著者

Underwood William J.

出版者

久留米工業大学

雑誌

久留米工業大学研究報告 (ISSN:03896897)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.24, pp.41-50, 2000-12-20

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Thanks to ever-improving streaming technology for online audio and video, any Internet-equipped personal computer now represents a "personal language laboratory." This paper offers an overview of current events-oriented websites suitable for learners of English that provide both streaming audio broadcasting and corresponding transcripts. Foremost among these Internet sites is the Voice of America (VOA) Special English news program, read at a slower speed using a limited vocabulary that is also available online. The BBC World Service site also features audio and text scripts, along with English vocabulary glosses, for a smaller number of stories. A CNN-related educational website provides questions for checking comprehension of news reports, which are accessible in either audio or video formats. The Daily Yomiuri newspaper maintains streaming audio files with online quizzes designed specifically for TOEIC test-takers. Other audio-with-text websites useful for students, involving content such as popular science and daily conversational situations, are surveyed more briefly. Strengths and weaknesses are discussed. After considering general aspects of the ESL listening process, the paper then describes specific classroom applications of these Internet-generated authentic materials in terms of pre-listening, listening, and post-listening activities. The ultimate aim of this approach is to demonstrate to students how they can empower themselves as autonomous, self-paced, lifelong learners of English by means of their own "personal language labs." An appendix lists URLs relevant for educators exploring the diverse classroom uses of streaming multimedia, as well as for individual students accessing real-world news content from home.