition research. Their handbook The Language Teacher Toolkit is already widely used around the world. Too often, classroom listening is neglected by teachers and a source of fear for learners; how can we make it a successful and enjoyable experience for all? This book is truly unique in its genre, in proposing a different and more impactful answer to this question. We sincerely hope you enjoy it.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

268 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2019

Reviews

[Wouter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think if the book was rewritten as a curriculum book with the MARS-EARS approach at its center, it would improve a lot. Language skills are connected but at times the book is more about language acquisition rather than listening.

I think the book is not bad. It has many tasks for the teacher to implement and it does give helpful advise from time to time. However, as a whole it did not really work for me.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helped me make up my mind about some newer research and the role it should play in my classroom

[Karen Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself in agreement with the author on just about everything he says about listening. Highly recommended to all language teachers - and learners.