Talk It Up Creating a portfolio of speech samples TESL Canada 2014 Sheri Rhodes

What brings you here? A.Tools B.Tasks C.Portfolio D.Other Talk it up

The instructional objective Support our students in their efforts to improve their skills in speaking Why: "the process of building and sharing meaning through the use of verbal and non-verbal symbols, in a variety of contexts"

Skill of speaking includes: Producing the English speech sounds and sound patterns Using word and sentence stress, intonation patterns and the rhythm of the second language. Selecting appropriate words and sentences according to the proper social setting, audience, situation and subject matter. Organizing thoughts in a meaningful and logical sequence. Using language as a means of expressing values and judgments. Using the language quickly and confidently with few unnatural pauses (fluency). Nunan, 2003

Functions of a Portfolio 1.Plan educational programs; 2.Document knowledge, skills, abilities, and learning; 3.Track development within a program; 4.Find a job; 5.Evaluate a course; and 6.Monitor and evaluate performance. Lorenzo and Ittelson, 2005

Portfolio contents Definition: A collection of artifacts, including demonstrations, resources and accomplishments that represent an individual. Writing portfolios Artifacts are printed text. Speaking portfolios What evidence can we provide of someone’s speaking ability?

Feedback without audio capture Who: instructor, peers, student Form: *Face to face individual feedback – immediate or delayed *Group feedback – immediate or delayed Checklist use Rubric use Evaluation grids use Task reflections Written comments

Capturing the Production Advantages for the Instructor: Hear Assess Advantages for the Learner: Hear and Compare Notice Improve Reflect Engage Graham Stanley, 2013

Then to Now

Solution not the tool “Technological innovation is driven by many factors, but not one of them concerns a pedagogical imperative.” Diane Laurillard “Don’t fall in love with technology. Fall in love with solutions.” Ron Sparks

Where can we create content?

In Class “Mobile” devices Provided by the institution Provided by the instructor BYOD

In a Computer Lab Dedicated recording tools Audacity / Garageband Web-based tools Podcasting sites Others Features of other software PowerPoint narration

Outside of class time Student owned devices In the home Mobile Accessed at school, in community

Ways to capture

Using tools in new ways Telephones Voicethread Tumblr Cameras On phones Stand alone Home computers Audio tools included

Best Practices Limit tool variety Use it frequently Model the use Start with an orientation task – LTA Clear instructions / text based and visual guide Use what others have shared

Applications Voicethread (web and mobile) Soundcloud (web and mobile) Voxopop (web only)

Devices Digital Voice Recorders Smart Phones Computers Home Phones

Where can the portfolio live? Web-based tool Website/wiki/blog CMS Cloud based storage Portable storage

Tasks Discrete skills Pronunciation Grammar application Integrative skills Meaningful communication Pragmatics use

Sample Task Soundcloud mobile app Pronunciation Feature Task Advantage: Comment feature, easy to use mobile app, embeds easily, private Disadvantage: instructor account or students need own application and account

Have you used Soundcloud? (pronunciation)

Record directly on the site; Upload an existing audio file; or Use the very simple mobile app on your smartphone or tablet.

Download the file with an.m4a file extension.

Sample Task Voicethread Phone application Accurate language use – How often do you …? Advantage: visually prompted, shared with others, everyone can use, embeds easily, private Disadvantage: limit to free access

Have you used Voicethread? (oral accuracy)

Sample Task Voxopop Add to a discussion thread – class survey Advantage: easy for students to initiate discussion, asynchronous, private group Disadvantage: prepared, less authentic

Have you used Voxopop? (discussion threads)

Sample Task Digital Voice Recorder Role play language exchange with a partner Decide on a tourist attraction to research Advantage – User friendly, minimally intrusive for interaction, not reliant on web access, synchronous which is more authentic Disadvantage – post recording process to share, can’t view interaction between participants

Have you used a Digital Voice Recorder? (partner work)

Where do I start? Current practice? Where would students benefit most from review, reflection, additional models? Select the tool that fits the task Create a model and task instructions Try it out (colleague – family member – willing student) Tweak and pilot Review and share!

Build the portfolio tasks Move from only text based documents to collection of sample files, links or embedded tools that showcase speaking tasks throughout your program. Start with initial and final tasks – of similar format and using the same audio capture. Practice between – with repeated use of the tool but not requiring every sample to go into the portfolio Or Let students decide which samples to share such as “post 4 of the 10 weekly activities recorded in the term”.

Where can I get support? Tutorials on the site Tutorials posted on YouTube At local workshops Watch a webinar Take a course

Thank you! Twitter: whistlepunch Presentation will be posted at: