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Database of Teaching Sources

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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Coffeebreak Swedish - Episode ABBA

Date of Publication

ongoing

Target Group

Students

Domain Area

Arts & Music

Learning Scenario

Autonomous learning
Classroom Context

Target Language

Swedish

Language of Instruction

English
Swedish

CEFR level

B1
B2
C1

Type of Material

Audio

Linguistic Features

Vocabulary
Grammar
Pragmatics
Prosody

Skills

Listening
Speaking

Description

The website offers various languages courses, along with podcasts, the club and other features. This episode is the last of a series of 10 on Swedish culture and focuses on ABBA, the renowned music group from Sweden. They are done by Lisa, who’s Swedish, and Mark, who speaks English and is apparently also learning Swedish-
It’s a 25-minute podcast that presents a bit of the history of ABBA. Lisa reads the text about the group and, after that, they both break it down into sentences, first in Swedish and then in English.

Case study

This resource is suitable for Swedish students studying arts and music as they could explore Swedish music or culture in an engaging way. If used by foreign students in an autonomous way, then the level of language spoken requires learners to already have a good command of the language. Task-based learning or project-based learning could also be two very adequate methods to be considered. Students (in pairs or in groups) could prepare the text at home and then record the texts using their own voices. Therefore, they would be practising reading, writing and speaking skills.

Guidelines

This resource requires learners to have an intermediate level of Swedish, that is beyond a basic knowledge of the written and spoken language, because learners will have to listen and repeat to authentic material and thus be familiar with the sounds of the language.
This podcast, along with the other ones, can be used in autonomous learning or as part of students’ homework. This particular episode can be part of a whole unit either on Swedish music or Swedish culture and focuses on the renowned group ABBA that has been given a new lease of life with the 2008 “Mama mia!”.
Thus, if students are to work on this podcast for homework, they can prepare and practise the text in advance, so that they can engage in a class discussion. Alternatively, they can record the texts. Later, they can gather in groups and comment on colleagues’ reading, their accents and other relevant aspects.

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

5

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

5

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

5

Comments:
Considering that pronunciation might be an issue in learning Swedish, these podcasts can be very effective in helping students to learn new vocabulary and cultural issues. These can be the kickoff strategy for approaching different lexical areas and consolidating basic grammar structures, as well as for developing speaking skills.
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