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A database of selected, reviewed, tested, assessed and validated e-learning based language teaching sources addressed to Higher education students for the learning of 18 different European languages.

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IELTS – World Environmental Problems: vocabulary exercise

Date of Publication

2015

Target Group

Lecturers
Students

Domain Area

Sustainability
Tourism

Learning Scenario

Target Language

English

Language of Instruction

English

CEFR level

B1
B2

Type of Material

Activity/task
Audio

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Grammar

Skills

Listening

Description

Students are introduced to the top ten world environmental issues with vocabulary and listening practice. The purpose of this exercise is to allow students to learn new vocabulary, but also to make them able to use it in real case scenarios and to be able to recognize them. It was used as a motivational trigger.
The site gives them first overall vocabulary and then goes on into other audios on more specific contents such as deforestation, biodiversity, acid rain, etc.
By the end of the activity they have covered a wide range of vocabulary and structures related to environmental threats and concerns.
This method was validated considering that students engaged in the task and were able to later use the vocabulary successively.

Case study

Environmental Education and Nature Tourism (BA) – 1st-year students
No of students: 30
The resource has been used in classes as a way of training both listening skills and vocabulary expansion with a very heterogeneous class which made things more difficult (the level of enthusiasm was not the same).
The vocabulary presented covers a wide range of words and topics related to the environment which might be difficult to work with if you have a mixed ability class.
I suggest using the resource as a pdf document so that students do not have access to the answers immediately. One of the problems might be the download from the audios so the teacher should use it online but provide students with a handout as this is also a way of allowing students to keep a record of the learning process.
The activity was well accepted by students who were able to expand their vocabulary.

Guidelines

First, elicit from students the vocabulary they might already know from the topic Environmental World Issues. Pictures and sounds can be used.
After being introduced to the topic, they then worked online in separate zoom rooms to do vocabulary exercises on the topics. Afterwards, as a class, the listening exercises were undertaken. Each audio was listened to twice and after each one answers were checked to allow students to focus on the new words and go step by step.
Afterwards, students had to create short texts where they used the different expressions and words learnt.
With higher level students one can use the essay option to practice writing skills Environment Essay Titles (ieltsliz.com)

Review

Category
Rate
Comprehensive approach
Capacity to match the needs of lecturers and students

4

Added value
The provided tangible improvements

4

Motivation enhancement
The capacity to motivate students to improve their language skills

4

Innovation
Effectiveness in introducing innovative, creative and previously unknown approaches to LSP learning

3

Transferability
Measurement of the transferable potential and possibility to be a source of further capitalisation/application for other language projects in different countries

4

Skills assessment and validation
Availability of appropriate tools for lecturers to monitor students’ progress and for students to assess own progress and to reflect on learning

4

Adaptability
Flexibility of the contents and possibilities for the LSP lecturers to adapt the contents to their and to students’ need

2

Usability
Assess the technical usability from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

4

Accessibility
Assess the accessibility from the point of view of the lecturer and the student

4

Comments:
The site is user friendly and provides both teachers and students with a wide range of material on several topics. According to the group you are working with you can do the full exercise or break it into different sections and use it in different lessons. In my personal case, I had a 4-hour lesson and a higher education group that needed a boost on vocabulary.
A pity that the voice is always the same as it would be better if students had more contact with different pronunciations and tones. Still, a very good resource for the taught topic.
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