Listening and Speaking in a New Language
Listen attentively to a new language and join in: hold simple conversations, ask and answer questions, speak in sentences using familiar phrases, and build pronunciation and intonation through songs, rhymes and presenting aloud
What a learner can do afterwards
- Join in with songs and rhymes in the new language, copying its sounds and rhythm (e.g. singing along to a counting song)
- Ask and answer simple questions in a short conversation (e.g. exchanging names, ages and likes with a partner)
- Say short sentences from memory with pronunciation a listener can follow (e.g. introducing themselves to the class)
The lesson
Learning to speak a new language means listening closely, then having a go yourself, even when it feels wobbly at first. Every time you copy a sound or answer a question, your ear and your mouth get a little more used to the new language.
In her Spanish class, Mia sings along to a counting song, copying the beat and the sounds even though she doesn't know every word. Later, she turns to a partner and asks, "Como te llamas?" Her partner answers, "Me llamo Sam." Then Mia says her own short sentence from memory, "Me llamo Mia," clearly enough for Sam to understand.
You don't have to say every sound perfectly. Copy the shape of the sentence, which part goes up and which part goes down, and a listener will follow you more easily than you think.
Listen for the sounds, copy them, and have a go: speaking is how you get better.
Watch it
Where it sits
Where this leads
Jobs that lean on this skill. Follow one to see everything it is built on.
8 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.