Unit 4, grade 12: The Mass Media – Listening

Social media: Language learning apps (Social media: language learning app)

1. Task 1 Unit 4 Grade 12 Listening

Read about how three students use social media. Complete the sentences with the words from the box. (Read about how three students use social media. Complete the sentences with the words in the box.)

Guide to answer:

1. app

2. record

3. GPS

4. interactive

5. connect

6. audio

7. updates

Translation

Student A: Now I can chat with my friends and relatives using a free video chat app on my favorite social media. I can also record my own videos and send them to others. I can even use a GPS navigation app to find my way around in a new place.

Student B: I got an A on my English test last week. I am very proud because I have studied very hard. I took an interactive online course taught by an experienced instructor. I have also become a member of an online language community where I can connect with native speakers, ask questions, and practice speaking via audio and video chat.

Student C: I have been using different social media sites for a year and they have really changed my life. I can connect with people I know and make new friends at any time. I can also post updates to my coursework and initiate open discussions with my classmates.

2. Task 2 Unit 4 Grade 12 Listening

Listen to a conversation between two students talking about language learning applications. Which of the following did they not talk about. (Listen to a conversation between two students talking about language learning apps. Which of the following aren’t they talking about?)

Click to listen

first. Lan’s English test results (Lan’s English test results)

2. Nam’s birthday (Nam’s birthday)

3. Language-learning courses (Language courses)

4. Play online games (Play games online)

5. Chatting online with native speakers (Online chat with native speakers)

6. Writing a blog (Write a blog site)

Guide to answer

Key: 2 and 3

Audio scripts

Male: Congratulations, Lan! You’ve got an A on your English test!

Lan: Thanks, Nam. I should really thank a few social networking sites that help me to improve my English.

Male: Sounds interesting! So how did you improve your English?

Lan: First, I registered and created an account with my nickname. Then I downloaded some free language learning apps on my smartphone and started revising and learning new vocabulary on the go. I could practise while on the bus on my way to school or while jogging in the park.

Male: Wow! So you don’t play online games anymore?

Lan: Of course I do, but I focus on language games such as Scrabble and crossword puzzles.

Male: Really? I didn’t know you were keen on these games. Aren’t they boring?

Lan: Not if you connect and compete with other online gamers. You can also make friends and have fun.

Male: Really? But you still need a tutor to explain things or correct your English if you make a mistake.

Lan: Exactly. Some social networking sites help you to connect with native speakers so you can ask questions or have your writing drafts corrected.

Male: Sounds good! I saw that you uploaded some vocabulary and grammar flashcards on all your social media sites. How did you create them?

Lan: I used a free program available on my smartphone. I also used the recording feature to collect interesting samples from English TV and radio. Have you also seen my photos on my English blog?

Male: Yes, I have. Great photos!

Lan: Thanks.

Translation

Male: Congratulations, Lan! You got an A on the English test!

Lan: Thanks, Nam. I really need to thank a few social networking sites that help me improve my English.
Male: Sounds interesting! So how did you improve your English?

Lan: First, I signed up and created an account with my nickname. Then I downloaded some free language learning apps on my smartphone and started reviewing and learning new vocabulary on the go. I can practice while on the bus on the way to school or while jogging in the park.

Male: Wow! So you don’t play online games anymore?

Lan: Of course I do, but I focus on language games like Scrabble and crossword puzzles.

Male: Really? I didn’t know you were interested in these games. Aren’t they boring?

Lan: Not if you connect and compete with other online gamers. You can also make friends and have fun.

Male: Really? But you still need a tutor to explain things or correct your English if you make mistakes.

Lan: Exactly. Some social networking sites help you connect with native speakers so you can ask questions or draft your manuscript.

Male: Sounds interesting! I see that you have uploaded some vocabulary and grammar flashcrads all over your social media sites. How did you create them?

Lan: I used a free program available on my smartphone. I also used the recording feature to collect interesting samples from English TV and radio stations. Have you seen my pictures on my English blog?

Male: Yes, I’ve seen it. Great pictures!

3. Task 3 Unit 4 Grade 12 Listening

Listen again. Give answers to the following questions. (Listen again. Answer the following questions)

Click to listen

first. How does Lan learn new vocabulary? (How does Lan learn new words?)

2. Why does Lan like playing language games? (Why does Lan like to play language games?)

3. How does Lan connect with native speakers of English? (How does Lan connect with native English speakers?)

4. How did she create her flashcards? (How does she make flashcards?)

Guide to answer

1. She downloaded some language learning apps on her smartphone and started learning vocabulary on the go. (She downloaded several language learning apps on her smartphone and started learning vocabulary on the go.)

2. Because she wants to improve her English. (Because she wants to improve her English.)

3. She uses some social networking sites. (She uses several social networking sites.)

4. She used a free program on her smartphone. (She uses a free program on her smartphone.)

4. Task 4 Unit 4 Grade 12 Listening

Work in groups of four. Listen again. What do think about Lan’s ways of improving her English? What can you learn from her experience? (Work in groups of four. Listen again. What do you think about Lan’s way of improving English? What can you learn from her experience?)

Guide to answer

– download some language learning apps on my smartphone and start learning vocabulary on the go (download some language apps for my smartphone and start learning vocabulary on the go)

– use some social networking sites to learn, and play crossword puzzles. (use some social networking sites to learn, and do crossword puzzles)

5. Practice Task 1

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to the word whose underlined part indicates from the other three in pronunciation in each of the following questions.

Question 1: A. access B. search C. surf D. record

Question 2: A. exported B. enjoyed C. good D. crowded

Question 3: A. access B. search C. surf D. record

Question 4: A. exported B. enjoyed C. good D. crowded

6. Practice Task 2

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

Question 1: While a sports match has spectators and radio has listeners, television has ____.

A. audience B. witnesses C. viewers D. commentators

Question 2: I hate ____ newspapers; they’re just full of gossip, scandal and lies!

A. online B. daily C. tabloid D. rubbish

Question 3: When I met Walters about two years before his death he didn’t seem satisfied. He ____ no major book since he settled in Uganda.

A. has published B. could have published C. published D. had published

Question 4: While the campaign we ____ our candidate’s photographs on the walls of public buildings, hope to attract women’s votes

A. have been hanging B. hanged OLD. Hung D. have hung

8. Conclusion

At the end of the new Unit 4 English Grade 12 – Listening, students need to practice listening and remembering the applications of mass media in language learning; at the same time, contact yourself on how to improve your English through the mass media.