I don't agree to "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. ****** Because training and preparing for CSAT can mean that students surely train most patterned multiple questions, not to nature of listening language itself. Good score of listening can't be discriminated for students' ability of real listening, that is, students who probebly train to know ' know-how' to select the answer from the patterned multiple choices, they will get good scores from listening test. It doesn't mean they can speaking enough. The questions of listening from SCAT just example to Basically in my opinion, I don't think we need to test students's ability of listening. and listening goes with rest of other language skills, not separated. ****We'd rather have chance to let them write about topics OR have testing time to put the students to discuss in the certain situation to check if they are able to communicate properly in English and check their direct reaction during their participation to partners.
Partly I agree, partly not. In short conclusion, it depends on your expectation about the test.
As far as I know, the test type of CSAT is mostly involved in a very short answer or multiple-choice answer. This type of test neither requires the abilities of comprehension over "real conversation" I don't think the "listening' stands alone without out the mutual exchanges of information such as conversation. Conversation is like a journey through which the participants are sharing their thoughts and information, giving feedbacks and sometimes trying to come up with batter ideas, then finally arrive at agreement or disagreement and so on. I think the "real listening" eventually comes true through this kind of journey.
However, this is too much expectation for the korean students in reality. If we want them have just very basic ability in listening like depicting a few key words and understanding the short stereotyped conversations, preparing for the CSAT might be helpful for improving their listening skill.
*Corrected Version* Please ignore the above article posted under my name. ========================================= Partly I agree, partly not. In short conclusion, it depends on your expectation of the test. As far as I know, the test type of CSAT is mostly involved in a very short answer or multiple-choice answer. This type of test neither requires the ability of comprehension over "real conversation" nor encourages students to solve problems through "listening". I don't think the "listening" stands alone without out the mutual exchanges of information such as conversation. Conversation is like a journey through which the participants are sharing their thoughts and information, giving feedbacks and sometimes trying to come up with batter ideas, then finally arrive at agreement(disagreement) or problem-solving and so on. I think the "real listening" eventually comes true through this kind of journey. However, this is too much expectation for the korean students in reality. If we expect them have just very basic ability in listening like depicting a few key words and understanding the short stereotyped conversations, preparing for the CSAT might be helpful for improving their listening skills.
I don’t think preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills basically. Students prepare their CSAT listening part through using many teaching materials. But they are not actually acquiring language but preparing for an exam. Of course CSAT has its own exam pattern which is continued from the last exam. So students and their teacher might focus on its pattern for getting better score. It is not true that the student got a good score has a good listening skill in the real English conversation. Even though they get a good score, but they will still have difficulty for understanding native speaker’s talking. So to approach the view of language acquisition, teaching English listening has to be focused on more actual conversation to use in real.
I agree CAST improves learners listening skills because I did. I know this type of test doesn't contain real conversation but this procecss needs practicing for converstion.
Yes. I agree with the statement that says preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills. There are lots of controversy issues on the CSAT, though, for learners’ listening skills, I think it is useful. Usually in high school, students do not want to study English. Also, they do not have much natural environment for listening comprehension. In this situation, students can learn and improve their listening skills with practicing and repeating to prepare the CSAT. In addition, lately the level of English education in high school is getting better; I think it is good for developing English skills, too. For those who graduate high school, their average TOEIC score is between 500~600. It shows that English education in high school is not useless.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.
Many korean students are studying for earning a good score on CSAT unfortunately. Because the result of CSAT often decides which university to enter. That's why teachers analyze what kind of questions will be on CSAT and teach students focused on them.
In the English section of CSAT, it involves listening, grammar and reading. Especially listening test is focused on the communication skill. In addition, those evaluating comprehensions are related to what the learners can meet in the real situation. The specific example questions are finding directions, guessing the conversation following the dialogue, selecting the right information and so on.
As I mentioned before, students tend to study for get higher score. To extract the right answers of questions, they study each words and expressions on the script.And they also practice the dialogue and review the questions over and over with the audio CD. As a result, it influences not only listening but also speaking naturally.In my experience, whenever I ask the direction or give the direction to others, it still reminds me the CSAT. That's why I believe that the more learners are trained and practiced for CSAT, the more learners' English skill will be improved.
I agree with the statement. Actually I have experience of improving my listening skills by preparing for the CSAT listening test.
The test includes easy and necessary contents about diverse situations; finding directions, usual conversations, shopping and calculating, understanding headline of the news, grasping the major points of debates, and so on, dealing with family, business, school, cultural, computer, traveling, leisure, traffic, health, and scientific things. These kinds of contents are basic and significant for learning foreign language with the purpose of communication.
The scripts of the listening test include specific type of expressions. As students prepare this test, they memorize the expressions and practice listening again and again with considerable concentration. Therefore, even if they start the study to get high score from the test, they experience that their English listening skills get improved. I also did, and see many students successfully do it. That is why I believe the statement "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills." is true. In addition, especially for me, when I apply the expressions of the test in real conversation time, it is helpful to improve my speaking skills, too.
As much CSAT is for qualified applicant, preparing for the test should help listening improvement. And I believe that students have been able to advance the listening skill while they have been preparing.
However, the progress of preparing is too much concentrate on "how to solve typical CSAT questions" is issue rather than it could help development of listening itself. Preparation of this exam, and high score of listening do not mean students have enough ability to listen any kind dialogue, because they had just "Work out" of the "Typical test dialogue". Naturally, it caused limited skill only for the test – not language learning. Over thousands students have to judge by strongly objective question, and it should be a multiple answer to mark on OMR. It means there should be no double answer or various meaning on the conversation which mean exactly different as real language. And then, suitable dialogue and question should be limited.
