Dictogloss: A Potential Means of Language Development

https://media.wix.com/ugd/ab838c_51f8cca3026147209f49847c6461c625.pdf

Shanjida Halim and Tanzina Halim, Dept. of English King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Listening is a dynamic process where the listeners construct meaning based on the

in terplay of background knowledge and the new concepts presented in the text. In other words,

Listening is one of the most important language skills. It is claimed that more than 45% ofcommunication time is spent in listening, which clearly shows how import

ant this skill is inoverall language ability. The traditional approach to teaching listening comprehension shows thatlistening skills are taught in isolation or are sometimes combined with speaking tasks. Dictoglosscreates an opportunity of blending teaching listening comprehension and the assessment ofstudents' listening ability in a unique way. Dictogloss is a classroom dictation activity where

learners listen to a passage either a recording or a teacher-read text, note down key words and then work to gether to create a reconstructed version of the text.

The aim of this articleis to show the several potential advantages of the Dictogloss model over othertraditionalmodels ofteaching li stening comprehension. This article

will also discuss how the Dictogloss approach can

be implemented in an EFL/ESL class.