Speaking Activity: Retelling or Summarizing an Audio

Speaking Activity: Retelling or Summarizing an Audio

Objective:

• To enhance students’ listening comprehension and speaking fluency.
• To develop students’ ability to summarize and retell information.
• To practice using appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures when describing or summarizing spoken content.

Instructions for the Teacher:

• Prepare the Audio:
• Select an audio clip suitable for the students’ proficiency level (e.g., a short news report, interview, podcast, or dialogue). The audio should be no longer than 3-5 minutes.
• Ensure the content is clear and contains key information students can summarize or retell.
• Introduce the Activity:
• Briefly explain to the students that they will listen to the audio clip and, afterward, they will retell or summarize what they heard.
• Provide any necessary background information to help them understand the context of the audio.

First Listening:

• Play the audio clip once without any interruptions.
• Encourage students to listen carefully to the main ideas and key details.

Second Listening (Optional):

• Play the audio clip a second time, allowing students to take notes if needed.
• Encourage them to focus on key points, facts, or opinions expressed in the audio.

Retelling or Summarizing:

• After listening, ask students to work individually, in pairs, or small groups to either:
• Retell the audio in their own words, focusing on key details and information.
• Summarize the audio by condensing the main points and removing unnecessary details.
• Speaking Task:
• Have each student or group present their retelling or summary orally to the class.
• Encourage the use of appropriate vocabulary, connectors, and sentence structures.
• Provide constructive feedback on their speaking, focusing on clarity, fluency, and accuracy.

Follow-up Discussion:

• After all presentations, facilitate a class discussion on the content of the audio. Ask questions like:
• What was the most important message of the audio?
• Did any part of the audio surprise you or catch your attention?
• Encourage students to give their own opinions on the topic.

Assessment Criteria:

• Clear and accurate retelling or summarizing.
• Use of appropriate language (vocabulary and grammar).
• Fluency and coherence in speaking.