I think it is limitation of official education. Getting high score of listening should not attend to have experience of abroad, cause it is taking by government policy. Limited possibility makes narrow typical style. Predictable question make students restrict development language acquisition.
Students’ progress of listening by preparing the test is maximums of official education.
CSAT seems like the most important reason why all Korean students have to study very hard. There are some English listening parts in CSAT, so students might want to prepare for that to get the score they want. Thus, I think it can help the students to improve their listening skills a lot from the preparation or the test. The students will listen to a recorded material dring the CSAT. Usually, it will be about asking different directions and finding information from a conversation between two or three persons. It means that the recorded materials are mostly related to real-world topics. So as Harmer mentioned, ‘the live listening’ has obvious advantages. Moreover, from the various taped materials and CDs, the student can have many opportunities to hear different characters, where real people are talking!!
I agree that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. In my opinion, it depends on how to learn English. In order to do their the examination papers they need to have comprehensible input because listening is receptive skills. If they want to improve their listening skills, they need to memorize many vocabulary with grammar and practice listening. When I was a high school student , I used to listen and read English news to get good marks in English. Though I have studied for the CSAT, it was clearly effective way. However, I don't believe that preparing for the CSAT is the most effective way. Anyway it helps motivate to improve listening skills. Moreover learners can know how much they are progressing of what they have learned through preparing for the CSAT.
I absolutely agree that preparing for CSAT improves learner's listening skill even speaking and pronunciation as well. I've noticed to some students who have taken listening test they can at least understand native speakers compared to those who haven't . Because of this exposure they get to use and improve their comprehension even pronunciation as well. I have a co worker who haven't been abroad but she speaks like native speaker I asked her how come you have a good pronunciation her answer she never stops listening until she imitates the right pronunciation. No doubt that listening over and over makes perfect in many ways.
The most effective method of language teaching is focused instruction on listening comprehension. Listening proficiency is an important aspect of second language proficiency and is best acquired through repeated listening practice of natural and authentic materials. Nowadays, college scholartic abilities tests include listening section. The desire to excel in exam has motivated student' and teachers to study listening in more depth. Listening is a fundamental language skill. Korean students have below-average listening abilities. While there may be various reason for this phenomenon, students' listening abilities are highly correlated with the amount of exposure to listening not only CSAT Test but also their life(movies, pop-songs, internet communication, Phone-pal..etc). In order to strengthen Korean student' listening skill set. The English departments in IKorean Schools should focus on create more listening activities as well as lengthening the time allotted for such activities-teaching English listening / listening teaching. Listening comprehension is the result of an interaction among the range of infomation that the students have available to them Mendelsohn(1994) states that listening materials should be based on a wide range of authentic text, including both monologues and dialogues. CSAT Test hase long sentences and short questions for listening. While students prepare to CSAT the abilities of reading English will be increase but listening abilities will not be.
I partially agree about that. I think when students study CSAT, they study reading and grammar most. And as we know, reading and grammar also influence on listening skill. So if students studied CSAT that also influence on their listening skill. And they also need to study listening for CSAT. So in that way, CSAT also influence on their listening skill. But when students study CSAT, many of them are just concentrated on reading and grammar. Although reading and grammar effect on listening skill, it’s limited that can’t be enough for listening. And also when they study listening for CSAT, many of them just follow the teacher or some CSAT books and just study limited listening such as some questions about ‘where’ and ‘when’. So it could little help for their listening skill, but not that much.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. A lot of korean students are studying for getting a good score on CSAT badly.Because depending on the result of CSAT, students can enter university they want to go. This is the reason the teachers should analyze what kind of questions on CSAT and teach students by using them.As I know, it involves in listening, grammar and reading in the English part of CSAT. Especially listening test should concentrate on the communication skills. The students tend to study for get higher score. To write the right answer of questions, they can learn each words and various expressions on the script of the coursebook. And they also practice the dialogue and review the questions continually. In conclusion, it involves both listening and speaking part naturally.
Statistics have shown time and time again that those who read and listen to the radio have higher paying jobs and more fulfilling lives. If I say "Gulfstream Jet" your brain has to search for a picture of a Gulfstream Jet. This doesn't happen when you watch TV because the images are presented to you. I encourage my older students to download the program Audacity for free. They can load a speech or interview (audio) into the program and engage in Intensive Listening at their own speed.
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
They can also edit or slice up audio into different parts if they wish. Studying for the CSAT can be intensive, and unfortunatly all of the students are usually forced to listen at one speed and at one level. I prefer workshop style listening classes where each student has an opportunity to learn autonomously.
Listening skills are very important for young students. When a child listens to a tape and then repeats what he hears, it is something they will recognize again. By continually repeating a word or sentence it is slowly getting drilled into their heads and they will subconsciously remember the word. It is good for a student to hear another voice saying a word other than the teacher because they need to recognize that word in different tones. It is also very helpful to have a picture of the word or sentence that they can look at while repeating and listening. This lets them see what they are saying and will help them remember. Listening also helps the students hear different sounds. Sometimes I am not able to make the sound exactly right and it is good to have a native speaker saying the sounds. Listening and repeating are necessary skills to learn at a young age because at first everything is just memorization. Once the students know the words then it is easier for them to understand sounds and other similar words.
I'm sure of that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. Actually, most of the student spend much time on studying grammar and reading to get more high scores. But I think they are also essential parts to improve listening skills. The description of CSAT are not same with our real conversation. Questions in the test request to responds to the conversation or find the object. Although many students practice to get scores, it is standard English that good pronunciation and grammar, considering. If the students prepare the CSAT for three-years, it's an amounts of conversation or description. It is useful to improve learners' listening skills.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills." Actually, CSAT has a problem which includes only input parts (reading and listening), but students can study input parts really hard through preparing for the CSAT. The reason is that students can enter university which they want depend on their getting CSAT grades. During preparing for the CSAT, students’ listening and reading skills are improved by students’ repeating drill and doing their best, and most students do not have obstacle to read and listen to English. I feel that CSAT is best way in higher education of Korea to develop learners’ listening skills. It has completely a motivation which is entering university.
