ii. Predict and/or identify components of spoken language using written text

Word Stress

Have your learner take a look at a written text and decide where she thinks the stressed (and unstressed words) may be. Listen to the recording and see which predictions were correct. Have the learner look for patterns whenever applicable. For a list of common rules regarding what word forms are commonly stressed, refer to Session 7 in the manual.

Intonation

Using a written text, have your learner mark the intonation patterns. Play (if you are using a cassette) or state the sentences and have the learner check over her predictions. Discuss any connection that you find between the stressed words and intonation patterns. (Changes in intonation patterns often start with stressed words.)

What did you say?

Yes, I know.

Fill in the Blank Exercises

There are different types of fill in the blank exercises that you can do. You could choose to have every 7th word removed and a blank left there. The learner would then listen to the speech sample and fill in the word.

You can develop fill in the blank exercises for particular purposes. For example, if you wanted to provide your learner with listening exercises which focus on word endings for past tense, regular verbs, then you could delete every past tense verb from the text. The learner could then listen to the tape and write in the words that she hears. She could listen a second time to see if the word she hears ends in a /t/ (as in washed, fished), /d/ (as in filled) or /id/ (as in waited, accepted).