I've seen a few presentations lately on "Digital Storytelling," basically putting pictures with voice. I decided to try that in my advanced listening/speaking class. Hearing my students' voices only, without the benefit of seeing their fact and body language brings out their struggles with pronunciation, as well as grammar. I decided to use this as a way to hone those particular skills.
I had them choose an NGO to research, through watching videos mainly. Then, we followed these steps:
I had them choose an NGO to research, through watching videos mainly. Then, we followed these steps:
- Write the transcript (approximately 100-150 words), telling what the NGO is, what work it does, and why ELP students should donate money to it.
- Review and revise the transcript for content and grammar. I, along with their peer mentor, helped them with this.
- Review the transcript, marking a) stressed words, b) thought groups that should be linked together, c) pauses.
- Record Draft #1.
- Feedback from me. I listened and noted any major pronunciation issues, as well as key words that were being mispronounced.
- Record Draft #2.
- Create a video by adding photos and music.
Overall, it was fun, and helped focus on specific skills--sentence-level stress, linking, etc. Here are a few of them, as an example:
