Speaker
Description
This practical presentation introduces a simple method for using short, unscripted classroom conversations as materials for listening and speaking activities. It demonstrates how teachers can record conversations with a smartphone, select useful excerpts, and transform them into worksheets. Sample materials and templates will be shared for participants to adapt to their own teaching contexts.
Short summary
This practical presentation shows teachers how to record short, unscripted conversations in class using a smartphone, transcribe them, and turn them into ready-to-use worksheets for listening and speaking activities. Participants will have the chance to record and transcribe a conversation during the session and will receive sample worksheets and templates to adapt for their own classrooms.
Keywords
Classroom recordings
Unscripted conversations
Listening instruction
Worksheet design
Abstract
Background
Wagner (2014) argues that exposure to unscripted spoken texts better reflects the interactional demands of real-world listening. Research has shown that scripted textbook dialogues differ substantially from naturally occurring talk in features such as hesitation, repair, and turn-taking (Field, 2008). Classroom-based research in Japan further suggests that unscripted conversations are essential for preparing learners for real communication (Lambert, 2018).
Contribution
This presentation introduces a practical and low-cost approach to recording and using unscripted conversations. Teachers can easily record unscripted conversations on a smartphone or other recording devices; these naturally occurring conversations (on everyday topics or curriculum-specific) are transcribed and adapted into worksheets for listening and speaking practice. Worksheets produced in this framework include:
(1) Pre-listening (vocabulary-building).
(2) Listening for gist.
(3) Listening for detail.
(4) Post-listening (noticing).
(5) Integration with speaking activities.
Outcome
By the end of the session, participants will be able to record a 2-person unscripted conversation using a smartphone and produce a 1-page transcript. Participants can use the transcript to develop listening and speaking activities. The session includes sample worksheets and templates that teachers can adapt to their contexts, so they can immediately implement the approach and create tailored materials for their classrooms.
References
Field, J. (2008). Listening in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.
Lambert, G. (2018). Scripted versus unscripted English conversation: Student voices. In D. Bollen, J. Morrow, & L. Xethakis (Eds.), SULTF2018 Selected Papers (pp. 12–21). Nankyu JALT.
Wagner, E. (2014). Using unscripted spoken texts to prepare L2 learners for real-world listening. TESOL Journal, 5(2), 288–311. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.120
| Scheduling preference | Anytime on Saturday |
|---|---|
| Title | Recording and Using Unscripted Conversations in the Language Classroom |