scholarly journals Dialogue facilitation: learning to listen

Author(s):  
Francesca Helm

What is it? When we think about dialogue in foreign language teaching then dyadic interactions, service encounters, or role plays that students might perform in a ‘communicative’ classroom come to mind. The kind of dialogue we are talking about here instead is a form of intergroup dialogue, that is dialogue as a method of communication that can be used to explore shared issues between groups from diverse backgrounds, dialogue that highlights the importance of people’s lived experiences. For language learners, this kind of dialogue is an opportunity to communicate about themselves and their local identities, interests, and values and learn about others’. Online dialogue can bring people together to address questions that transcend their own borders, to explore common subjects but from the starting point of their locality (Canagarajah, 2004). Intergroup dialogue is led by trained facilitators who are multi-partial leaders of a group process. Their role is to create a safe and effective learning environment and model tools for effective cross-cultural, intergroup dialogue. Facilitation tools include awareness-raising and addressing group dynamics, as well as using active listening skills such as summarising, mirroring, and reframing. Facilitators can bring critical thinking to a conversation by asking good questions, exploring terminology used, and addressing not only opinions but also actions and feelings.

2018 ◽  
pp. 752-773
Author(s):  
Yen (Ingrid) Vo

The topic of this chapter is concerned with the use of interactive multimedia in teaching listening skills to English language learners. The chapter starts with the difference between listening and hearing, the definition of interactive multimedia, and interactive multimedia listening environments. Explanation is then given to why listening is so important. The chapter also addresses main types of listening, active listening process, and obstacles to listening. This chapter additionally shows the benefits of and rationales for listening using interactive multimedia resources in comparison with audio-only listening materials regarding visual support, authentic content, comprehensible input, vocabulary acquisition, and student motivation. The chapter concludes by suggesting some Internet sources and materials for listening practice as a part of learning English as a foreign or second language.


Author(s):  
Yen (Ingrid) Vo

The topic of this chapter is concerned with the use of interactive multimedia in teaching listening skills to English language learners. The chapter starts with the difference between listening and hearing, the definition of interactive multimedia, and interactive multimedia listening environments. Explanation is then given to why listening is so important. The chapter also addresses main types of listening, active listening process, and obstacles to listening. This chapter additionally shows the benefits of and rationales for listening using interactive multimedia resources in comparison with audio-only listening materials regarding visual support, authentic content, comprehensible input, vocabulary acquisition, and student motivation. The chapter concludes by suggesting some Internet sources and materials for listening practice as a part of learning English as a foreign or second language.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Akhanemhe ◽  
S Wallbank ◽  
N Greenberg

Abstract Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) are vulnerable to developing mental ill-health. Prior research has shown those in managerial or supervisory positions have pivotal roles in creating a healthy work environment, as well as recognizing and supporting HCWs with mental health symptoms to improve occupational outcomes and reduce sickness absence. Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of active listening skills training (REACTMH) for UK healthcare managers. Methods Managers of HCWs were voluntarily enrolled on a REACTMH active listening skills training package. Attendees anonymously completed questionnaires before and immediately after attending the 1-h remote training session and again 1 month later. The questionnaire asked about confidence in recognizing, conversing with and supporting distressed colleagues as well as perceived usefulness and importance of the training and how often they had used the taught active listening skills. Results Fifty-eight healthcare managers enrolled onto the REACTMH programme in July 2020 and 32 (55%) completed the 1-month follow-up. Just less than half reported feeling confident in being able to identify, speak to and support potentially distressed staff before the training; significantly more (>80%) reported feeling confident 1 month afterwards (P < 0.001). Around three-quarters of attendees reported the REACTMH programme as highly useful, highly important and said they had frequently used the learned skills. Conclusions A brief active listening skills training package was associated with significant improvements healthcare manager’s confidence in recognizing, speaking with and supporting HCWs with suspected mental health conditions. Further research is needed to investigate the longer term effectiveness and acceptability of REACTMH training.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 90
Author(s):  
Lin Siew Fong

<p>Peer-tutoring sessions of two groups of advanced diploma in financial accounting students with mixed proficiency were analysed thoroughly in this study. Numerous studies in peer tutoring have produced favourable results to both tutors and tutees due to the scaffolding process which promotes effective learning. However, there is a lack of studies conducted using case study as a group task in peer tutoring. Therefore, in this study, the analysis of this type of task in the course of peer tutoring is given much prominence. Video recordings of the peer-tutoring sessions were made and informants were interviewed and wrote journals in order to obtain data to be analysed. The researcher’s observation notes were useful in increasing understanding of the group process. The findings revealed that there were similarities and differences pertaining to the teaching and learning experiences encountered by both tutors and tutees when analysing the two case studies. Therefore, appropriate case studies which match students’ abilities are recommended to be used in peer tutoring. Furthermore, regular guidance provided by instructors for tutors is crucial in developing their confidence in playing their role.<strong> </strong></p>