I absolutely agree that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. The CSAT is a high stakes test in Korea because it is designed to level the students. They have to study hard to get a high score in this exam to enter their dream school. There are several parts in this test, one of which is listening part. Especially to improve their scores in listening part they need to listen to English conversations and announcements repeatedly. Sometimes, they would repeat listening to the same sentences to accustom themselves to Standard English pronunciation and intonation. In doing so, they also get understanding of grammar and extend their English vocabulary. On the other hand, there are other parts of CSAT such as grammar part and reading part. Studying those parts can help students to improve their listening skill, too, because sentence structure and comprehensive understanding of English text can directly contribute to more competent listening skills. In a word, each part in CSAT is interwoven closely. Therefore, I think studying the CSAT is very helpful in improving listening skills.
I disagree with that statement. Because there is limit on formation of CSAT listening. For example, the questions have same formations and situations. therefore students can't get to know many expressions. It can be an intensive listening material training. But, it can't be an extensive listening material training. So it can help students to acquire vocabulary and sentences. CSAT also have limitation of level. All high school students think that CSAT listening level is enough for studying English. So that makes limitation. Materials for extensive listening can be abtained from a number of sources. We can use many cassette, CD, DVD and MP3 to expend our listening skill. therefore, it can improve to some extent. But, it has many limitation.
Partly I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.", Partly not. The CSAT is a test that evaluae high school student's ability; The CSAT is designed to high schoolvstudent's level. For that reason, there is limit to improve listening skills and to know multifarious expressions and situations.
For people to improve listening skills ,extensive listening can have a dramatic effect on a such people. material for Extensive listening can be obtained from a number of sources.
In addition, Extensive listening can have students perform a number of tasks. On the other hand, for a beginner of listening, lower intermediate, the CSAT seems to meet well. In conclusion, according to student's level,It is a good method for harmonizing properly.
I disagree that CSAT improves the listening ability of students. In my opinion, there is pattern in the listening test. For example, selecting right picture, asking price, indirect speaking test. Once the students are accustomed to these problems, they could choose the right answer regardless of their ability. As a result, the content of listening is more easier than one of reading. And the expressions are useful only for daily communication. It is not exact criteria to divide the level of students. As the importance of English ability is getting bigger and bigger, younger students try to learn English in many ways. And ability of students is much better than before. Listening takes 34% in CSAT. So the listening test is important field to evaluate the abiliy of students. I think that the listening test have to be developed. It must have more various and comprehensible content.
The CSAT has negative parts as it value results above courses, but I agree partly that the CAST improves students' listening skills. Because first students study when a goal exists. The CSAT gives students a goal to enter a prominent university. So students study hard to achieve it. English listening test gives a goal as a part of CSAT and develops a basic English ability by making students study. This knowledge is based to learn more difficult English when high school students become university students. Second the CAST is a good measure to evaluate students' listening ability. We take an examination to know what to understand learned things. There are many other ways, but examination is simple and plain to evaluate students' ability. Similarly the CSAT is a merit as a evaluation instrument besides it has a credibility so that it can evaluate students' ability in a detached way. This has to solve by researching gradually.
I think that english pronounciation should only be taught by korean teachers in korea. This is because with the astonishing number of diverse teachers from many different english speaking countries, it is impossible to unify and create a true korean english. Even if they are from the same country, many different dialects or accents exist in different regions. My thought is to either bring in english teachers from one region in a single country or to have korean teachers teach pronounciations. Also, it is likely that a student will go through a dozen teachers by the time they reach adulthood. It will be confusing for them to learn english in a dozen different accents.
I strongly agree with the statement that preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills. First of all, students can get chances to be accustomed with situational conversations and useful communicational expressions because the section of English listening consists of a variety of situational conversations. Also, the test requires students to have both intensive and extensive listening skills, so it helps students understand general meaning of conversation and specific information. In addition, many Korean students practice English listening because they want to get high grades in CAST. Through this instrumental motivation, they try to improve their listening skills.
Good listening skill can't naturally gain.The more you listen,the more you can hear and undestand.But as you know,there are no appropriate curriculums to improve learners English listening skills in Korea because focusing on entrance exam of University.
However,I think the CSAT English listening section might be helpful for learners in a way.Of course,there are patterns and multiple choice questions.But in order to choose right answer,the listeners can understand what the speaker said.In order to understand the speaker said in English,learners have to listen materials in English many times. In English class,teachers has lectures of listening for the CSAT and students try to listen to the tape of English.
In my case,the CSAT was helpful for me to improve my listening skill so that I can get a good marks on Toeic listening section. Therefore,preparing for the CSAT improves learners listening skills.
Certainly, my best time of listening study was preparing for the CSAT. I admit, I studied lots of scripts and learned about listening skills. But that was just only for the CSAT. That was not useful for practical conversation. After CSAT, most of students can't remember about learned listening. So I disagree with the following statement. I think that to learn listening naturally is more useful. For example, films, dramas and Pop songs etc.. I mean teaching more simple and fun. Don’t be too fast and take a time. After few years learners will interest of listening.
I think that preparing for the CAST improves learners’ listening skills to some degree. Korean students have few chances; they usually learn English from Korean English teacher and communicate with Korean peer in most of classroom, above all, English is not second language in Korea. So they have to listen to English tape or CD on purpose and watch movie or news, though their purpose is passing in the test. They listen to the tape more; the better it is for them. Because they can acquire a lot of vocabulary, idioms and expression using at the special situation (i.e. in restaurant or airport) through listening repeatedly. In other word, acquisitions bring them background knowledge. When I was high school student, the way helped for me. And the way had been useful that I improved my English background knowledge.
