Many listening lessons are really tests: play the audio, ask questions, check answers. That teaches little. Listening is a skill, and it needs steps.
Before you play
Give one question. Not five. Tell students what to listen for.
Listen: where are they? A café or a station?
Play once for the idea
Students do not need every word. The first listen is for the general picture.
Play again for detail
Now give a second, smaller question.
What time is the train?
Show the text
After listening, show the words. Let students see what they missed. Sound and spelling connect here.
Practise the hard part
Choose one difficult phrase and say it slowly. Then at normal speed.
Did you eat? — Didja eat?
Keep it short
Two minutes of audio, ten minutes of work. Short audio, deep work.
Words to remember
- listen — to pay attention to sound
- detail — a small piece of information
- phrase — a small group of words
- connect — to join two things
Questions & answers
Q: How many times should I play the audio?
Two or three times, with a different question each time.
Q: Should students read the text first?
Usually no. Read after listening, so the ear works first.
Q: What if they understand nothing?
The audio is too hard. Choose something shorter and slower.
Q: Is it okay to use subtitles?
Yes, as a bridge. Then remove them and listen again.
Q: How do I check understanding quickly?
Ask one question and let pairs answer together before you ask the class.