Arlyn Freed's ESL/EFL Listening Resources, #1

Last updated April 2007
This site compiled and maintained by Arlyn Freed © 2000-2007. All rights reserved.
While links to this site are welcome all users agree not to copy or repost any aspect of this or any other web page from Arlyn Freed's eslhome.com domain; please refer viewers to the source web page at this site. Linking text MUST read the same as title of web page.
Comments/suggestions should be sent to: support@eslhome.com

Arlyn Freed's ESL/EFL Listening Resources
with reviews of web sites

•

•
Source: http://www.favoritepoem.org/thevideos/index.html

Advantages:   uses RealPlayer Video

(*****) Many reasons to bookmark this site! A highly effective tool for teaching English and American culture.

Created with funds from the NEA; brainchild of former US Poet Laureate (1997-'99), Robert Pinsky. Videos offer range of US lifestyles and are edited in stylish, engrossing "MTV"-fashion.

Most videos begin with narrative by speaker, describing personal importance of poem. Final section of the video offers an oral reading of chosen poem by the speaker.

Many slices of American culture; non-professional speakers (e.g., range of accents, ethnicities, ages). Students may read along w/text, (click supplied link), while listening to speaker.

Student favorites:   John Ulrich reads Gwendolyn Brooks': "We Real Cool".
Download Student listening task (PDF).
Download Teacher's answer key (PDF). Student favorites:   Yina Liang reads Emily Dickinson's: "I'm nobody! Who are you?"
Download the transcript (PDF file).
Download the post-listening task (PDF).

back to list

•

•
Source: http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/mchirc/dataspeak/pastevent.htmeak/

Advantages:   uses RealPlayer audio with slide images

A series of professional conferences on Maternal and Child Health, from the University of Illinois-Chicago's School of Public Health. For advanced students with career/academic interests in the health field and current topics of interest.
• Archived presentations from 2000 to 2003.
• Scroll down page and choose topic;
    click on "EventArchive" to hear audio/see slides.

Presentations:
•  approx. 20 minutes
•  accompanied by original
   slide presentation
•  transcript available;
   can be read pre-/post- or
   during listening.
Sample presentation titles:
• June 13, 2002: The Health of Immigrant Populations
• April 4, 2002: Obesity in Children & Adolescents
• June 26, 2001: Int'l Perspectives on Youth Violence
• Feb. 8, 2001: Using Survey and Market Research ...
Caveat: Topics are field-specific and complex; recommended for graduate students and health professionals.

back to list

•

•
Source: http://www.wisconsinstories.org/general/sesquicentennial.html

Advantages: uses RealPlayer audio

Fifty-two 60 second video/audio segments contain still images and/or moving images revealing moments from Wisconsin's historic past.
Disadvantages: No transcripts are available, though it wouldn't be too difficult to create one as these pieces are short.

Vocabulary is at about the 5th grade level and will require some preparation depending upon the segment chosen. Not all segments have national appeal, as this is specifically about the state of Wisconsin.

Recommendations: Topics include the Underground railroad, Fishing industry, World War I, the Civil War, & Armistice Day.
Some of the segments are read from books or scripts, while others contain interviews; requires some searching to find the material that works best.

back to list

• •
Source: http://www.footage.net/cgi-bin/FN/global_search
or Source: http://www.wpafilmlibrary.com/

Advantages:   NONE-NO PLAYBACK

Film archive for the WPA historic archive. The "mother-lode" of historic material for the 20th century.   Recently acquired by 'Footage.net', the site has a new look and can only be accessed for search purposes, not viewing. More than 60,000 hours of footage from America and Britian; TV ads to news coverage of landmark events. Much more riveting than a history book or text summary.

I have decided to keep this site listed because it still offers an amazing array of archived footage that can be purchased. HOWEVER: It's worth the work to find what you can -- Watch history unfold before your eyes!

Disadvantages: Difficult to navigate site: WPA is the best, but good to do a search of 'all' as well. Disadvantages: You can't view any footage before paying for it, except for the demos (not very interesting). You must become a registered user to buy footage.

