'Types of listening' tutor notes

The main focus of this module is to help learners practise their listening skills, especially listening for and understanding explanations, instructions and narratives on different topics in a range of contexts. We are delighted to include some material based around the BBC One drama series, 'Casualty'. Some of it has been adapted from the Casualty website.

The module also incorporates a good deal of material specific to the care sector in the workplace. Although not all of the material is care-based, we hope that anyone studying basic skills and/or the NVQ level II in Care will find the module relevant. Some of the speaking and listening skills required for the NVQ at level 2 of the basic skills curriculum are:

• Listen to details (client needs, colleagues)
• Explain clients' needs to others (doctors, social workers etc.)
• Communicate by phone with a range of agencies (social services etc.)
• Deal sensitively with others with awareness of body language, tone etc.

We hope that the level 1 material here provides a good introduction to some of these learning points and may be used as portfolio evidence.
This is the second module with care material on Skillswise - there is also a 'Care vocabulary' module.
The other area of the site that might help learners improve their listening skills is 'Listening for specific information'.

How does this tie in with the curriculums?

• England
  SLlr/L1.2 - 'listen for and understand explanations, instructions and narratives on different topics in a range of contexts'.
  Also touches upon -
  SLlr/L1.3 / SLlr/L1.4 / SLlr/L1.5 /
• Wales
  As England.
• Northern Ireland
  As England.
• Scotland
  See www.aloscotland.com for details of the Scottish curriculum.

In the Skillswise module you'll find:

Different types of listening - factsheets
There are four factsheets in this module. Factsheet 1 is a guide to listening in general. Factsheet 2 focuses on the different listening demands when listening face-to-face, in a large group and on the telephone. Factsheet 3 deals specifically with listening to instructions and Factsheet 4 looks at listening in the care sector.

Different types of listening - worksheets
Worksheets 1 & 2: Casualty story maps
The idea behind these worksheets is that the learner listens to the audio and fills in as much detail as possible on the answersheets. By organising the information visually the student may be better placed to retain the main gist. It doesn't matter if the answers don't exactly match those on the answersheet. The important thing is to practise picking out the main points. These worksheets also aim to help students practise writing what they have heard in their own words. They give learners a taste of listening to narratives and illustrate that listening for pleasure and entertainment is different to listening for work.
A follow-up activity for these worksheets might be a web quest on the BBC Casualty website. Summaries of previous Casualty episodes are on this page and you might like to challenge your students to follow a particular character's story, or to write their own Casualty episode.
Transcript of worksheet 1: Casualty story map 1 - Charlie, Baz and Louis
Transcript of worksheet 2: Casualty story map 2 - Lara and Simon
 
Worksheet 3: Bathing a client - cutting up and ordering
You can do this activity in a number of ways. First, print and cut the worksheet into strips. Either play the audio and ask the leaners to put the instructions in order afterwards, or ask them to see how many they can arrange in order first of all. This practises ordering instructions.
Transcript of worksheet 3: Bathing a client - cutting up and ordering
 
Worksheet 4: Bathing a client - picking out the detail
This worksheet is for practising explanations. It aims to help the student understand why they might have to follow a set of instructions and again helps them to pinpoint main points.
Transcript of worksheet 4: Bathing a client - picking out the detail
 
Worksheet 5: Giving out drugs - making a leaflet
Learners can practise their comprehension of procedures by listening to the audio and using their answers to make a leaflet. A good follow-on activity would be for learners to make a leaflet about a procedure specific to their own workplace.
Transcript of worksheet 5: Giving out drugs - making a leaflet
 
Worksheets 6: Security on the ward
This is another worksheet for practising explanations in the same vein as Worksheet 4.
Transcript of worksheet 6: Security on the ward
 

