Dictation

Learners write down phrases from a familiar text to develop accurate spoken-written form connections.

Procedure

1. Listen: Read the whole text (100-150 words) at normal speed (~150 wpm). Learners just listen.
2. Write: Read phrase by phrase (5-7 words each), pausing after each for learners to write.
3. Check: Read the whole text again at normal speed. Learners check and correct.
4. Mark: Teacher or learners mark against an answer sheet. Discuss errors.

Variants

• Running Dictation -- text posted outside; one student memorises a phrase, runs back, dictates to a partner who writes.
• Guided Dictation -- content words written on board; learners focus on function words and grammar.
• Peer Dictation -- learners read the text to each other.
• Completion Dictation -- progressive versions with increasing words missing.
• Perfect Dictation -- repeat the same dictation over several days, aiming for 100%.
• Unexploded Dictation -- recorded at normal speed with no pauses; learners control playback themselves.

Tips

• Use texts with mostly familiar vocabulary -- this strengthens partly known language, not new learning.
• Divide text at meaningful phrase boundaries, not arbitrary word counts.
• About once every two weeks is a reasonable frequency.
• Have learners use a different-coloured pen during the checking step to see what they corrected.