Engaging Listening Skills

Year Level

Year 10 (CEFR A2 ESL learners)

Duration

240 minutes (4 hours)

Class Size

17 students

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Curriculum Alignment

Australian Curriculum (v9) – Languages

This lesson aligns with the Australian Curriculum's Languages strand for Year 9 and 10 students, specifically focusing on listening comprehension skills. The following content descriptions and elaborations are referenced:

• Interpret information, ideas and perspectives in a wide range of spoken texts and respond appropriately to cultural context, purpose and audience (AC9LF10C03 / AC9LIT10EC04 / AC9LH10EC04 / AC9LCH10EC04 etc. for different languages)
• Listening and responding to a variety of spoken texts such as announcements, interviews, stories, and broadcasts (AC9LCH8EC03_E1, AC9LF10C03_E5, AC9LIT10EC04_E1, AC9LH10EC04_E2)
• Using comprehension strategies such as identifying key points, taking notes, summarising key ideas and comparing perspectives (AC9LF10C03_E7, AC9LIT10EC04_E5, AC9LH10EC04_E3)
• Responding to and creating texts appropriate to context, purpose and audience, and showing intercultural understanding (AC9LCH10EU01, AC9LF10EC03, AC9LIT10EC04)

The lesson targets listening comprehension development at CEFR A2 level, linking to the foundational outcomes outlined for Years 9 and 10 in Languages learning areas.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand the main ideas and some details from short, clear spoken texts on familiar topics.
2. Identify key information in announcements, simple interviews, or everyday conversations.
3. Use listening strategies such as note-taking and predicting content from context.
4. Respond verbally and in writing to questions about the spoken texts.
5. Demonstrate an awareness of cultural context in interpreting messages.
6. Work cooperatively in pairs or groups to complete listening-based tasks.
7. Build confidence in listening to spoken English at natural pace with some repetition and clarity.

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Resources

• Audio recordings of announcements, interviews, and short stories suitable for CEFR A2 level.
• Printed transcripts with gaps for cloze activities.
• Worksheets with comprehension questions.
• Note-taking templates.
• Multimedia projector and sound system.
• Flashcards with key vocabulary.
• Whiteboard and markers.

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Lesson Breakdown

Time	Activity	Details	Curriculum Links
0–15 min	Introduction and Warm-Up	- Introduce lesson focus: developing listening skills. - Engage students with a quick activity on previous listening experiences. - Discuss importance of listening in language learning and everyday contexts. - Introduce key vocabulary related to topics to be heard.	AC9LF10C03_E5 - interpreting vocabulary in context.
15–45 min	Pre-Listening Task	- Activate prior knowledge and predict content from visuals and title. - Introduce listening strategies (predicting, note-taking). - Show pictures or keywords and ask students to predict the topic or content. - Clarify any potentially difficult vocabulary.	AC9LCH8EC03_E1 - note-taking strategies, locating key facts.
45–90 min	Listening Activity 1: Announcement / Interview	- Play an audio recording (e.g., school announcement or interview about hobbies). - Students listen for gist first (general meaning). - Play again for detailed information. - Students complete cloze or multiple-choice questions. - Check answers as a class.	AC9LF10C03_E5 - obtaining information from media texts.
90–105 min	Speaking and Discussion	- In pairs, students discuss answers and what they heard. - Share any new information or surprises. - Teacher models responses emphasising correct pronunciation and intonation.	AC9LJ10EC04_E5 - responding to questions and offering personal views.
105–135 min	Listening Activity 2: Story / Narrative	- Play a short, age-appropriate story read aloud at A2 level, e.g., a personal experience or cultural tale. - Students take notes during listening. - Pause after key points to allow note completion. - Students answer comprehension questions individually. - Group review of answers.	AC9LCH8EC03_E8 - responding to imaginative texts and summarising.
135–150 min	Short Break	- Allow students a rest and informal chat to recharge.	-
150–195 min	Integrated Task: Creating a Summary or Report	- Students use notes to create a simple spoken or written summary of the story. - Pair-share or small group collaboration to compare understanding. - Modelled examples given by teacher. - Focus on clear, simple language appropriate for A2 level.	AC9LF10C03_E7, AC9LH10EC04_E5 - synthesising and presenting information.
195–225 min	Cultural Reflection and Listening for Context	- Listen to a short excerpt by a First Nations Australian author or cultural story in English. - Students answer questions about values, setting, or cultural elements. - Group discussion about cultural messages and meanings. - Link to students’ own experiences.	AC9LF10C03_E4, AC9LCH8EC03_E4 - responding to First Nations Australian stories.
225–240 min	Lesson Review and Feedback	- Whole-class discussion: What strategies helped? - Students reflect on what they found easy/difficult. - Teacher provides feedback and sets targets for further listening practice. - Assign optional home listening activities (e.g., podcasts or online audio with transcripts).	AC9LCH8EC03 - ongoing listening skill development.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through listening comprehension worksheets and cloze tasks.
• Oral participation in pair and group discussion tasks.
• Summarising task evaluated for ability to convey key ideas clearly and appropriately.
• Observation of listening strategies used (note-taking, asking clarification questions).
• Self-assessment via reflection on listening strengths and areas for improvement.

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Differentiation

• Provide transcripts or bilingual glossaries for students needing additional support.
• Use clear, slower speech audio sources with repetitions.
• Challenge advanced learners with extension questions requiring inference.
• Group students strategically for peer support during collaborative stages.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Use authentic and carefully selected audio materials relevant to Year 10 students' interests (e.g., school life, hobbies, cultural stories).
• Encourage use of visual aids and prediction strategies to scaffold understanding.
• Model note-taking templates and listening strategies explicitly.
• Foster a supportive classroom environment where mistakes are learning opportunities.
• Build cultural awareness by including diverse texts (including First Nations Australian perspectives).

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This comprehensive 240-minute lesson plan embraces the Australian Curriculum’s emphasis on cultural context, purpose, audience and strategic listening development for CEFR A2 ESL learners at Year 10. It ensures students engage with a variety of spoken texts, building confidence and competence in real-world communication through structured and interactive activities designed to activate multiple language skills simultaneously and create meaningful intercultural connections.