Warming up listening lesson by listening short stories

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

1. BACKGROUND...............................................................................................2
1.1. Reasons for choosing the theme.................................................................2
1.2. The purpose of studying.............................................................................3
1.3. Studying scope..........................................................................................3
1.4. Methods of studying...................................................................................3
2. Contents of theme...................................................................................4
2.1. Theoretical basis of the problem:...............................................................4
2.2. The reality of studying listening skill before applying to the theme ........4
2.2.1 To the students......................................................................................4
2.2.2 To the teachers......................................................................................5
2.2.3 To the school.........................................................................................5
2.3. Solution and implementation......................................................................6
2.3.1 Solution………………………………………………………………6
2.3.2 Implementation………………………………………………………6
3. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.......................17
3.1. Results......................................................................................................17
3.2. General conclusion...............................................................................1818
3.3. Proposals..............................................................................................1818
4. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS....................................................................1919

1


1. BACKGROUND
1.1. Reasons for choosing the theme.
In the context of deeper integration, English has become an essential tool not
only bring success in business, education, but also in life. As English has affirmed

the role and the importance of improving their quality of teaching is the most
important issue. Thus the task of every teacher is to innovate teaching methods,
improving the quality of teaching and learning in their respective classes schools.
Learning each of any a different language requires learners to study four
skills: listening, reading, writing,speaking and use them smoothly and fluently.
Through practice at high schools in Trieu Son district in general and at
particular high school in my province, especially in mountainous areas, I see that
almost teachers only focus on teaching grammar and ignore the studying of English
skills, which is the reason why all of the students leaving the school can’t speak and
listen English or communicate with foreigners by simple statements. Because of
these problems, I have been an English teacher for 10 years, I have thought about
them so much and made decision to change the methods helping my students to
focus on studying English skills and grammar simultaneously.
Listening is one of the most difficult skills for all students at high school. I am
teaching the 10th grade this year. Whenever I give them listening lesson on textbook,
they feel bored, tired and don’t have motivation to study because they can’t hear
anything and can’t do exercises. To solve this problem, I decide to warm up them in
listening part by letting them listen a brief of English story. At first,I had a lot of
difficulties because each unit on textbook has one listening lesson and I have to
finish it within 45 minutes. There are three periods per week for English subject,
which is not enough time for me to focus only listening skill and to incorporate
English stories. Then I find a number of methods for positive, simple, easy to
understand practical ensure science to develop thinking ability; speculation and
creativity of students .I choose a warm up for the listening lesson which is a short
English stories from easy to difficulty.The students like this way and they feel
excited and enthusiastic with the lesson. In the process of teaching 10th grade
English in the past year as well as during the school year I have studied the textbook
program, instruction manuals and have related documents office, internet,discuss
with experienced colleagues in professional meetings, summer training to find a
way to overcome difficulties, to help them learn better, apply the knowledge learned

to do the exercises as required.
Based on the collected experience by myself and the knowledge gained through the
references, I wrote this little theme to contribute to improving the quality of
teaching of the subject, innovative teaching methods and learning. With this small
range of initiatives I boldly go into a problem “Warming up listening lesson by
listening short stories”

2


1.2. The purpose of studying.
The use of “Warming up listening lesson by listening short stories” that I give to
help students be primarily interested in learning a foreign language and reduce the
maximum inhibition in studying foreign language at high school. Moreover, I
wanted to stimulate learners to listen English, the active form of communication.
In addition, I want to enhance my professional work on my own, and to exchange
experiences with my colleagues.
1.3. Studying scope
For foreign language lessons in grade 10 elementary.
1.4. Methods of studying
1.4.1. Method of theoretical studies.
- Base on the documentation and innovation of high school education
methods in English by the Department of Secondary Education - Ministry of
Education and Training issued.
- Collect songs on the theoretical journal, the presentation on the Internet.
1.4.2. Studying Methodologies include: observation, investigation, analysis,
exchange, statistics, aggregation, comparison, summarization.
1.4.3. Method specialists.
- Refer to the experience of a number of teachers who have a passion and
experience in the use of modern methods in teaching subjects in English.

