Today, we'll present suggestions on how to use three web locations to foster better language comprehension. Any computer with a fast internet connection and a recent web browser will do just fine. Like any authentic Internet audience, we typically experience slow connections, balky computers, net traffic that causes streamed audio and video to crash and links that become invalid. We try to test the links ahead of time. We sometimes print out a page as a handout and present the listening via a computer and television display, rather than have the class all use it at once on 12 separate computers.
Students can use it individually as homework.
We always look for new material to replace links that change. We use open ended questions to encourage discussion and to allow us to explore new material as it becomes available. Search the NPR website for related content. Chapter 5 deals with homelessness. Students could e-mail about what they have listened to or discuss it in class.