‘Keywording’ helps students listen

Image by AxxL from Pixabay

As an experiment, I spent a couple of minutes explaining a new concept (anthropology) to some children. I asked them to write down key words as they listened. Here’s what they said about it:

It will make your vocabulary better and get you better at listening!  Age 7

It’s useful – it helps you listen. You want to write it down! It means you’ve listened well.  Age 9

You have to use your listening skills.  Age 9

I definitely agree with them that this is a useful strategy. I often do it myself if I’m listening to something, and it helps me to stay focused.

You can direct your students to use ‘keywording’ during your teacher inputs, or while listening to video or audio input: As you listen, jot down key words. Make sure you write at least three. You might make a note of many more.

Influenced by Roger Sutcliffe et al.: Thinking Moves A-Z