3


2. Contents of theme.
2.1. Theoretical basis of the problem:
English, which is an international language is communicated all over the
world. One-fourth of the world population speaks English. So teaching English is
the most important issue in Viet Nam. Actually, We haven’t had suitable methods to
teach and study English, which results all of students in Viet Nam can’t
communicate in English and always of talking with foreigners. They are not
confident enough to talk. Because we often focus on teaching grammar and ignore
teaching the skills and vocabulary. Both teachers and students haven’t had
motivation to develop the lessons. To help students have amenities of studying, the
teacher should change the different methods to inspire for students. Listening, which
is one of the most difficult skills to learners and teachers is easy to make students
tired when studying. Therefore, before starting listening unit, I motivate them by
listening a short English story. I think that an interesting English story will make
them have amenities of lessons.
There are many ways to enhance the listening skill for students such as
watching English films, talking with the foreigners, listening to music, listening the
English tape lessons . Besides that, nowadays, there are also many kinds of books
introducing the methods to improve listening skills : Tactics for listening – basic
( author- Jack C . Richards), Listen carefully (Jack C . Richards), Listen in ( David
Nunan),Big Step Toeic (Kim Soyeong và Park Won)…..
I chose the English stories to stimulate my students to study listening skill.
2.2. The reality of studying listening skill before applying to the theme
2.2.1 To the students
English has become one of core subjects such as different subjects, but this
subject is difficult, only a few students who can absord it easily. Especially,

those students in rural and moutainous areas learn English badly.
In recent years, according to program of new textbooks, new methods of
teaching and learning, many students are interested in studying English, but some
students ignore to study it and they don’t have inspiration in learning English.
Many weaker students don't understand the knowledge, they don’t have active
learning methods, learn passively, wait for the results of his friend made. In
adddition, many children are afraid of speaking in class practices, afraid of saying
before the class because they think it would be wrong. Some of them have not read
the written proficiency, not even record the material in class, do homework .... This
fact shows that this object is not a favorite subject of many students.
Some students, especially poor students, lack of sense of learning, lack of
patience in learning, have not kept pace with new learning methods, they become
confused with the acceptance and adoption of knowledge on practical skills. Many
4


are unaware on this matter, do not fully understand the meaning of the subject
during the international integration. Some of them learned is due to their curiosity,
relaxation. Therefore, they are not really serious about learning and trying.
I also have language lessons students feel depressed, tired, hard to acquire
knowledge, even for those who are students with good and excellent. Whenever I
teach listening part, my students feel bored with it and they don’t like studying
because they can’t hear anything and can’t do the task. They don’t know more new
words and don’t focus on pronunciation, which is a reason makes them listen badly.
To improve their listening lesson. Firstly, I inspire to them, stimulate them in each
listening part by using the short English stories to warm them up. Secondly, I teach
them from easy to difficult.
School year 2018 – 2019 I was assigned to teach two classes 10A and 10B.
Through practical investigation in the early year I obtained the following results:
Total

students

95

Percentages of Students likes studying listening
Very much
Much
Normal
Hate/Scared
Numb
Numb
Numb
Numbe
%
%
%
%
er
er
er
r
16
15
20
22%
30
31%
30
31%
%

Learning capacity of students
Advanced
Proficient
Developing
Beginning
Numb
Numb
Numb
Numbe
%
%
%
%
er
er
er
r
5
5%
15
16%
45
48%
30
31%

2.2.2 To the teachers
Through practical projects at the time, there are a lot of teachers don’t
renew their methods, change perceptions and teaching habits although they know
that their students don’t like studying listening, even some teachers don’t teach

listening part, only teach grammar, writing, reading, speaking.They think that their
students can’t have the ability to listen. When I gave my theme, some teachers
strongly supported ,but others didn’t like. They thought that it was a waste of time
using this way and it made noise, which affected other classes. They want to spend
more time to focus on grammar because it serves their tests.
Through the exchange and survey from my colleagues I get the results.
Using English stories in warm up listening part
Total
teachers
6

