What Are the Benefits of Dictation?

Dictation can teach us valuable skills.

Although many foreign-language courses use written dictation on a regular basis to check on students' progress, it is still not practiced enough considering the many benefits dictation offers. These benefits are not limited to foreign languages and can improve written and oral skills in your native language.

Improve Your Spelling

One of the most immediate effects of dictation is a definite improvement in your spelling. By listening to the words that the teacher is reading during dictation, you will need to correlate the sounds with the written words. You will have to remember how to spell those specific words. You will get feedback on your spelling once your dictation is returned, and this can pinpoint flaws and weaknesses and help you with your essay writing.

Concentration and Paying Attention to Details

Spelling is not the only skill you will be practicing with dictations. During any dictation, you need to focus and pay full attention to every word and signs of punctuation. This will help you develop your concentration skills, especially your short-term memory, and it will teach you to pay attention to details.

Improving the Pronunciation of Difficult Words

The English language is erratic in both spelling and pronunciation and does not usually follow specific rules. One of the most bizarre discrepancies between spelling and pronunciation is the word "indictment," which is pronounced as "in-dite-ment." During a dictation, you will hear how the words are pronounced and will practice and gain knowledge about the stress and intonation of those complex words.

Practicing Punctuation Rules

A written dictation exercise is also a good opportunity to practice and review general rules of punctuation. Because punctuation is also a common part of the dictation evaluation, you will have to focus on putting the punctuation marks in the correct place. This will help you learn and memorize the rules or to reinforce your previous knowledge regarding punctuation.

References

• The Internet TESL Journal: Dictation as a Language Learning Device