Comments on: Authentic listening material http://edurizon.com/authentic-listening/ Sun, 04 Jul 2010 10:03:38 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Nergiz Kern http://edurizon.com/authentic-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Nergiz Kern Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:04:36 +0000 http://edurizon.com/?p=72#comment-30 Hi Mark Thanks! There is an RSS feed. I've just tried it myself and it works. Click on the blue (Safari) or orange (Firefox) icon in the browser address field to subscribe to the feed. Let me know if it works. You need to install the odiogo plugin in order for it to work with WordPress. Here is a step-by-step tutorial: http://blog.odiogo.com/index.php/2007/05/12/wordpress-odiogo-listenbutton-plug-in-instructions/ Yes, there is a debate on what is authentic and what is not. Maybe this can be considered semi-authentic :) You got me thinking here. I agree that this really depends on how you define authenticity. Jeremy Harmer (2006) says: "Authentic material is language where no concessions are made to foreign speakers". According to this definition, even the automated speaker can be considered as authentic, because "he" has an American Accent and does read the text relatively naturally and at a natural speed. No concessions are made to the foreign speaker, neither in the text itself nor in the way it is read. This is worth exploring more, I thought and asked the following question on Twitter: "can an original text written by a student or teacher and spoken by an automated voice (text-to-speech) regarded as authentic listening material?" Here is what I got so far: Michael Coghlan: Very interesting question Nergiz! I think you could argue either way. Regarding Harmer's definition of authentic language: machine talk is therefore authentic! Agree? José Picardo:I don't think so. It all depends how you define authenticity though. Is it language usage you're after, pronunciation or both? Hi Mark

Thanks!
There is an RSS feed. I’ve just tried it myself and it works. Click on the blue (Safari) or orange (Firefox) icon in the browser address field to subscribe to the feed. Let me know if it works.

You need to install the odiogo plugin in order for it to work with WordPress. Here is a step-by-step tutorial: http://blog.odiogo.com/index.php/2007/05/12/wordpress-odiogo-listenbutton-plug-in-instructions/

Yes, there is a debate on what is authentic and what is not. Maybe this can be considered semi-authentic :) You got me thinking here. I agree that this really depends on how you define authenticity.

Jeremy Harmer (2006) says: “Authentic material is language where no concessions are made to foreign speakers”. According to this definition, even the automated speaker can be considered as authentic, because “he” has an American Accent and does read the text relatively naturally and at a natural speed. No concessions are made to the foreign speaker, neither in the text itself nor in the way it is read.

This is worth exploring more, I thought and asked the following question on Twitter:

“can an original text written by a student or teacher and spoken by an automated voice (text-to-speech) regarded as authentic listening material?”

Here is what I got so far:

Michael Coghlan: Very interesting question Nergiz! I think you could argue either way. Regarding Harmer’s definition of authentic language: machine talk is therefore authentic! Agree?

José Picardo:I don’t think so. It all depends how you define authenticity though. Is it language usage you’re after, pronunciation or both?

]]> By: Mark Bain http://edurizon.com/authentic-listening/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Mark Bain Wed, 25 Jun 2008 09:43:30 +0000 http://edurizon.com/?p=72#comment-29 Hi Nergiz! Now this is cool! I read your post and went straight to the website, but can't get it to recognise the RSS feed for my blog... shame! I like your idea about making authentic listening materials, but, hang on a moment... if it's a computer-generated voice, doesn't that rule it out of being considered 'authentic'? Just a thought. And, yes, fantastic for proof reading, I'd say. I have terrible problems persuading the trainees to proof read their projects - perhaps this would make it a less painful process. The website looks great, by the way, but I can't find any way of subscribing. Do you publish an RSS feed? Hi Nergiz!
Now this is cool! I read your post and went straight to the website, but can’t get it to recognise the RSS feed for my blog… shame! I like your idea about making authentic listening materials, but, hang on a moment… if it’s a computer-generated voice, doesn’t that rule it out of being considered ‘authentic’? Just a thought. And, yes, fantastic for proof reading, I’d say. I have terrible problems persuading the trainees to proof read their projects – perhaps this would make it a less painful process.
The website looks great, by the way, but I can’t find any way of subscribing. Do you publish an RSS feed?

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