2. Randall’s ESL Cyber Listening Lab Randall S. Davis www.esl-lab.com

3. Purpose n For Students: Provide a free online self- access center to help learners improve their English listening comprehension skills. n For Teachers: Develop a resource of listening material which can be used to supplement and reinforce skills taught in the classroom.

4. Development Process n decide on the objectives and goals of the site n survey any existing sites with similar goals n determine the feasibility and limitations of technology n register a domain name and set up the site n create the content for the materials including listening scripts, quizzes, and exercises n record, edit, and play multimedia content n maintain, support, and promote the website

5. Background n Lab first established by Randall S. Davis in 1998 as an independent educational project, and Randall continues to develop the site at home. Randall S. DavisRandall S. Davis n The idea of the lab sprang from the realization that few multimedia materials existed online for language learners.

6. Advantages of Using the Internet n 24-hour access n Platform independence n Development speed n Interactivity n Multisensory pages n Enhancement of critical thinking skills n Encounters with real language

7. Challenges of Using the Internet n Limited or restricted access to the Internet n Pages not created for all users n Pages load too slowly n Many pages lack content

8. Main Features of the Lab n Over 125 original learning quizzes and activities covering both functional language topics (e.g., making invitations, checking into a hotel, buying a used car, etc.) as well as interviews, news broadcasts, and simulated TV and radio programs making invitationschecking into a hotelbuying a used carinterviewsnews broadcastssimulated TV and radio programs making invitationschecking into a hotelbuying a used carinterviewsnews broadcastssimulated TV and radio programs n The use of streaming audio and video technology for delivering multimedia content on the Internet which provides an array of multisensorial learning experiences >> More

9. Additional Features n Addition of pre-, listening, and post-listening activities to build upon each listening quiz n Use of low-bandwidth media files for making the material accessible to slow Internet connection rates around the world n Self-study guide to help visitors organize their study goals and objectives Self-study guide Self-study guide n Free online access for learners and teachers

10. Creating Online Multimedia Tutorials n hardware hardware n software software n content Randall’s Multimedia Tutorials http://www.esl-lab.com/tutorials/lesson1.htm

11. Future Directions n Develop more video presentations as higher-speed connections become available n Create speaking activities that allow learners to interact with other students online (video conferencing, voice chat, voice forums, etc.)

12. Contact Feel free to contact Randall for more information on his listening lab or on how to create similar materials for the Internet. www.esl-lab.com randall@esl-lab.com Also see Randall’s page on Frequently Ask QuestionsFrequently Ask Questions