Yes,I agree. Because those who preparing CSAT have reasons to get the score. It gives them motivations. That is very important thing I think. We have many ways to improve our english listening skills. It is another way to acheive english. We cannot ignore any kind of way to learn languages. It teaches to who learn the skills of listening raws and technique.And I am sure that it really works. The most important thing is why who learns English those who have motivated then it will work. But who has to choose which ways are suitable by oneself and do study. There are lots of ways to get skills of english.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.” Although CSAT is not perfect to improve listening skills of students, we couldn’t contradict the statement that CSAT has influence on their skill. I have three undeniable reasons to improve learners’ listening skill through CSAT as like below.
First of all, CSAT is made by the ministry of Education based on best system and curriculum to focus on improving students’ skill. They expect that student will be able to have a good listening skill during learner prepare the test if the score of learner’s CSAT is over middle level. They think that CSAT is very important to evaluate learner’s skill.
Second, a lot of teacher in the ministry of Education have tried to make and update best CSAT every year. It means that students could have a good material and optimize it to improve their skill. So, all most people trust their system to let student prepare and give them a good source.
Finally, CSAT could give learner a good motivation about listening of English because the listening score takes up many score of CSAT if students want to get high score and inter a good university.
In brief, I totally agree that CSAT influences on improving learners' listening skills.
I agree with preparing for the CSAT improves learner' listening skills.
I started to learn English in a public middle school. Also, my all English Education focused on the CSAT for six years - middle and high school. Therefore, I think I myself is a good example that can improve preparing for the CSAT is helpful to develop listening skills. Of course, it doesn't mean that my English listening skill is very good or every students would agree with my opinion. However, I think most students who is preparing for the CSAT get a help.
It is not very low the level of English listening part of CSAT. Students have to practice many listening problem sets to get a high score. That is, they listen English a lot for several years and memorize various vocabularies. It is basic of learning English. If students prepare for the CSAT very well, their English listening skills would improve.
As I look back my memories I don’t like test at all, however these day I think, we do need test some times. Firstly, Some tests are important to prove how much of the knowledge you do understand of your study or books which you need to know. Secondly, It is helpful to concentrate on study. It means preparing for the CSAT which it might improve learner's listening skills. I think that if you have a strong purpose like pass the exams or get good scores, you might feel the urgency to study. This is the best time to focus on something important since you can concentrate as much as you can. Thirdly, CSAT (Collage scholastic Aptitude Test), the initial represent that you might be learn thousands of necessary vocabularies. It is useful to improve listening skill. Here is the point, if you know about a lot of words which is in CSAT, it will be much easier for you to understand the English. So I agree with that statement.
I agree and disagree! I think most Korean people can understand what foreigners say, just as I can. This is not 100% of all Koreans because they went to high school in Korea. Every test has a pattern, so we need to practice and memorize lots of vocabulary.
This listening skill is only for the test! During the test, they have the same speed and same spoken pattern. If you practice a lot, you can understand what they say pretty well. This is absolutely different from a "real conversation." Everyone has a different manner of speaking (pronunciation, dialect, speed, intonation, etc...) and their voices are different. Even one word could sound different depending on who is speaking it, much less a conversation.
Students can not learn these differences when they study for an exam like CSAT. Nor can the exam accurately assess your ability to listen/converse with this in mind. People learn through conversation, just like I did. CSAT might be good for testing basic proficiency, but it isn't going to prepare you for the real world in the way that the test is supposedly assessed.
I simply say that the test(CSAT) will not help enhancing students`listening skills adequately. The CSAT (the Korean Scholastic Aptitude Test) is the college entrance exam and is required for all those seeking to enter a Korean University. Along with the TOEIC, the test scores are used by many companies to evaluate potential employees' English ability. In fairness, in recent times an optional speaking test is now offered by TOEIC. However, despite the awareness among all concerned educators and employers that the major requirements for most jobs is a high level of proficiency in writing and speaking English, there are no comprehensive teaching and testing programs available to all students. In the Korean English language curriculum, there is typically one main purpose, which is to prepare the students to excel on the English Comprehension section of the CSAT. In Korea's case, students are following an English course that is meant to train them in the language skills that are necessary to enter a university or the job market, but where the language test does not test these skills directly. If multiple-choice items only test the skills of writing or speaking, then there is no pressure to practice skills such as context, cultural variances, or business contexts. Writing complete sentences and listening&speaking effectively may not be adequately taught. How do we solve the problem in Korea?
It should be the goal of Korea to reach the level of proficiency that has been attained by places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This will require that the certain type exam system must replace the present English exam used for entry into universities in Korea. It is imperative that effective listening skills must be taught beginning at the lowest educational levels as a national policy. One suggestion as to how to fix the Korean English education system is to hire more native speaking teachers. However this approach will be of little help given the current state of teaching and testing. Korea needs a national policy that starts teaching listening skills at an early age. The policy needs to be bolstered by a rigorous testing program that evaluates the student's skills in listening&speaking in an international context. Without a commitment to these programs, Korea will continue to lag the rest of the industrialized world in the English language proficiency that is required in this age of globalization.
I don't agree to "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. ******
ReplyDeleteBecause training and preparing for CSAT can mean that students surely train most patterned multiple questions, not to nature of listening language itself. Good score of listening can't be discriminated for students' ability of real listening, that is, students who probebly train to know ' know-how' to select the answer from the patterned multiple choices, they will get good scores from listening test. It doesn't mean they can speaking enough. The questions of listening from SCAT just example to
Basically in my opinion, I don't think we need to test students's ability of listening. and listening goes with rest of other language skills, not separated.