Recommendations: WPA Tape 56 Clip 9: Martin Luther King Jr.   SEARCH: CIVIL RIGHTS and resistance or just MLK Jr. MLK Jr. screen image

back to list

•

•

Source: for Laforet's page: http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/index_JOURNAL01.html

Advantages: uses Flash version 4.0 or higher

New York Times photographers discuss their reactions to Sept. 11, 2001 plus offer opinions on Pakistani and Afghan culture. This site is beautiful to look at, both because of the stunning images (supplied by the speakers) and the use of Flash technology.
• Each page contains a short summary
(this is NOT a transcript).

Interviews were conducted within weeks of 9/11; the speakers' voices reveal a lot of emotion. Surprisingly, the pages load quickly (even on a 56K modem) and the audio is very clear. Flash control buttons allow users to modulate audio volume.

There are six or seven clips per page; students can listen to specific pieces several times or click through the clips by title. Disadvantages: Unfortunately, the link "More Journals" only allows free access to the first three journals, you must be a subscriber to access the others. To access the 3 audio interviews, do so from the "More Journals" pull-down menu in the upper right, or change the number in the URL from '1' to '2' or '3'.

Direct Link :
James Hill's page
Direct Link :
Ruth Fremson's page

back to list

•

•
Source: http://www.uaf.edu/seagrant/NewsMedia/MoreASJ.html

Advantages: uses RealPlayer audio

Academic and Educational; comprehensive and challenging. Scientific passages about Alaskian environment & wildlife.

Each piece includes additional links, allowing in-depth research on subject. Excellent search engine allows for easy navigation and location of archived listenings.

Disadvantages: Transcript appears in full when page loads, usually below a photograph. Requires great self-control not to read along with transcript.

back to list

Environmental Listening Reviews

Source: http://www.eslhome.com/chubu/

Advantages: uses QuickTime

12 ESL students orally summarize internet listening pieces about the environment. Visitors can listen to the review while reading
a brief overview of the listening piece, then link to the source page to hear the original.

Inset audio bar allows for easy manipulation of audio controls. Provides examples of summarizing techniques and expressing opinions.

Disadvantages: Student language abilities vary. Disadvantages: Some material is dated ('99). Sometimes difficult to get .aiff files to play.

back to list

More Student Listening Reviews

Source: http://www.eslhome.com/reviews/

Advantages: uses QuickTime and RealPlayer audio

ESL students orally summarize internet listening pieces chosen according to academic interests. Visitors listen to student's review while
reading brief overview of listening piece,
then link to the source page to hear
the original audio file.

Inset audio bar allows for easy manipulation of audio controls. Provides examples of summarizing techniques and expressing opinions; wide range of academic topics including fuel cells, physical therapy, multimedia, health, and psychology.

Disadvantages: Student language abilities vary with experience. Disadvantages: Depending upon computer configuration, audio files may not play (uses .aiff files).

back to list

• •
Source: http://www.law.indiana.edu/outreach/lawtalk/

Advantages: uses QuickTime and RealPlayer audio

Short (1:30 mins.), simplified, and clearly spoken passages about several aspects of US law.
Disadvantages: No supplemental materials available; rate of speech is a little quick.

Range of topics with societal impact:
   • Amendments to US Constitution
   • Business Law & Personal Finance
   • Other topics: Civil Law, Criminal Law
    and Miscellaneous.
Transcripts, text summaries, and a glossary of terms would expand the potential of this material. RealAudio files STILL do not function; to be safe, plan on using the QuickTime (.au files).

Other topics (note: these links will open in Quicktime): bounced checks, death penalty, the Human Genome Project, jury selection, and Politically Correct speech. Law Talk was offline for almost a year while IU's web site underwent revision. Luckily the university decided to keep these files available for public access.

back to list

• •
Source: http://www.radiodiaries.org/radiodiaries.html

Advantages: uses MP3 audio (Quicktime Player) and RealPlayer audio

Interesting selection of first-person narratives from NPR's "All Things Considered", and others. Audio pieces vary in length from 7-15 mins.
These vignettes re-live personal moments related to historical and sociocultural aspects of American culture, such as aging, work, prison, and teenagers.