ReCALL ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ki Chune Nah ◽  
Peter White ◽  
Roland Sussex

AbstractInterest in the use of a mobile phone to access the Internet for learning English in general, and listening skills in particular, has been increasing in Korea over the last few years. However, there has been only a small number of studies on this topic in Korea. The present paper investigates the potential of using a mobile phone to browse wireless application protocol (WAP) sites for the purpose of learning listening skills. The study focuses specifically on the attitudes of language learners toward using a mobile phone for this purpose. The study is based on input, interaction, output and sociocultural theories, as well as on collaborative, learner-centred, constructivist and task-based learning approaches. An experiment was carried out with a group of undergraduate students who had enrolled in a required intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) listening course at a Korean university. A WAP site was designed and used as the instrument for the experiment. This study found that the language learners expressed positive attitudes towards the use of the WAP site. It also found that the WAP site can be effective for learning listening skills and for student-centred and collaborative learning. Based on the findings, it is clear that WAP sites can be effective for learning listening skills, since they can enhance opportunities to learn language skills, and encourage language learners to participate actively in the learning process.


Author(s):  
John Harper ◽  
Hui-ju Chen

This article addresses the frequently discussed notion of Chinese students’ supposed reticence and passivity in the English as a Foreign Language classroom. Using the concept of group dynamics as a starting point, it examines teachers’ classroom-management techniques in terms of promoting (or not promoting) active student participation. The study, using a grounded theory of research, analyzed classroom data obtained from class observations and from class filmings and supplemented these data with post-lesson interviews with the four involved teachers. Findings suggested that Chinese students were not necessarily reticent or passive but rather engaged actively when given a learning environment conducive to active engagement. The study pointed to three practical implications for classroom teachers: (1) promoting participation by working toward group cohesion, (2) promoting participation by providing effective teacher-student scaffolding and by providing opportunities for student-student scaffolding, (3) promoting participation by actively replacing textbook materials in order more effectively to offer students adequate support in terms of both language and affect. Acknowledging the fact that different institutional contexts may require different classroom-management techniques, the study calls for further testing of the present findings in other Chinese settings.


Author(s):  
Gabriela Mariana Marcu

While there are many consistent results regarding the altruism – empathy relationship, starting with the empathy-altruism hypothesis (Batson, 2008) and its confirmations or criticism, there is one specific aspect of empathy that has not often been associated with generosity: active listening. Our research hypothesizes that sharing one’s attention in an empathic way (active-empathic listening) might be a skill linked to a person’s generosity. A linear regression established that self-reported altruism (SRA) could statistically significantly predict someone’s active-empathic listening skill (AELS), F(1, 96) = 28,965, p = .0001 and that SRA accounted for 22,4% of the explained variability in AELS. The results confirmed the initial claim and may have an impact in counseling practice, in career decision-making or in other studies on prosocial behavior.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 65-84
Author(s):  
Zeynep Çetin Köroğlu

Literary texts can be used to improve language learners' skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening because these texts contain rich vocabulary, complex grammar structures, interesting plot and most importantly imagination of the author. However, using literature for language teaching purposes is a controversial issue among scholars. While some researchers think positively, others have negative views on the subject. Learners' needs and way of using literary texts are the main concerns of literature use in language pedagogy. In this context, the present research aimed to find out whether digital short stories can improve language learners' listening skills. The purpose of this study was to figure out student teachers' perceptions of digital short stories’ implementation into language classrooms. Specifically, the current research aimed to investigate whether digital short stories are useful to develop language learners' listening skills in English. The research is action research in design. The study used pre-test and post-test, a written structured interview to collect data and it included both quantitative and qualitative components. The interview consisted of six open-ended questions. Achievement tests and t-test were used to analyze quantitative data. On the other hand, content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The data were collected in 2016-2017 academic years, Bayburt University. Participants were prep class students of English language teaching department of Bayburt University. In the treatment process, digital short stories were used for eight weeks, which were written by various famous American authors and voice recorded by various American natives. Additionally, weekly worksheets and handouts were prepared by the researcher. Results showed that digital short stories provide satisfactory content, supports vocabulary learning, improves language learners’ listening skills, helps participants to gain familiarity with complex grammar structures and makes students more familiar with different cultures. Furthermore, participants are satisfied with digital short stories and they think these digital stories are useful to improve their listening skills.


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