Often
Numb
%
er
1

17%

Sometimes
Numb
%
er
17
1
%

A little
Numbe
%

r
33
2
%

Never
Numb
%
er
33
2
%

5


2.2.3 To the school
Facilities not really full. The outstanding teaching aids, reference books
which serve lessons are limited. This is an disadvantage for teachers and students.
2.3. Solution and implementation
2.3.1 Solution:
Before beginning each part of unit in the textbook, the teachers warm up the
students by playing a game or ask some questions about things related to the lesson.
To listening skill, I often warm up my students by listening a short English story. At
first, some students don’t like because they can’t hear and can’t do the task asked by
me. Gradually, I am still patient step by step ,I give them some stories from easy to
difficult, which inspire them. At the end of first term they are exciting about my
listening strategy. Each part of unit has to finish within 45 minutes. So there are a
lot of activities for it. I try my best to plan and distribute suitably for each section:
- Warm up: 10 minutes : listen the English story and do a small task. I give

them the story on a sheet of paper with gap, they have to listen and fill the gap.
- Pre-listening: 7 minutes: I often supply new words and phrases relating to
the listening lesson, which helps them to listen and do the task better .
- While-listening:21 minutes : I play the tape and conduct the student to listen
and do the tasks.
- Post-listening:7 minutes: ask students to review the lesson or do the task,
summarise the main points of the lesson and assign the homework.
2.3.2 Implementation
Within a short time in warm-up, It is difficult for me to choose the short and
interesting English stories, which is suitable with their tastes and can inspire
them.With the new method, I only give them a task while listening is filling the easy
gap.The most important thing is to make them enhance their listening skill.There are
40 students in my class and the classroom is very large, I ask my headmaster for two
good speakers and laptop to serve my teaching. I also choose the easy stories with
familiar words. I hope that from my point of view, my students will like and
improve listening skill.
Some methods of organizing the implementation of enhancing listening skill.
- Inspire for the students by using variety of English songs.
- Ask them to listen at home many times everyday because “ Practice makes
perfect”.
- Watch English films, listen to music, talk with foreigner and listen to the
tape from text book regularly, which also help them improve the listening skill.
- Ask them to remember the 10 principles of listening:
+ Stop talking.
6


+ Prepare yourself for listening.
+ Put the speaker at ease
+ Remove distractions.

+ Empathise
+ Be patient
+ Avoid personal prejudice
+ Listen to the tone
+ Listen for ideas – not just for words
+ wait and watch for non-verbal communications.
I gave my students each story sheet with 10 or 15 blanks in in every
listening part of the textbook 10 and let them listen twice. Each story included
From 3 to 4 minutes. While listening they had to fill the words into the gaps. After
that I would give them keys to check. It was a new way to study with students in my
school and in a year implementation, I realised that my students were interested in
listening.
Within a short time I only give some stories as examples, which I use them to
warm up my students in listening part.
Going into detail each Unit as follows:
Unit 1: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
Belling the cat
Long ago, the mice ...1.... a general council to consider what measures they could
take ..2.. outwit their common enemy, the Cat.Some ...3... this, and some said that;
but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, ...4.... he
thought would meet the case."You ...5.... all agree," said he, "that our chief danger
consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us. Now,
if we could ...6... some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her."
"IT IS EASY TO PROPOSE IMPOSSIBLE REMEDIES."

7

KEY: 1.had
2. to
3. said

4. which
5. will
6. receive

Unit 2: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
The rat and the elephant
A Rat was ...1... along the King's highway. He was a very ..2.... Rat, considering his
small size and the bad reputation all Rats have. As Mr. Rat walked along—he kept
mostly to the ditch—he ...3.... a great commotion up the road, and soon a grand
procession came in view. It was the King and ..4.. retinue.The King rode on a huge
Elephant adorned with the most gorgeous trappings. With the King in his luxurious
howdah were the royal Dog and Cat. A great ...5... of people followed the
procession. They were so taken up with ...6.... of the Elephant, that the Rat was not
noticed. His pride was hurt.
A resemblance to the great in some things does not make us great.