****We'd rather have chance to let them write about topics OR have testing time to put the students to discuss in the certain situation to check if they are able to communicate properly in English and check their direct reaction during their participation to partners.
Partly I agree, partly not. In short conclusion, it depends on your expectation about the test.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, the test type of CSAT is mostly involved in a very short answer or multiple-choice answer. This type of test neither requires the abilities of comprehension over "real conversation"
I don't think the "listening' stands alone without out the mutual exchanges of information such as conversation. Conversation is like a journey through which the participants are sharing their thoughts and information, giving feedbacks and sometimes trying to come up with batter ideas, then finally arrive at agreement or disagreement and so on. I think the "real listening" eventually comes true through this kind of journey.
However, this is too much expectation for the korean students in reality. If we want them have just very basic ability in listening like depicting a few key words and understanding the short stereotyped conversations, preparing for the CSAT might be helpful for improving their listening skill.
*Corrected Version*
ReplyDeletePlease ignore the above article posted under my name.
=========================================
Partly I agree, partly not. In short conclusion, it depends on your expectation of the test.
As far as I know, the test type of CSAT is mostly involved in a very short answer or multiple-choice answer. This type of test neither requires the ability of comprehension over "real conversation" nor encourages students to solve problems through "listening".
I don't think the "listening" stands alone without out the mutual exchanges of information such as conversation. Conversation is like a journey through which the participants are sharing their thoughts and information, giving feedbacks and sometimes trying to come up with batter ideas, then finally arrive at agreement(disagreement) or problem-solving and so on. I think the "real listening" eventually comes true through this kind of journey.
However, this is too much expectation for the korean students in reality. If we expect them have just very basic ability in listening like depicting a few key words and understanding the short stereotyped conversations, preparing for the CSAT might be helpful for improving their listening skills.
I don’t think preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills basically. Students prepare their CSAT listening part through using many teaching materials. But they are not actually acquiring language but preparing for an exam. Of course CSAT has its own exam pattern which is continued from the last exam. So students and their teacher might focus on its pattern for getting better score. It is not true that the student got a good score has a good listening skill in the real English conversation. Even though they get a good score, but they will still have difficulty for understanding native speaker’s talking. So to approach the view of language acquisition, teaching English listening has to be focused on more actual conversation to use in real.
ReplyDeleteI agree CAST improves learners listening skills because I did. I know this type of test doesn't contain real conversation but this procecss needs practicing for converstion.
ReplyDeleteYes. I agree with the statement that says preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills. There are lots of controversy issues on the CSAT, though, for learners’ listening skills, I think it is useful. Usually in high school, students do not want to study English. Also, they do not have much natural environment for listening comprehension. In this situation, students can learn and improve their listening skills with practicing and repeating to prepare the CSAT. In addition, lately the level of English education in high school is getting better; I think it is good for developing English skills, too. For those who graduate high school, their average TOEIC score is between 500~600. It shows that English education in high school is not useless.
ReplyDeleteI agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.
ReplyDeleteMany korean students are studying for earning a good score on CSAT unfortunately.
Because the result of CSAT often decides which university to enter. That's why teachers analyze what kind of questions will be on CSAT and teach students focused on them.
In the English section of CSAT, it involves listening, grammar and reading.
Especially listening test is focused on the communication skill. In addition, those evaluating comprehensions are related to what the learners can meet in the real situation. The specific example questions are finding directions, guessing the conversation following the dialogue, selecting the right information and so on.
As I mentioned before, students tend to study for get higher score. To extract the right answers of questions, they study each words and expressions on the script.And they also practice the dialogue and review the questions over and over with the audio CD.
As a result, it influences not only listening but also speaking naturally.In my experience, whenever I ask the direction or give the direction to others, it still reminds me the CSAT.
That's why I believe that the more learners are trained and practiced for CSAT, the more learners' English skill will be improved.
I agree with the statement. Actually I have experience of improving my listening skills by preparing for the CSAT listening test.
ReplyDeleteThe test includes easy and necessary contents about diverse situations; finding directions, usual conversations, shopping and calculating, understanding headline of the news, grasping the major points of debates, and so on, dealing with family, business, school, cultural, computer, traveling, leisure, traffic, health, and scientific things. These kinds of contents are basic and significant for learning foreign language with the purpose of communication.
The scripts of the listening test include specific type of expressions. As students prepare this test, they memorize the expressions and practice listening again and again with considerable concentration. Therefore, even if they start the study to get high score from the test, they experience that their English listening skills get improved. I also did, and see many students successfully do it. That is why I believe the statement "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills." is true. In addition, especially for me, when I apply the expressions of the test in real conversation time, it is helpful to improve my speaking skills, too.
As much CSAT is for qualified applicant, preparing for the test should help listening improvement. And I believe that students have been able to advance the listening skill while they have been preparing.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the progress of preparing is too much concentrate on "how to solve typical CSAT questions" is issue rather than it could help development of listening itself. Preparation of this exam, and high score of listening do not mean students have enough ability to listen any kind dialogue, because they had just "Work out" of the "Typical test dialogue". Naturally, it caused limited skill only for the test – not language learning.
Over thousands students have to judge by strongly objective question, and it should be a multiple answer to mark on OMR. It means there should be no double answer or various meaning on the conversation which mean exactly different as real language. And then, suitable dialogue and question should be limited.
I think it is limitation of official education. Getting high score of listening should not attend to have experience of abroad, cause it is taking by government policy. Limited possibility makes narrow typical style. Predictable question make students restrict development language acquisition.
Students’ progress of listening by preparing the test is maximums of official education.