Different types of listening - game
Imagine you are in a 'Casualty' episode and you can play different characters. You are at the scene of an accident and need to complete three challenges to save the casualty. This was the inspiration behind this game which aims to help learners listen to, understand and be able to perform a set of instructions.
It is the player's first day at Holby General and they must complete a range of tasks to swap their trainee status for staff. We hope that a taste of the drama of a 'Casualty' episode comes across. The scripts have been written to reflect real-life situations in which instructions are not necessarily given in the same order as they are intended to be carried out. All scenarios in the game have been checked for medical accuracy.
Each game stands alone but all three are loosely tied by a narrative structure which runs in the following order: Paramedic challenge, Doctor challenge, Nurse challenge. If the player completes a challenge, a printable certificate showing their 'staff' status is available.
The transcripts for each challenge are below and may be handy to print out during or after the game if clarification of the audio version is needed. (It is also possible to play the game without audio if you do not have a soundcard by reading the instructions out loud.)

Transcript of Game 1: Paramedic challenge
 
Transcript of Game 2: Nurse challenge
 
Transcript of Game 3: Doctor challenge
 
Do let us know what you think.

Different types of listening - quiz
There are 3 levels of quiz, each testing a different type of listening. Level A is a set of instructions; level B, an explanation and level C, a narrative. Levels A and B are both relevant to the care sector as one deals with needle injuries and the other is a handover meeting in a care home. Level C is a narrative derived from one of the most famous episodes of Casualty.
Learners should click on the audio link to listen to the piece and then answer the quiz questions. The transcripts for each level of quiz are below:
 
Transcript of level A: Splashes by blood or body fluids and injuries by sharps or needles
 
Transcript of level B: Handover meeting in a care home
 
Transcript of level C: 'Casualty' episode
 
Do let us know if you disagree.

Technical help:

To get the most out of this topic area you need the following 'plug-ins':

• Flash
  The game in this module uses the Flash browser plug-in. This is free to download and should only take a few minutes. You can follow the BBC WebWise instructions to download it to your machine.
  Find out more.
  If you don't have Flash the same learning points are covered in the quiz and in the worksheets and factsheets.
• Realplayer
  The activity in this topic section uses Realplayer. This is software that allows you to view and hear the video clips. Realplayer is free to download and should only take a few minutes. You can follow the BBC WebWise instructions to download it to your machine.
  Find out more

If you are new to the web, why not try the BBC WebWise online course, Becoming WebWise? It's free, you can do it in your own time from any computer and it will take you through everything you need to know to use the web successfully in your teaching.
Find out more about WebWise.

You can find out more about the technical requirements for Skillswise in our Help - Technical Information section.

Taking it further:

With Skillswise:
Don't forget to check out the Skillswise Lesson plans and Teaching inspirations areas for more ideas about teaching listening.
If you have any worksheets or ideas about teaching listening in general or for any workplace context (the other four work areas we are looking at are building trades, retail, catering / hospitality and childcare) don't forget to share! Just email us at skillswise.feedback@bbc.co.uk

On the web:
We haven't come across any resources which concentrate on teaching listening in care. If you know of any great online resources, please do let us know at skillswise.feedback@bbc.co.uk

• BBC Casualty
  Much of the Casualty material in this module has been adapted from the Casualty website. Why not try creating some more? There is a chance to view preview clips, a look back at previous episodes and a chance to get acquainted with the cast.
   
• Caring responsibilities
  The BBC website has a wealth of information on care and carers. In the Health section you'll find information on care homes and being a carer. There is also information to help those caring for people with mental health problems. The Radio 1 'One Life' website has information on young people's care and if you'd like to continue practising listening skills in a care context, check out the videos on the Video Nation website.
   
• BBC Languages - tips for better listening
  The BBC Languages site has a new section on how to be a better listener with useful steps and tips to improve listening skills. Although aimed at learners of a foreign language, this is a useful page to print out and keep for listening in general. There are links to foreign langugage quizzes in Spanish, French, German or Italian if you are feeling adventurous.
   

Do you know of any great online resources for practising types of listening or using listening in care? Tell us about them!