Simple gadgets for your class: The Mini Tape Recorder
Back in the days of the “Walkman,” tapes were used to play back music or record music and make tapes for friends. An important evolution of this particular technology is the mini-tape, and thus, the mini-tape recorder.
A hand-held gadget that can subtly record an important lecture or can help students review for a final exam, the mini-tape recorder is a great tool for studying and teaching. Since there is an option to replay key topics discussed by the teacher, there is a higher chance of fully comprehending a lesson.
Inspirational speeches can be recorded, as well as important interviews (especially for journalism classes).
It is also a great tool for learning a new language or more vocabulary. Why? Because learning a language means the learner must hear different accents, ranging from native to non-native speakers.
Here are the mini-tape recorder’s other advantages:
- Teachers can immediately switch from the classroom feel to the feel of the country where the language is spoken. It is a given that the mindset of students learning a language know that they are in a classroom, restricted to that reality. It helps if they hear voices speaking as they were in a bus station, an atmosphere created with just a push of the button.
- It can help improve the variety of interactions in the class. The language teacher should not always be the main focus. It helps if the teacher steps back, observes the class, and correct pronunciation. The tape recorder, as it plays, gives the teacher the opportunity to do so.
- Young students often have short attention spans (with an average of 10 minutes), so they need constant stimulus. The tape opens up the class to dynamic activities.
- Several linguists believe that “listening” and comprehending is just as important as speaking a new language. After all, listening is how most people learn their native tongue.
- The tape exposes the students to a complete variety of accents and speakers of different age groups and gender.
When using the tape in class, think of ways to repeat and use dialogues several times. Another important suggestion is to conduct pre-listening, while-listening and after-listening exercises.
Pre-listening activities exist since the comprehending what one hears is hard, and teachers have to give students some help and guidance. The students’ prediction skills can also be developed by letting them anticipate what vocabulary they will hear. It also properly situates students in the proper context, and creates interest in the dialogue.
While listening, teachers can:
- Give students uncompleted text such as a story or a dialogue so they can fill the gaps.
- Show a picture of a person to the students, who will then listen to a description of the person on tape. They will point out the differences between the picture and the description given on the tape.
- Ask students to listen to a tape to complete a drawing. An example would be a country scene, wherein they have to draw things based on the instructions on the tape.
- Give statements about a story and ask students to determine whether they are true or false.
- Ask students to listen to a story on tape and arrange a selection of pictures in order. They can also opt to connect or associate several pictures based on what they heard. For example, they could connect jobs to people or possessions to the characters.
All in all, mini-tape recorders are extremely convenient to any student as a study tool, and a dynamic addition to a teacher’s lesson.
Sources:
Mullen, Christian. “How to Use Mini Tape Recorders in Class.” Retrieved January 06, 2010 from
http://www.ehow.com/how_5571396_use-mini-tape-recorders-class.html
Stannard, Russell. “Using the Tape Recorder in Class.” Retrieved January 06, 2010 from
http://61.178.20.47/teta/chapter/1219909567718/qy/jxll/file/10.htm
(Published 18 January 2010, Smart Communications Inc.)