CSAT seems like the most important reason why all Korean students have to study very hard.
ReplyDeleteThere are some English listening parts in CSAT, so students might want to prepare for that to get the score they want. Thus, I think it can help the students to improve their listening skills a lot from the preparation or the test. The students will listen to a recorded material dring the CSAT. Usually, it will be about asking different directions and finding information from a conversation between two or three persons. It means that the recorded materials are mostly related to real-world topics. So as Harmer mentioned, ‘the live listening’ has obvious advantages. Moreover, from the various taped materials and CDs, the student can have many opportunities to hear different characters, where real people are talking!!
I agree that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, it depends on how to learn English. In order to do their the examination papers they need to have comprehensible input because listening is receptive skills. If they want to improve their listening skills, they need to memorize many vocabulary with grammar and practice listening.
When I was a high school student , I used to listen and read English news to get good marks in English. Though I have studied for the CSAT, it was clearly effective way. However, I don't believe that preparing for the CSAT is the most effective way. Anyway it helps motivate to improve listening skills. Moreover learners can know how much they are progressing of what they have learned through preparing for the CSAT.
I absolutely agree that preparing for CSAT improves learner's listening skill even speaking and pronunciation as well. I've noticed to some students who have taken listening test they can at least understand native speakers compared to those who haven't . Because of this exposure they get to use and improve their comprehension even pronunciation as well. I have a co worker who haven't been abroad but she speaks like native speaker I asked her how come you have a good pronunciation her answer she never stops listening until she imitates the right pronunciation. No doubt that listening over and over makes perfect in many ways.
ReplyDeleteThe most effective method of language teaching is focused instruction on listening comprehension. Listening proficiency is an important aspect of second language proficiency and is best acquired through repeated listening practice of natural and authentic materials. Nowadays, college scholartic abilities tests include listening section. The desire to excel in exam has motivated student' and teachers to study listening in more depth. Listening is a fundamental language skill. Korean students have below-average listening abilities. While there may be various reason for this phenomenon, students' listening abilities are highly correlated with the amount of exposure to listening not only CSAT Test but also their life(movies, pop-songs, internet communication, Phone-pal..etc). In order to strengthen Korean student' listening skill set. The English departments in IKorean Schools should focus on create more listening activities as well as lengthening the time allotted for such activities-teaching English listening / listening teaching. Listening comprehension is the result of an interaction among the range of infomation that the students have available to them Mendelsohn(1994) states that listening materials should be based on a wide range of authentic text, including both monologues and dialogues. CSAT Test hase long sentences and short questions for listening. While students prepare to CSAT the abilities of reading English will be increase but listening abilities will not be.
ReplyDeleteI partially agree about that.
ReplyDeleteI think when students study CSAT, they study reading and grammar most. And as we know, reading and grammar also influence on listening skill. So if students studied CSAT that also influence on their listening skill. And they also need to study listening for CSAT. So in that way, CSAT also influence on their listening skill.
But when students study CSAT, many of them are just concentrated on reading and grammar. Although reading and grammar effect on listening skill, it’s limited that can’t be enough for listening. And also when they study listening for CSAT, many of them just follow the teacher or some CSAT books and just study limited listening such as some questions about ‘where’ and ‘when’. So it could little help for their listening skill, but not that much.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills. A lot of korean students are studying for getting a good score on CSAT badly.Because depending on the result of CSAT, students can enter university they want to go. This is the reason the teachers should analyze what kind of questions on CSAT and teach students by using them.As I know, it involves in listening, grammar and reading in the English part of CSAT. Especially listening test should concentrate on the communication skills. The students tend to study for get higher score. To write the right answer of questions, they can learn each words and various expressions on the script of the coursebook. And they also practice the dialogue and review the questions continually. In conclusion, it involves both listening and speaking part naturally.
ReplyDeleteStatistics have shown time and time again that those who read and listen to the radio have higher paying jobs and more fulfilling lives. If I say "Gulfstream Jet" your brain has to search for a picture of a Gulfstream Jet. This doesn't happen when you watch TV because the images are presented to you. I encourage my older students to download the program Audacity for free. They can load a speech or interview (audio) into the program and engage in Intensive Listening at their own speed.
ReplyDeletehttp://audacity.sourceforge.net/
They can also edit or slice up audio into different parts if they wish. Studying for the CSAT can be intensive, and unfortunatly all of the students are usually forced to listen at one speed and at one level. I prefer workshop style listening classes where each student has an opportunity to learn autonomously.
Listening skills are very important for young students. When a child listens to a tape and then repeats what he hears, it is something they will recognize again. By continually repeating a word or sentence it is slowly getting drilled into their heads and they will subconsciously remember the word. It is good for a student to hear another voice saying a word other than the teacher because they need to recognize that word in different tones. It is also very helpful to have a picture of the word or sentence that they can look at while repeating and listening. This lets them see what they are saying and will help them remember. Listening also helps the students hear different sounds. Sometimes I am not able to make the sound exactly right and it is good to have a native speaker saying the sounds. Listening and repeating are necessary skills to learn at a young age because at first everything is just memorization. Once the students know the words then it is easier for them to understand sounds and other similar words.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure of that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.
ReplyDeleteActually, most of the student spend much time on studying grammar and reading to get more high scores.
But I think they are also essential parts to improve listening skills.
The description of CSAT are not same with our real conversation.
Questions in the test request to responds to the conversation or find the object.
Although many students practice to get scores, it is standard English that good pronunciation and grammar, considering.
