Chapter 1. Listening
Teacher’s Corner
Using AI Tools for Listening Activities
How can AI help you create or adapt listening materials for your students? More specifically, in this section we will talk about the free version of Google’s Gemini which has access to the internet. When you open Gemini, you can enter a prompt to explain how the AI can help you. Here are some suggestions:
Finding Listening Materials
To ask Gemini to help you find listening materials, you need to provide a detailed prompt that will help the AI locate these types of materials on the web. The section below provides suggestions for successful AI prompting.
AI Prompting
When drafting your prompt, think about including the following:
- Target Level: What is the proficiency level of your students (beginner, intermediate, advanced)?
- Topic: Is there a specific topic or theme you’d like the listening material to focus on? (e.g., science, current events, daily life conversations)
- Listening Activity Type: Do you have a preferred type of listening activity in mind (e.g., gap-filling exercise, true/false questions, summarizing, finding specific information)?
- Format: Would you prefer audio or video materials?
- Desired Length: Is there a preferred length for the listening material (short clip, full lecture, etc.)?
- Goal: What is the goal of your lecture (e.g., to improve active listening strategies, to improve summarizing skills)?
- Accent/dialect: Do you want to focus on American, British, Canadian English, or another accent?
Example prompt:
“Help me find intermediate ESL listening materials about environmental issues. I need 3-5 minute audio clips with American English speakers [that include comprehension questions]. The materials should help students practice identifying main ideas and supporting details. Include sources that are freely accessible online.”
Brainstorming and Creating Listening Activities
Gemini can help you brainstorm ways to include different listening formats to keep your exercises engaging. This could include short audio clips, YouTube videos, longer lectures, interviews, dialogues, or even songs. Simply describe your context to Gemini following the prompt suggestion above and ask for help with brainstorming creative ideas.
Example prompt:
“I need creative listening activities for my intermediate English class of graduate students focusing on negotiation skills. Students struggle with understanding different accents and processing information quickly. Please suggest 5 diverse listening formats (audio clips, videos, etc.) and accompanying activities that practice note-taking, identifying key points, and recognizing tone.”
Key Points- Strong listening skills are essential for successful communication.
- Listening is a complex, active process that involves hearing, focusing your attention, receiving verbal and nonverbal cues, interpreting the message, and responding to show understanding.
- Working on developing effective listening strategies can help English learners improve their comprehension and general communication skills.
Software programs designed to accomplish specific tasks using AI technology. AI tools can analyze data, identify patterns, and automate processes.
