Peer Review of “Learning English Through Speaking and Listening” Interactive Learning Resource

Overview 

The resource focuses on practical English usage in restaurant settings, aiming to enhance learners’ confidence and skills in speaking and listening through structured activities.

Clarity of the Lesson

  • Strengths: The objectives are clearly stated, and the progression of activities is logical and easy to follow.
  • Suggestions for Improvement: It might be beneficial to include a brief introductory video to provide an overview of the entire unit, helping learners understand the big picture from the start.

Appropriate Outcomes

  • Strengths: The learning outcomes are specific and measurable, focusing on both comprehension and production of language.
  • Questions for Consideration: Are the outcomes linked to assessments? For example, how will you measure confidence in asking questions and expressing choices in English?

Alignment

  • Strengths: The activities are well-aligned with the stated outcomes, progressively building the required skills.
  • Suggestions for Improvement: Consider mapping each activity explicitly to the learning outcomes at the beginning of the unit to reinforce the alignment.

Interactivity

  • Strengths: The resource includes various interactive elements, such as videos, group assignments, and quizzes.
  • Questions for Consideration: How interactive are the quizzes? Could they include instant feedback to enhance engagement?

Inclusivity

  • Strengths: Group work and collaborative activities promote inclusivity and peer learning.
  • Suggestions for Improvement: Ensure all activities are accessible to learners with different abilities. For instance, providing transcripts for videos can help learners with hearing impairments.

Technology Use and Rationale

  • Strengths: Effective use of technology, such as online videos and virtual meetings, to facilitate learning.
  • Questions for Consideration: Is there a rationale provided for each technology used? This can help learners understand the purpose behind the tools they are using.

Presentation

  • Strengths: The presentation is clean and organized, making it easy for learners to navigate through the activities.
  • Suggestions for Improvement: Adding visual aids, such as infographics or charts, could make the content more engaging and easier to understand.

Citations

  • Strengths: Citations are provided where necessary.
  • Questions for Consideration: Are all external resources properly cited? Ensuring proper citation helps in maintaining academic integrity.

Detailed Activity Review

  1. Activity 1: Unit Introduction and Learner Survey
    • Strengths: Clearly outlines learning outcomes and engages learners with an introductory survey.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Including an introductory video can enhance initial engagement.
  2. Activity 2: Listening Practice Using Online Videos
    • Strengths: Uses progressively challenging videos with questions to test comprehension.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Including a variety of scenarios beyond restaurant settings can provide a broader range of listening practice.
  3. Activity 3: Collaborative Speaking Practice
    • Strengths: Promotes group interaction using a cheat sheet for restaurant phrases.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Providing structured role-playing scenarios can enhance the practice sessions.
  4. Activity 4: Listening and Speaking Practice Quiz
    • Strengths: Reinforces learning through a quiz format.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Adding varied question types, such as multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank, could cater to different learning styles.
  5. Activity 5: Group Video Assignment
    • Strengths: Practical application of skills in a real-world scenario.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Offering examples or a rubric for the video assignment could help set clear expectations.
  6. Activity 6: Interview Assessment
    • Strengths: Provides formal assessment of speaking skills.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Including peer feedback could enrich the assessment process.
  7. Activity 7: Post-Lesson Reflection
    • Strengths: Encourages reflection on progress and areas for improvement.
    • Suggestions for Improvement: Providing a guided reflection template could help students structure their thoughts more effectively.

Overall Suggestions

  • Expand Content Variety: Incorporate diverse real-life situations beyond restaurant settings.
  • Interactive Feedback: Implement quizzes with instant feedback.
  • Accessibility: Ensure all content is accessible to learners with different needs.

Conclusion 

The resource effectively uses interactive and collaborative methods to enhance English language skills. Addressing the suggested improvements can further strengthen its impact and accessibility.

Links

Peer reviews: https://kale.opened.ca/peer-review-for-group/

Group D: https://learningresource.opened.ca/