How to Use Dictation as the Basis for an ESL Class

My students love dictation. They enjoy the challenge of writing down what they think they hear. This article explains how to expand a dictation class to teach grammar and other aspects of ESL.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Select a text that is appropriate for the level of your class. Children's books work well. If you decide to use a children's book, select one that teaches something about American history or culture. Your students will appreciate this.

2. Break each sentence into phrases or groups of 2 or 3 words that you read to your students. You may repeat each phrase a few times, especially if your class is new to dictation. The goal is to lessen the phrases and get your students trained to hear complete sentences read just once or twice.

3. Once you dictate a paragraph, write it on the board. Allow time for your students to copy the paragraph and make corrections to what they initially wrote down.

4. Each paragraph opens possibilities for different grammar lessons. Ask the students what tense the dictated paragraph is written in? If it is written in the past tense, you may want to have your students rewrite the paragraph in the present or future tense. The paragraph may contain contractions that can be taught, or include quotes, or other aspects that you can use to teach for the grammar point of the day.

5. You can easily use dictation for the basis of a conversation class. Select a text that will stir your students into conversation. For example, a text about gang violence, immigration, American foods, health care, etc., are topics that most students have opinions.

6. Use dictation to get a point across. For example, if your students aren't doing as well as you think they can because they complain they don't have time to study, you may want to use a simple time management article as a way to introduce a solution for your students' problem. Use this as the basis to start a discussion about making time to study.

7. Have fun! Select interesting topics for dictation. This is a great way to introduce your students to topics that don't always fit into a traditional ESL curriculum.

[acohen843]

on 5/13/2008 lynshmin,

Thank you for your comments. Good ideas. I'll incorporate them into my class.

acohen843

[lynshmin]

on 5/12/2008 I also use things like grocery lists, appointment times, tv show line-ups, laundry lists, train/bus times, etc., as these are things we often have dictated to us. My students also enjoy when I dictate populer sayings (you can catch more flies with honey...., etc.).