If the students prepare the CSAT for three-years, it's an amounts of conversation or description. It is useful to improve learners' listening skills.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills." Actually, CSAT has a problem which includes only input parts (reading and listening), but students can study input parts really hard through preparing for the CSAT. The reason is that students can enter university which they want depend on their getting CSAT grades. During preparing for the CSAT, students’ listening and reading skills are improved by students’ repeating drill and doing their best, and most students do not have obstacle to read and listen to English. I feel that CSAT is best way in higher education of Korea to develop learners’ listening skills. It has completely a motivation which is entering university.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.
ReplyDeleteThe CSAT is a high stakes test in Korea because it is designed to level the students. They have to study hard to get a high score in this exam to enter their dream school.
There are several parts in this test, one of which is listening part. Especially to improve their scores in listening part they need to listen to English conversations and announcements repeatedly.
Sometimes, they would repeat listening to the same sentences to accustom themselves to Standard English pronunciation and intonation. In doing so, they also get understanding of grammar and extend their English vocabulary.
On the other hand, there are other parts of CSAT such as grammar part and reading part. Studying those parts can help students to improve their listening skill, too, because sentence structure and comprehensive understanding of English text can directly contribute to more competent listening skills.
In a word, each part in CSAT is interwoven closely. Therefore, I think studying the CSAT is very helpful in improving listening skills.
I disagree with that statement. Because there is limit on formation of CSAT listening. For example, the questions have same formations and situations. therefore students can't get to know many expressions. It can be an intensive listening material training. But, it can't be an extensive listening material training. So it can help students to acquire vocabulary and sentences. CSAT also have limitation of level. All high school students think that CSAT listening level is enough for studying English. So that makes limitation. Materials for extensive listening can be abtained from a number of sources. We can use many cassette, CD, DVD and MP3 to expend our listening skill. therefore, it can improve to some extent. But, it has many limitation.
ReplyDeletePartly I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.", Partly not.
ReplyDeleteThe CSAT is a test that evaluae high school student's ability; The CSAT is designed to high schoolvstudent's level.
For that reason, there is limit to improve listening skills and to know multifarious expressions and situations.
For people to improve listening skills ,extensive listening can have a dramatic effect on a such people. material for Extensive listening can be obtained from a number of sources.
In addition, Extensive listening can have students perform a number of tasks.
On the other hand, for a beginner of listening, lower intermediate, the CSAT seems to meet well.
In conclusion, according to student's level,It is a good method for harmonizing properly.
I disagree that CSAT improves the listening ability of students.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, there is pattern in the listening test. For example, selecting right picture, asking price, indirect speaking test. Once the students are accustomed to these problems, they could choose the right answer regardless of their ability. As a result, the content of listening is more easier than one of reading.
And the expressions are useful only for daily communication. It is not exact criteria to divide the level of students.
As the importance of English ability is getting bigger and bigger, younger students try to learn English in many ways. And ability of students is much better than before.
Listening takes 34% in CSAT. So the listening test is important field to evaluate the abiliy of students. I think that the listening test have to be developed. It must have more various and comprehensible content.
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ReplyDeleteThe CSAT has negative parts as it value results above courses, but I agree partly that the CAST improves students' listening skills. Because first students study when a goal exists. The CSAT gives students a goal to enter a prominent university. So students study hard to achieve it. English listening test gives a goal as a part of CSAT and develops a basic English ability by making students study.
ReplyDeleteThis knowledge is based to learn more difficult English when high school students become university students.
Second the CAST is a good measure to evaluate students' listening ability. We take an examination to know what to understand learned things. There are many other ways, but examination is simple and plain to evaluate students' ability. Similarly the CSAT is a merit as a evaluation instrument besides it has a credibility so that it can evaluate students' ability in a detached way. This has to solve by researching gradually.
I think that english pronounciation should only be taught by korean teachers in korea. This is because with the astonishing number of diverse teachers from many different english speaking countries, it is impossible to unify and create a true korean english. Even if they are from the same country, many different dialects or accents exist in different regions. My thought is to either bring in english teachers from one region in a single country or to have korean teachers teach pronounciations. Also, it is likely that a student will go through a dozen teachers by the time they reach adulthood. It will be confusing for them to learn english in a dozen different accents.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with the statement that preparing for the CSAT improves learners’ listening skills. First of all, students can get chances to be accustomed with situational conversations and useful communicational expressions because the section of English listening consists of a variety of situational conversations. Also, the test requires students to have both intensive and extensive listening skills, so it helps students understand general meaning of conversation and specific information. In addition, many Korean students practice English listening because they want to get high grades in CAST. Through this instrumental motivation, they try to improve their listening skills.
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ReplyDeleteGood listening skill can't naturally gain.The more you listen,the more you can hear and undestand.But as you know,there are no appropriate curriculums to improve learners English listening skills in Korea because focusing on entrance exam of University.
ReplyDeleteHowever,I think the CSAT English listening section might be helpful for learners in a way.Of course,there are patterns and multiple choice questions.But in order to choose right answer,the listeners can understand what the speaker said.In order to understand the speaker said in English,learners have to listen materials in English many times.
In English class,teachers has lectures of listening for the CSAT and students try to listen to the tape of English.
In my case,the CSAT was helpful for me to improve my listening skill so that I can get a good marks on Toeic listening section.
Therefore,preparing for the CSAT improves learners listening skills.
Certainly, my best time of listening study was preparing for the CSAT. I admit, I studied lots of scripts and learned about listening skills. But that was just only for the CSAT. That was not useful for practical conversation. After CSAT, most of students can't remember about learned listening. So I disagree with the following statement. I think that to learn listening naturally is more useful. For example, films, dramas and Pop songs etc.. I mean teaching more simple and fun. Don’t be too fast and take a time. After few years learners will interest of listening.
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ReplyDeleteI think that preparing for the CAST improves learners’ listening skills to some degree.
ReplyDeleteKorean students have few chances; they usually learn English from Korean English teacher and communicate with Korean peer in most of classroom, above all, English is not second language in Korea.