Producers gave subjects a tape recorder and they made an audio journal of their life at that moment. Includes link for educators with instructions to create radio diaries -- read web page then download the PDF file "Teenage Handbook".

Advantages: Link opens with one photo and short written summary but full TRANSCRIPT is available on separate page. Easy navigation.

Recommendations: "Diary of a Retirement home" (aging in US), "Melissa...Teen Mom", and "Frank Sabatino, Fisherman".

back to list

NASA's Space Story
Source: http://town.hall.org/radio/NASA/

Advantages uses QuickTime and RealPlayer audio

Short (4'30") pieces about ecology, planets and the universe. Three audio formats available:
• The QuickTime (.au) files are larger
(2.1Mb) but offer clearer sound
than RA files (0.2Mb).

Short text summary of each piece is provided (this is NOT a transcript). Disadvantages: The radio series "Space Story" existed from 1994-1995; material is not current.

back to list

Site Visitors:

	(*****) Many reasons to bookmark this site!		A highly effective tool for teaching English and American culture.
	Created with funds from the NEA; brainchild of former US Poet Laureate (1997-'99), Robert Pinsky.		Videos offer range of US lifestyles and are edited in stylish, engrossing "MTV"-fashion.
	Most videos begin with narrative by speaker, describing personal importance of poem.		Final section of the video offers an oral reading of chosen poem by the speaker.
	Many slices of American culture; non-professional speakers (e.g., range of accents, ethnicities, ages).		Students may read along w/text, (click supplied link), while listening to speaker.
	Student favorites: John Ulrich reads Gwendolyn Brooks': "We Real Cool". Download Student listening task (PDF). Download Teacher's answer key (PDF).		Student favorites: Yina Liang reads Emily Dickinson's: "I'm nobody! Who are you?" Download the transcript (PDF file). Download the post-listening task (PDF).

	A series of professional conferences on Maternal and Child Health, from the University of Illinois-Chicago's School of Public Health.		For advanced students with career/academic interests in the health field and current topics of interest. • Archived presentations from 2000 to 2003. • Scroll down page and choose topic; click on "EventArchive" to hear audio/see slides.
	Presentations: • approx. 20 minutes • accompanied by original slide presentation • transcript available; can be read pre-/post- or during listening.		Sample presentation titles: • June 13, 2002: The Health of Immigrant Populations • April 4, 2002: Obesity in Children & Adolescents • June 26, 2001: Int'l Perspectives on Youth Violence • Feb. 8, 2001: Using Survey and Market Research ... Caveat: Topics are field-specific and complex; recommended for graduate students and health professionals.

	Fifty-two 60 second video/audio segments contain still images and/or moving images revealing moments from Wisconsin's historic past.		*Disadvantages:* No transcripts are available, though it wouldn't be too difficult to create one as these pieces are short.
	Vocabulary is at about the 5th grade level and will require some preparation depending upon the segment chosen.		Not all segments have national appeal, as this is specifically about the state of Wisconsin.
	Recommendations: Topics include the Underground railroad, Fishing industry, World War I, the Civil War, & Armistice Day.		Some of the segments are read from books or scripts, while others contain interviews; requires some searching to find the material that works best.

	Film archive for the WPA historic archive. The "mother-lode" of historic material for the 20th century. Recently acquired by 'Footage.net', the site has a new look and can only be accessed for search purposes, not viewing.		More than 60,000 hours of footage from America and Britian; TV ads to news coverage of landmark events. Much more riveting than a history book or text summary.
	I have decided to keep this site listed because it still offers an amazing array of archived footage that can be purchased.		HOWEVER: It's worth the work to find what you can -- Watch history unfold before your eyes!
	*Disadvantages:* Difficult to navigate site: WPA is the best, but good to do a search of 'all' as well.		*Disadvantages:* You can't view any footage before paying for it, except for the demos (not very interesting). You must become a registered user to buy footage.
	Recommendations: WPA Tape 56 Clip 9: Martin Luther King Jr. SEARCH: CIVIL RIGHTS and resistance or just MLK Jr.

