Assignment

[kabita.chiring]

Dear all

Please find the instructions for the assignment targeted to achieve improved fluency and accuracy. 

This assignment was done by me as part of the tecaher development course of the University of Oregon. I saw remarkable changes in my own speaking skills at the end of the project and I am sure that it will attain the same results for you. For the project to be effective, please ensure that you strictly follow the given schedule and guidelines.

Assignment marks: 30.  Due on: 6th May

As discussed earlier, the assignment would require you to record your reflection on the activities of the week before. Every Sunday, you will record your voice talking about your experiences at the university during the preceding week. Every alternate week you will also be listening to your recording, transcribing it word by word (including mistakes, repetitions, umms and errs) and write down your comments on your speaking. 

At the end of the project, you will prepare a document of 300-400 words wherein you will write down your overall observation on the recordings of all the six weeks. 

The schedule for recording:

3rd April - Record your voice

7th April -  Record, transcribe the recorded speech and write comments 

14th April- Record 

21st April- Record, transcribe the recorded speech and write comments 

28th April- Record

5th May- Record, transcribe the recorded speech and write comments 

IMP: Please ensure that the recordings/transcriptions are done on the scheduled dates and the file names indicate the date of recording. The date and time of recording/transcription will be verified at the time of submission with the help of an advanced ELT software. Random checking will be carried out to ensure that recordings/transcriptions are being done on time.

Guidelines for recording:   You will make a 2-5 minutes recording of your experiences at the university during the preceding week: What new things did you learn? Any memorable incident? Which classes did you enjoy most and why? Any interaction/encounter with anyone you want to talk about? Any extra-curricular activity/conference? Any particular incident with friends you would like to share?

Guidelines for transcribing: On 7th April, 21st April and 5th May, after recording your speech, you will be listening to it and writing it down word by word. Please ensure that you write it the exactly the way you hear it. This means you will have to write down all the mistakes, repetitions, broken words, errs, umms and so on.

Guidelines for writing comments: On 7th April, 21st April and 5th May, after transcribing you speech, you will write your comments underneath. When giving feedback to yourself, please follow the given pattern:  1.  What you liked about your speaking  2. What you think can be improved  3. Overall observation 

Guidelines for the final document: The final document should be prepared after the last recording on 5th May. In this document, you will pen a 300-400 words review of your performance during all the six recordings. Please write your review around the following points : 1. Has the project benefited you? If yes, how. If no, why not?  2. What changes do you see in your speaking if you compare the recording on 3rd April with the one on 5th May? 3. What are the strong areas of your speaking?  4. Which areas do you think need improvement  5. How do you plan to further develop your speaking skills? 6. Did you enjoy doing the project? If yes, how? If no, why not? 

On 6th May, you will have to hand over the consolidated assignment that should contain 6 recordings (audio files), a word document that contains 3 sets of  transcriptions/comments (done on 7th April, 21st April and 5th May ) and  a final document that contains your overall observation on the project.

Please meet me if you have any queries. All the best. Here begins our mission to improve our speaking skills! 

Warm regards,

KC