So they have to listen to English tape or CD on purpose and watch movie or news, though their purpose is passing in the test.
They listen to the tape more; the better it is for them. Because they can acquire a lot of vocabulary, idioms and expression using at the special situation (i.e. in restaurant or airport) through listening repeatedly. In other word, acquisitions bring them background knowledge.
When I was high school student, the way helped for me. And the way had been useful that I improved my English background knowledge.
Yes,I agree. Because those who preparing CSAT have reasons to get the score.
ReplyDeleteIt gives them motivations. That is very important thing I think. We have many ways to improve our english listening skills. It is another way to acheive english. We cannot ignore any kind of way to learn languages.
It teaches to who learn the skills of listening raws and technique.And I am sure that it really works. The most important thing is why who learns English those who have motivated then it will work. But who has to choose which ways are suitable by oneself and do study. There are lots of ways to get skills of english.
I agree with "Preparing for the CSAT improves learners' listening skills.”
ReplyDeleteAlthough CSAT is not perfect to improve listening skills of students, we couldn’t contradict the statement that CSAT has influence on their skill. I have three undeniable reasons to improve learners’ listening skill through CSAT as like below.
First of all, CSAT is made by the ministry of Education based on best system and curriculum to focus on improving students’ skill. They expect that student will be able to have a good listening skill during learner prepare the test if the score of learner’s CSAT is over middle level. They think that CSAT is very important to evaluate learner’s skill.
Second, a lot of teacher in the ministry of Education have tried to make and update best CSAT every year. It means that students could have a good material and optimize it to improve their skill. So, all most people trust their system to let student prepare and give them a good source.
Finally, CSAT could give learner a good motivation about listening of English because the listening score takes up many score of CSAT if students want to get high score and inter a good university.
In brief, I totally agree that CSAT influences on improving learners' listening skills.
I agree with preparing for the CSAT improves learner' listening skills.
ReplyDeleteI started to learn English in a public middle school. Also, my all English Education focused on the CSAT for six years - middle and high school. Therefore, I think I myself is a good example that can improve preparing for the CSAT is helpful to develop listening skills. Of course, it doesn't mean that my English listening skill is very good or every students would agree with my opinion. However, I think most students who is preparing for the CSAT get a help.
It is not very low the level of English listening part of CSAT. Students have to practice many listening problem sets to get a high score. That is, they listen English a lot for several years and memorize various vocabularies. It is basic of learning English. If students prepare for the CSAT very well, their English listening skills would improve.
As I look back my memories I don’t like test at all, however these day I think, we do need test some times.
ReplyDeleteFirstly, Some tests are important to prove how much of the knowledge you do understand of your study or books which you need to know.
Secondly, It is helpful to concentrate on study. It means preparing for the CSAT which it might improve learner's listening skills. I think that if you have a strong purpose like pass the exams or get good scores, you might feel the urgency to study. This is the best time to focus on something important since you can concentrate as much as you can.
Thirdly,
CSAT (Collage scholastic Aptitude Test), the initial represent that you might be learn thousands of necessary vocabularies. It is useful to improve listening skill. Here is the point, if you know about a lot of words which is in CSAT, it will be much easier for you to understand the English.
So I agree with that statement.
I agree and disagree! I think most Korean people can understand what foreigners say, just as I can. This is not 100% of all Koreans because they went to high school in Korea. Every test has a pattern, so we need to practice and memorize lots of vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteThis listening skill is only for the test! During the test, they have the same speed and same spoken pattern. If you practice a lot, you can understand what they say pretty well. This is absolutely different from a "real conversation." Everyone has a different manner of speaking (pronunciation, dialect, speed, intonation, etc...) and their voices are different. Even one word could sound different depending on who is speaking it, much less a conversation.
Students can not learn these differences when they study for an exam like CSAT. Nor can the exam accurately assess your ability to listen/converse with this in mind. People learn through conversation, just like I did. CSAT might be good for testing basic proficiency, but it isn't going to prepare you for the real world in the way that the test is supposedly assessed.
I simply say that the test(CSAT) will not help enhancing students`listening skills adequately.
ReplyDeleteThe CSAT (the Korean Scholastic Aptitude Test) is the college entrance exam and is required for all those seeking to enter a Korean University. Along with the TOEIC, the test scores are used by many companies to evaluate potential employees' English ability. In fairness, in recent times an optional speaking test is now offered by TOEIC. However, despite the awareness among all concerned educators and employers that the major requirements for most jobs is a high level of proficiency in writing and speaking English, there are no comprehensive teaching and testing programs available to all students. In the Korean English language curriculum, there is typically one main purpose, which is to prepare the students to excel on the English Comprehension section of the CSAT.
In Korea's case, students are following an English course that is meant to train them in the language skills that are necessary to enter a university or the job market, but where the language test does not test these skills directly. If multiple-choice items only test the skills of writing or speaking, then there is no pressure to practice skills such as context, cultural variances, or business contexts. Writing complete sentences and listening&speaking effectively may not be adequately taught. How do we solve the problem in Korea?
It should be the goal of Korea to reach the level of proficiency that has been attained by places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This will require that the certain type exam system must replace the present English exam used for entry into universities in Korea. It is imperative that effective listening skills must be taught beginning at the lowest educational levels as a national policy.
One suggestion as to how to fix the Korean English education system is to hire more native speaking teachers. However this approach will be of little help given the current state of teaching and testing. Korea needs a national policy that starts teaching listening skills at an early age. The policy needs to be bolstered by a rigorous testing program that evaluates the student's skills in listening&speaking in an international context. Without a commitment to these programs, Korea will continue to lag the rest of the industrialized world in the English language proficiency that is required in this age of globalization.