1. Reading and Listening Logs: A Grading Nightmare Turned Around
Emily Wong, M.A.
International Programs
U.C. Irvine Extension

2. About me 5 years at UC Irvine Extension International Programs
I’ve taught a range of RV and SL levels
I’ve never considered myself a skilled reader but I’ve recently discovered the desire to think more critically
I spend hours on end grading because I want to be “fair”…

3. Typical Reading Logs Typical directions
Go to (websites) and find an article that you’re interested in that falls within a certain length
Find 10 vocabulary words and write down the definitions. Make sentences with those vocabulary words.
Summarize the article
Reflect on the article

4. Typical Listening Logs
Typical directions
Choose…for two hours a week
News or radio program
A TV program or a movie
Find 10 vocabulary words and write down the definitions. Make sentences with those vocabulary words.
Summarize the clip
Reflect on the clip

5. Obvious issues for (some) students
What should they choose? An easy one obviously!
Level of their choice doesn’t match their own language level
Do the same one as their friends (easy to copy)
The chosen vocabulary words are all at the beginning of the article

6. Headache for teachers like me
They chose something that was too easy or too hard
When I read the summary, I’m not even sure if it’s accurate, so I have to read the article or listen to the audio clip
I have to check the vocabulary sentences (should I correct them too???)
The reflection isn’t that meaningful
How do I give points?!

7. My solution: I CHOOSE! I know the level I know the content
I know whether the vocab/definitions appear on the article
I use a rubric
MOST IMPORTANT: I make it a teaching opportunity!

8. If you have time…
Consider modeling how to do a log at the beginning of the term, ESPECIALLY the summary part
Read an article together as a class
Teach them about answering WH questions
Show them what weaving all the answers to the WH questions looks like

9. Reading Logs New adjustments
Recognize that you have a chance to intentionally teach students about different mediums: news, opinion, blogs, magazines, informative, letters
Choose a different medium for each log, so you can teach how the language and purpose differs

10. Reading Logs New adjustments
Answer a warm-up question before they read to activate schema
Don’t have students make sentences out of the new vocabulary
Write a summary
Ask specific reflection questions instead of “What do you think?”

11. Reading Logs New adjustments Rubric
Assign points to each aspect or section

12. Reading Logs
My Sample
(2nd page)

13. OR… Listening Logs New adjustments
Recognize that you have a chance to intentionally teach students about different mediums: news, opinion, interviews, lectures
Choose a different medium for each log, so you can teach how the language and purpose differs
OR…

14. Listening Logs New adjustments
Choose specific listening clips that are related to the lessons in your textbook
Take out the vocabulary section
Be realistic
How often will they actually catch the words…and know the spelling…and be able to find it in the dictionary?
How often do they memorize the words they wrote on their log?

15. Listening Logs New adjustments
Depending on the difficulty of the listening clip, help the student by putting time markers next to specific questions.
Add reflection questions for students to rate the audio clip

16. Listening Logs New adjustments
Depending on the difficulty of the listening clip, help the student by putting time markers next to specific questions.
Add reflection questions for students to rate the audio clip

17. Listening Logs
New adjustments
Rubric

18. Listening Logs
My Sample
(3rd page)

19. On due date Review summary of the article/clip
Consider having students talk in small groups about their answers to certain questions
Big class discussion is possible since everyone used the same article/clip

20. Level Sites Int. Adv. Reading Resources Learningenglish.voanews.com
Newsinlevels.com
Breakingnewsenglish.com
Adv.
Nytimes.com
Cnn.com
Waitbutwhy.com*
Markmanson.net*

21. Level Sites Int/Adv Listening Resources Npr.com Storycorps.org
Thisibelieve.org
TED.com

22. When your students are ready…
When they find a little more joy in reading or listening for the enjoyment of learning
When they learn to take logs more seriously
When they care more about thinking critically
Let them freely choose!
But until then…

23. Since you spent so much time prepping the log, reuse it!
Teachwithemily.wordpress.com
Tatl.posthaven.com
Thank you for coming!