Continuous Listening and Speaking Practice

Comments

The Continuous Listening and Speaking Practice (CLaSP) @ 2Pallos Language Education was tested with 433 Japanese students in the 18 classes taught by the author at 4 different universities in Kyoto, Japan (Doshisha University, Kyoto Tachibana University, Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, Ryukoku University) for one full university semester, from mid-September, 2004 till the end of January, 2005. All were English conversation-based classes. At the end of the trial period students completed an anonymous, group-administered, self-rated survey.

For full details of the study:

Pallos, L. (2005). Speak to the Computer: Speaking Practice for the Language Learner. In P. Kommers & G. Richards (Eds.), Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications 2005 (pp. 3292-3304). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Pallos, L. (2005). Keep Students Speaking without a Conversation Partner: A Qualitative Evaluation of CALL Method. In Gutierrez, T. (Ed.), Glocalization Through CALL: Bringing People Together; JALTCALL 2005 Proceedings (pp.68-72), Swets & Zeitlinger, Tokyo.

Students' comments about the Continuous Listening and Speaking Practice (CLaSP) @ 2Pallos Language Education in the survey (direct quotes and translations):

Speaking Accuracy

...First, it was difficult to answer very quickly but by degrees I could do it fluently. This site helps me to speak fluent and to listen carefully. And then I could study grammar, too…

…till now I always tried to speak English, while totally ignoring the grammar, but thanks to this class I developed the habit to think first and then speak so I am quite content with my English level now...

...If I had had the opportunity to use such a site since entering university, I think I would have attained quite decent level of English by now. I intend to use this site even after classes are over...

...I thought that the grammar was presented in a good and easy way, helpful for its correct understanding. For example I had problem with interrogative sentences (I made them without thinking), but from now on I can use them in a correct way...

Working on One’s Own

...The classes with the website were very enjoyable and I think that the fact that each one of us could work at their own pace made the exercises very effective and we could study without feeling tense or pressed. I started to hear better after listening several times and it was very useful for my listening skills. The classes with the website were very pleasant. I want to continue them and also I intend to exercise on my own...

...I learned how to express myself… since there aren't textbooks where one can learn to converse alone, so it was useful ...

...Thanks to this website I had the opportunity to exercises the natural way of expressing oneself in English. There are few opportunities to do that so that it was very useful for me. I intend to continue using the site even when this class is finished...

Listening

...I listened to the site because it was part of the classes, but since for me listening is a weak point; it turned out it was very useful in the end...

...Hearing all the explanations in English was difficult but very useful for me. I developed my listening skills naturally and felt more interest towards English, so it was very good...

Listening and Speaking

… very good exercise for us to hear English, think and reply in English ourselves and it improved both our listening and speaking skills…

...I wanted to improve my speaking and listening skills and I think this was a good way. Doing it for long time is tiring and it isn't necessarily pleasant, but I think I benefited from it. It is a very effective strategy...

...In our everyday life the chances to hear and speak English are very few, so I was really glad to be able to exercise with the listening/pronunciation section. It was interesting to work not only with textbook, but to hear actual English. I think it was a very good way of studying...
 

Copyright © 2004-2008 Linh Pallos

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