8


KEYS:
1.traveling
4. his

2. proud
5. Crowd

3. Noticed
6. admiration

Unit 3: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
The jay and the peacock
A Jay venturing ..1... a yard where Peacocks used to ...2..., found there a number of
feathers which had fallen ..3... the Peacocks when they were moulting.He tied them
all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks. When he ...4... near them they
soon discovered the cheat, and strid-ing up to him pecked at him and plucked away
his borrowed plumes.So the Jay ..5... do no better than go back to the other Jays,
who had watched his behaviour from a distance; but they ...6.... equally annoyed
with him, and told him:
'It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.'

9


KEYS:
1. into 2. walk
4. came 5. could

3. From
6. were

Unit 4: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___

COST OF THE BELL
Everyday, a shepherd used to ..1.. his cows for grazing. He had tied a bell to each of
the ..2... he had so that he could know where they were grazing. The best cow had a
costly bell tied around her neck.
One day, a stranger was going ..3... the pasture. Seeing the costly bell around the
cow's neck, he went to the shepherd and asked if he would sell the bell.
Out of greed, the shepherd sold the bell. But now he could not ..4... where his best
cow was grazing.
On getting an opportunity, the ...5.... stole the cow. Thus, the shepherd lost his best
cow just because of his ....6.....
10


Keys:
1.take

2. cows

3. through

4. know

5. stranger 6. greed

Unit 5: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
THE MISCHIEVOUS DOG
There was ..1... a Dog who was so ill-natured and mischievous that his Master had
to fasten a heavy wooden clog about his neck to ...2... him from annoying visitors
and neighbors.
But the Dog ..3.. to be very proud of the clog and dragged it about noisily as if he
wished to attract everybody's attention. He was not able to ...4.... anyone.
"You would be wiser," said an ...5... acquaintance, "to keep quietly out of sight with
that clog. Do you want everybody to know ..6.. a disgraceful and ill-natured Dog
you are?"
Notoriety is not fame.
11


Keys:
1. once
4. impress

2. keep
5. old

3. seemed
6. what

Unit 6: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________

DATE:___
NEVER TELL A LIE
On his deathbed, a father ..1...his son to always speak truth. The son ...2...that he
would never ..3.. a lie.
One day, while going to the city through a forest, he got ....4.....by some robbers.
One of them asked, "What do you have?"
The boy answered, "I have fifty rupees."
They searched him but couldn't ....5....anything. When they were about to go, the
boy called out, "I am not telling a lie. See this fifty rupee note which I had hidden in
my shirt."
12


The leader of the robbers felt ...6.... at the truthfulness of the boy, gave him hundred
rupees as reward and went away.

KEYS:
1. advised
4. surrounded

2. promised
5. find

3. promised
6. pleased

Unit 7: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___

The crow and the pitcher
In a spell of dry...1..., when the Birds could find very little to drink, a ...2....Crow
found a pitcher with a little water in it.
But the pitcher was high and had a ...3....neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow
could not reach the water. The ...4...thing felt as if he must die of thirst.
Then an idea came to him. Picking up some ...5....pebbles, he dropped them into the
pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water ...6...a little higher until at last it was
near enough so he could drink.
13


"In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out."

KEYS:
1. weather
4. poor

2. thirsty
5. small

3. narrow
6. rose

Unit 8: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
The two crabs
One fine day two Crabs ...1...out from their home to take a stroll on the sand.
"Child," said the mother, "you are ...2...very ungracefully. You should accustom

yourself to walking straight forward ....3...twisting from side to ..4....."
"Pray, mother," said the ..5....one, "do but set the ....6....yourself, and I will follow
you."
"Examples is the best precept"
14


KEYS:
1. came
4. side

2. walking 3. without
5. young
6. example

15


RESULTS

Unit 9: Part C: Listening - TextBook 10
I.Warm- up: 10 minutes.
NAME:_____________________
DATE:___
The Goose with the Golden Egg
One day a ....1.....going to the nest of his Goose found ...2.... an egg all yellow
and glittering.
When he took it up it was as ...3....as lead and he was going to throw it away,
because he thought a trick had been played upon him.
But he took it home on ....4.....thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was

an egg of pure gold.
Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon ..5...rich by selling his
eggs.
As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the
Goose could give, he killed it and ...6.....it only to find, nothing.
Greed often overreaches itself.

