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Classroom Listening Centers Tips
Setting Up a Wireless Listening Center
A wireless listening center offers greater flexibility to schools who utilize audio equipment for the learning process. Purchasing wireless headphones along with a cordless transmitter unit will enable the school to set up an effective wireless learning center. This setup is ideal because it allows the students to move throughout the classroom easily because they are not restricted by power cords. It also provides greater flexibility in the layout of the listening center. The wireless transmitter units typically have the capability of transmitting audio on one or more frequencies and can often transmit sound for approximately 100 feet when free of obstructions.
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Understanding a School Listening Center
A school listening center can be an integral part of a child’s education when used effectively. The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts listening to stories read aloud helps to promote brain development. This is a testament to how useful listening centers can be for even very young children. School aged children (as young as preschoolers), can benefit from a school listening center because hearing a language spoken helps the child to build vocabulary and learn to recognize grammatical structure. These listening centers can be effectively used for teaching a second language.
Exposing children to audio versions of stories helps to add a new dimension to the learning process. Students are intrigued by the novelty of the experience and are more motivated to learn. However, it is imperative that high quality sound equipment is used to ensure the students are able to hear clearly. If the sound is not crisp or is otherwise inaudible it can create problems in speech patterns which result from the children not hearing the words or sounds correctly.
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The Importance of a Language Learning Lab
A language learning lab is an excellent tool for learning languages because it provides the students with an opportunity to become active participants in the learning process.
Unlike conventional classroom structures where the students are given instruction and there is limited interaction between teacher and student, a language lab provides an opportunity for unlimited interaction between student and teacher as well as interaction among the students. The students also take a more active role during the process of reading, writing and listening in the desired language. In a language lab students have the opportunity to listen to native speakers of the language, record themselves speaking the language and converse with other students. The increased involvement by the students facilitates the learning process and greatly increases the students’ success rates.
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Comparing School Headphone Options
When purchasing school headphones, it's important to consider the design of the headphones. This includes the plug style, cord style and comfort. Also important is choosing mono or stereo headphones, depending on the type of equipment that is being used.
There are typically three types of plugs available for school headphones. They are: ¼ inch, 3.5mm and USB plugs. This decision will be made based on the equipment in which the headphones will be plugged. A plug style compatible with the receptor on the equipment is essential. However, if a particular set of headphones (which do not have a compatible plug style) is desired it may be possible to purchase an adapter which will enable the headphones to be plugged into various equipment.
When considering cord style for school headphones length is also important; decide if cord is coiled or straight and whether the cord is permanent or replaceable. The length of school headphones used on individual pieces of equipment is usually short, while headphones intended to be used on a shared piece of equipment are longer. Coiled cords are recommended for younger children because they're are more durable.
Finally, it is important to decide between mono and stereo headphones when selecting classroom headphones. Mono headphones transmit one sound signal over one channel and are intended for use with equipment such as cassette players and record players. Stereo headphones send two signals over two channels to create a richer sound. These headphones are intended for use with televisions, CD players and any other equipment offering stereo sound. There are also school headphones available which enable the user to switch between mono and stereo settings when necessary.
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Creating Effective Listening Stations
Listening stations can be a very useful tool for learning languages. However, in order for the listening stations to be highly effective, they must be set up properly. This includes incorporating all of the necessary equipment into the overall design of the listening station. Some pieces of equipment which are ideal for a listening station include intercom systems, audio paring engines, broadcasting engines, virtual recorders and evaluations tools.
The equipment mentioned above all assists in the creation of effective listening stations for different reasons. Intercom systems allow the instructors to listen to the students and communicate with the students. This enables the instructor to hear problems quickly and make corrections immediately. Pairing engines enable the instructor to put the students in pairs or groups to interact and communicate with each other. This can often be done without having the students move to sit next to each other. Broadcast engines allow the instructor to transmit audio to all of the students at once. This is worthwhile for instructional segments of the class. The virtual recorder enables the student to record his own voice for use in self evaluations. Evaluation tools allow the instructor to evaluate the performance of each student by administering tests and examining the way in which the student responds.
