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Basic Dictations offers beginning-level English learners an accessible, engaging entry point into listening, speaking, and cultural awareness. Through 58 photocopiable lessons, the book turns dictation— a classic language-teaching technique— into a dynamic, interactive learning experience. Each unit introduces students not only to essential structures and everyday vocabulary, but also to people, places, and traditions from around the world, helping learners connect language acquisition with global awareness.
The book features four types of dictations— partial, pair, prediction, and dictogloss— each designed to build different micro-skills in listening, memory, grammar noticing, and spoken reconstruction. These scaffolded formats ensure that beginning students can participate successfully while developing confidence in processing spoken English. In addition to the dictation tasks, the book includes 18 supplementary listening activities that reinforce comprehension and encourage students to respond, discuss, and use the language actively.
Clear lesson plans, photocopiable pages, and a free downloadable audio program make Basic Dictations a practical, ready-to-use resource for teachers in classrooms, tutoring settings, or multilevel groups. Whether used as a mainstay of a listening curriculum or woven into daily routines, the activities support skill-building, cultural curiosity, and meaningful communication.
Features
*Free accompanying AUDIO program, available to download from https://www.prolingualearning.com/ or to stream on https://www.youtube.com/@ProLinguaLearningAudio 58 photocopiable lessons designed specifically for beginning-level English learners Four types of dictations— partial, pair, prediction, and dictogloss— to support a range of listening and speaking skills Culturally rich content that introduces students to countries, customs, and global perspectives Clear, teacher-friendly lesson design ideal for classrooms, tutoring centers, or community programs Highly interactive tasks that build confidence in listening, note-taking, and reconstructing meaning
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Catherine Sadow, co-author (along with Judy DeFilippo) of Basic Dictations, taught at Northeastern University for 24 years has co--authored of 7 ESL books. Students from beginning to advanced levels often told her that "listening" was the most difficult problem for them in trying to speak English. With that challenge in mind, from 1987 (Talk Radio) to 2015 (Great Dictations), Catherine created effective and interesting listening activities which resulted in books for all levels.
Catherine began her ESL career at Brookline, MA Adult Education while completing an MA in TESL at Boston University. Although officially retired, she continues to teach ESL classes as a volunteer in Brookline to adults studying English.
