Page 66 - SREENARAYANAGURU OPEN UNIVERSITY

The process of listening is complex, and the world introduced by the radio was acces-
involves a five-step process: hearing, filtering, sible only through sound, the listener’s mind
comprehending, remembering, and respond- and imagination provided visuals to the con-
ing (as explored in the previous unit). In prac- tent that came through the airwaves. Today,
ticing effective listening, we are required to the radio has become increasingly portable and
understand and evaluate the information heard. inexpensive, allowing it to cut across various
While we may be able to do this efficiently barriers of learning.
in our first language, improving our listen-
ing skills in a foreign or second language like After the era of radio, the television was
English requires an appropriate strategy. This invented as an audio-visual medium. It pre-
is where the use of media such as radio broad- sented both sound and visual images, engag-
casts, videos, news broadcasts, films, doc- ing the ears and eyes (sound and sight). Thus,
umentaries, and songs can go a long way in the information conveyed in this medium is
improving listening skills. enriched with audio and visual aids, including
images and written words. Further, the televi-
How can we access media resources to sion could reach people in remote locations.
improve and develop our listening ability in Today, apart from normal programming, there
English? The term ‘media’ includes all plat- are television channels aimed exclusively for
forms that we can listen and watch. In early educational purposes such as language learn-
times, the radio was a source of information, ing.
news, and entertainment. Being able to listen
to conversations, interviews, plays, music, and With the invention of the computer and
broadcasts from different places was a wonder- the internet there emerged a wide variety of
ous experience then. No doubt that listening to platforms, websites, and apps through which
different radio programmes allowed the audi- people could be educated. Mobile phones fur-
ence/listeners to better their vocabulary and ther changed this scenario by making online
pronunciation. educational resources even more accessible.
For instance, one of the most popular websites
Since radios rely on sound, this medium of the twenty-first century is www.youtube.
proved to be useful for the illiterate and the com. This webpage makes possible asynchro-
visually challenged sections of society. Though nous communication, i.e. communication that

Fig 2.2.1 Screenshot from bbclearningenglish.com

60 SGOU - FYUGP - SLM - English for Communication