	New York Times photographers discuss their reactions to Sept. 11, 2001 plus offer opinions on Pakistani and Afghan culture.		This site is beautiful to look at, both because of the stunning images (supplied by the speakers) and the use of Flash technology. • Each page contains a short summary (this is NOT a transcript).
	Interviews were conducted within weeks of 9/11; the speakers' voices reveal a lot of emotion.		Surprisingly, the pages load quickly (even on a 56K modem) and the audio is very clear. Flash control buttons allow users to modulate audio volume.
	There are six or seven clips per page; students can listen to specific pieces several times or click through the clips by title.		*Disadvantages:* Unfortunately, the link "More Journals" only allows free access to the first three journals, you must be a subscriber to access the others. To access the 3 audio interviews, do so from the "More Journals" pull-down menu in the upper right, or change the number in the URL from '1' to '2' or '3'.
	Direct Link : James Hill's page		Direct Link : Ruth Fremson's page

	Academic and Educational; comprehensive and challenging.		Scientific passages about Alaskian environment & wildlife.
	Each piece includes additional links, allowing in-depth research on subject.		Excellent search engine allows for easy navigation and location of archived listenings.
	*Disadvantages:* Transcript appears in full when page loads, usually below a photograph.		Requires great self-control not to read along with transcript.

	12 ESL students orally summarize internet listening pieces about the environment.		Visitors can listen to the review while reading a brief overview of the listening piece, then link to the source page to hear the original.
	Inset audio bar allows for easy manipulation of audio controls.		Provides examples of summarizing techniques and expressing opinions.
	Disadvantages: Student language abilities vary.		*Disadvantages:* Some material is dated ('99). Sometimes difficult to get .aiff files to play.

	ESL students orally summarize internet listening pieces chosen according to academic interests.		Visitors listen to student's review while reading brief overview of listening piece, then link to the source page to hear the original audio file.
	Inset audio bar allows for easy manipulation of audio controls.		Provides examples of summarizing techniques and expressing opinions; wide range of academic topics including fuel cells, physical therapy, multimedia, health, and psychology.
	*Disadvantages:* Student language abilities vary with experience.		*Disadvantages:* Depending upon computer configuration, audio files may not play (uses .aiff files).

	Short (1:30 mins.), simplified, and clearly spoken passages about several aspects of US law.		*Disadvantages:* No supplemental materials available; rate of speech is a little quick.
	Range of topics with societal impact: • Amendments to US Constitution • Business Law & Personal Finance • Other topics: Civil Law, Criminal Law and Miscellaneous.		Transcripts, text summaries, and a glossary of terms would expand the potential of this material. RealAudio files STILL do not function; to be safe, plan on using the QuickTime (.au files).
	Other topics (note: these links will open in Quicktime): bounced checks, death penalty, the Human Genome Project, jury selection, and Politically Correct speech.		Law Talk was offline for almost a year while IU's web site underwent revision. Luckily the university decided to keep these files available for public access.

	Interesting selection of first-person narratives from NPR's "All Things Considered", and others. Audio pieces vary in length from 7-15 mins.		These vignettes re-live personal moments related to historical and sociocultural aspects of American culture, such as aging, work, prison, and teenagers.
	Producers gave subjects a tape recorder and they made an audio journal of their life at that moment.		Includes link for educators with instructions to create radio diaries -- read web page then download the PDF file "Teenage Handbook".
	Advantages: Link opens with one photo and short written summary but full TRANSCRIPT is available on separate page. Easy navigation.		Recommendations: "Diary of a Retirement home" (aging in US), "Melissa...Teen Mom", and "Frank Sabatino, Fisherman".

	Short (4'30") pieces about ecology, planets and the universe.		Three audio formats available: • The QuickTime (.au) files are larger (2.1Mb) but offer clearer sound than RA files (0.2Mb).
	Short text summary of each piece is provided (this is NOT a transcript).		Disadvantages: The radio series "Space Story" existed from 1994-1995; material is not current.

Arlyn Freed's ESL/EFL Listening Resources with reviews of web sites

Arlyn Freed's ESL/EFL Listening Resources
with reviews of web sites