| Body | This listening activity is designed to accompany videos on the internet. It is appropriate for all levels of language learners and is a useful strategy for improving interpretive communicative competence.
Learning outcomes:
Learners will be able to:
- Identify at least one way to adjust the speed of a video they watch
- Evaluate the utility of slowing down a video’s speed as it relates to improving comprehension
Mode(s): Interpretive
Materials: Listening online video,  handout
Procedure:
- Introduce learners to the various approaches to adjusting the online playback speed of videos by showing them this video.
- As a group, discuss whether learners have tried to adjust playback speed before in the target language. Also, if they have adjusted playback speeds before, ask them to share their favorite methods.
- Using the handout, ask that learners watch a YouTube video (one that aligns with your curricular needs) at a normal playback speed. For example, if you are studying environmental concerns, you may want to watch a Greenpeace video or a news segment. As they watch, learners will note what they understand on the handout.
- After watching, give learners one minute to note any conclusions they can draw and the questions they have on the handout.
- Debrief Steps 3 and 4 as a group.
- Next, return to the handout. Learners will watch the video again at a slower playback speed and will add to their notes from their first viewing (page 2).
- As a group, discuss what new understandings the learners have gleaned in their second attempt listening.
- Finally, listen again at a normal speed. On the handout, ask learners to note any new understandings they have gained and to answer the reflection questions (page 3) related to the extent to which their understanding improved.
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