16


KEYS:
1. countryman
4. second

2. there
5. became

3. heavy
6. opened

3. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
3.1. Results
Through the practical lessons ,poll the ideas of students and compare the
quality of the class. During training I noticed they no longer have to worry when
I give them listening lesson, they were excited and always expected the
listening part. It is different from these old days.English stories stimulated them
to study with listening part of text book 10. My colleagues saw the advantages
of using English stories to warm up the listening part. Now they support my way
and will follow it next year. For me, I will try much more to renew my method
and help my students to inspire with English.

3.1.1 Results achieved through a school year 2018-2019
17


TT class sizes Pretty Good Average Unsatisfactory

Percentages of Students likes studying listening
Total

Very much

number

Numb
er
23

Much
Numb
%
er

24%

42

Normal
Numb
%
er

45%

25

Hate/scare
Numb
%
er

26%

5

%
5%

Learning capicity of students
Excelent

95

Numb
er
15

Good
Numb
%
er

16%

45

Avarage
Numb
%
er

48%

25

Weak
Numb
%
er

26%

10

%
10%

3.1.2. Compare
Compare with the results of the first survey I saw
Excelent students, increased: 11%
Good students, increased relatively: 31%

Avarage students, decreased : 22%
Weak students, decreased:20%

3.2. General conclusion
Learning is a long hard work for students. Thus teachers who has not only
intensive knowledge but they also find ways to make lessons effective and
attract syudents’ attention. Guidance for children how to learn is one of the most
important methods, especially, it is necessary to encourage them to use English
in your life. Learning a language is to practise communicating without fear. So I
made some slight idea to help yourself find a method to develop listening skills
for students at high school in general and students in particular grades 10
efficiently, help students achieve high academic quality .
18


By applying this method, the teacher can stimulate their students with the
listening part, they are excited to study.It will improve their interest as well as
enhance listening skill.
Despite much effort, but there are certainly shortcomings. I welcome and
appreciate the valuable suggestions of colleagues to this method which can be
further improved.
3.3. Proposals.
In the process of implementing, I have some proposals:
- Providing enough facilities for teaching and learning of English at high
schools.
- Create a budget to procure the kind of videos, pictures and content rich
cultural mores, celebrity, festival, ... of the UK and the USA.
- Create favorable conditions for teachers to have access to information
technology and application to serve better for the teaching of English.
These are the thoughts and practical work by myself to improve the

quality of English teaching at high schools. Omission is inevitable, I look
forward to receive the comments of my colleagues at my school as well as in
others for this initiative to be more perfect and is used widely.
Sincerely thank you!
AFFIRMATION OF THE HEADMASTER

Thanh Hoa, 10th May, 2019.
I assure that this is my related learning
experience, I do not copy other
people’s content

Tran Thi Phuong
4. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS.
I download songs on you tube web.
I have some links helping you to enhance listening skill for students :
- National Public Radio
Talk of the Nation - Audio news talk show.
Morning Edition - Morning news talk show
All Things Considered - Audio talk show on a variety of topics
Motley Fool Radio - Personal finance and investing talk show
Car Talk - Talk show about cars and more
19


This American Life - Life and culture.
NPR News
NPR Music
NPR Arts and Entertainment
NPR Podcast Directory
BBC Online

BBC News Hour
BBC Hard Talk - Journalists debate current events.
BBC Americana - Current issues in America.
BBC The Witness - Real-life accounts of major events.
Radio 5 - Sports and news
Radio 4 - Talk, culture, literature, and news
Radio 4 Extra - Radio comedy, drama and programming for children
Radio 2 - Music and entertainment
Radio 1 - The latest music

20