ABSTRACT
Listening is a process that can be taught. Educators are being called upon to teach listening and viewing skills based on expectations developed by various professional organizations. Listening is addressed specifically within the Core State Standards through the strand of Speaking and Listening in the English Language Arts Standards. According to the International Listening Association, “listening is the process of receiving, constructing meaning from, and responding to spoken and/or nonverbal messages”. Initial language learning, whether for a native or a second language learner, comes through listening and begins with the ability to hear and distinguish sounds. Learners then start to understand that specific sounds are joined together to form a word, and these words then become the foundation for their spoken and written language. WordSift was created by experts at Stanford University to help teachers manage vocabulary and academic language in their text materials, which may be helpful in supporting English language learners.
