For us language teachers, listening might seem like one of the easier core skills, being receptive rather than productive. However, many seasoned pros will acknowledge the challenge of fostering confidence in pupils when it comes to the listening component of an exam. For many, the Listening Paper is one of the most daunting elements.
Before we dive into key strategies to prepare pupils for the Listening Paper, it’s crucial to understand why pupils struggle with this skill. Below are 7 key areas to tackle in your teaching and learning culture to help your pupils thrive:
Originally published 2nd October 2023, moved to our blog on the 5th of September 2024.
1. Limited Access to the Language Outside the Classroom
Although Spanish-language pop culture is becoming more accessible through the Internet (see our Independent Learners area), many pupils remain reluctant to engage with content in its original language. This reluctance can stem from the monolingual nature of the Anglosphere and a preference for dubbed content.
To combat this, encourage pupils to engage with Spanish-language content based on their interests. Whether it’s watching TV shows in Spanish with English subtitles or playing a favourite video game in Spanish for short bursts, this helps build exposure. You could also assign "Listening Journals" as homework tasks to monitor progress and active vocabulary learning.
2. Inadequacy of In-Class Listening Activities for Ear Training
The demands on teachers are immense, and often, unexpected classroom moments can affect teaching quality. Departments must prioritise building listening skills from the start of a pupil’s language-learning journey. While this may be more challenging for non-native teachers, activities like dictations (or delayed dictations) are excellent for enhancing phonics awareness and short-term memory retention. See our activity types for re-useable ideas.
3. Mismatch of In-Class Activities with Exam-Style Questions
Quality listening resources are often scarce or prohibitively expensive, and creating tailored audio exercises can be challenging. If you're using audio that wasn’t specifically made for your exam’s question types, modify the activities to help your pupils build the necessary skills. Additionally, if the resources are outdated (e.g., mentioning pesetas instead of euros), you may want to find new materials or ask native speakers to record updated audio.
4. Deficiency in Vocabulary Knowledge
A common barrier to listening comprehension is a lack of active vocabulary learning. Pupils can easily become “thrown” by one unknown word, which can disrupt their understanding of the entire passage. Introduce new vocabulary within listening activities, but ensure pupils are revisiting old vocabulary as well. Regular vocabulary tests can help equip them with the tools needed to understand the content.
5. Apprehension of Making Mistakes
A nurturing classroom environment is essential, especially in language classes where pupils may feel self-conscious about making mistakes. To combat this, progressively scaffold your content, building in cognates and core vocabulary to build confidence. Once pupils feel more secure in their knowledge, you can challenge them with more complex material.
6. Insufficient Contextual Understanding
Not all pupils have had the opportunity to travel to Spanish-speaking countries or understand the value of learning Spanish. Enhancing cultural exposure can help bridge this gap. Cultural knowledge can significantly aid linguistic comprehension, allowing pupils to connect the language with familiar concepts. For example, understanding that the Sagrada Familia is a key religious building in Barcelona can help pupils grasp references to Gaudí or religion in a text.
7. Overdependence on Passive Learning Styles
Languages require active listening, a skill that pupils may not practice as often in other subjects. As such, they tend to rely on passive learning styles, expecting to pick up information through reading or skimming. Combat this tendency by actively developing listening skills throughout your Scheme of Work, ensuring that listening remains a core focus at all stages of learning.
Practicable Strategies to Implement for the Exam:
With a refreshed awareness of the obstacles in developing listening skills, here are 3 core strategies to implement as you prepare your pupils for the Listening Paper:
1. Use the 5-Minute Reading Time Effectively
As outlined in my PDF documents, there are certain areas of the exam where pupils should dedicate most of their preparation time. For example, Q6 often has a grammatical logic to it. After building familiarity with question types, encourage pupils to use the reading period to jot down what they should be listening for in each question.
2. Do a Practice Paper on the Day (or Day Before) the Exam
Similar to my advice for speaking preparation, doing a practice paper right before the exam can help pupils "tune in" to the Spanish language. This method sharpens their focus and primes their ear for the task ahead. If done the day before, it can also highlight any areas of weakness, such as the need to revise antonyms or opinion verbs.
3. Stay Calm and Review Answers
A key advantage of the Listening Paper is that it typically increases in difficulty as the exam progresses. This can boost confidence as pupils feel they've secured some early marks. However, remind them to stay calm and review their answers, especially if they miss a few marks at the start. Becoming overly nervous can lead to careless mistakes, so encourage them to stay composed and focused.
I hope you’ve found these tips useful!
Don't forget, you can gain access to any of our Spanish IGCSE listening documents through a subscription that includes Spanish Step 4. Alternatively, you could purchase a bundled package (see below).