Dictogloss

  Dictogloss is a classroom dictation activity where learners are required to reconstruct a short text by listening and noting down key words, which are then used as a base for reconstruction.

   Dictogloss is often regarded as a multiple skills and systems activity. Learners practise listening, writing and speaking (by working in groups) and use vocabulary, grammar and discourse systems in order to complete the task.

   Roles within the activity

English captain:  Student in charge of making sure English is the language used during the activity.

Writer:  Student in charge of writing the text. 

Moderator: Student in charge of making sure everybody´s opinion is listened and respected.

Timekeeper:  Student in charge of time management in order to complete the text in time.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

BEGINNER

1) The english idiom “kill not the goose that lays the golden 

egg” was derived from this classic story.

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2) Once upon a time, a farmer had a goose that laid a golden egg every day. The egg provided enough money for the farmer and his wife for their day-to-day needs. 

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3) The farmer and his wife were happy for a long time. But one day, the farmer got an idea and told her wife, “Why should I take just one egg a day? Why can’t I take all of them at once and make a lot of money?”

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4) The foolish farmer’s wife also agreed and decided to cut the goose’s stomach for the eggs. As soon as they killed the bird and opened the goose’s stomach, to find nothing but guts and blood. The farmer, realizing his foolish mistake, cried over the lost resource.

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5)  Mom: Come down! It’s dinner time.

Me: In a few minutes.

Mom: NOW!

Me: Ok.

*downstairs*

Me: Where’s dinner?

Mom: It will be ready in 10 minutes!

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INTERMEDIATE

1) The hamburger is the most eaten food in the whole world. The first hamburgers were made  and sold in Connecticut in 1895 by an American called Louis Lassen . Louis called  them hamburgers because he was given the recipe by sailors from Hambourg in Germany.   

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2) Hamburgers became a favourite meal in America in the early part of the twentieth century. Their popularity grew even more after the second world war, when they were bought  in large quantities by teenagers who preferred fast food to family meals. 

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3) In 1948 two brothers Dick and Mac Donald opened  a drive-in hamburger restaurant in San Bernardino, California. 

Since then over 25,000 Mcdonald's restaurants have been opened  worldwide and now 35 million MacDonald's hamburgers are eaten  every day in 115 countries from India to the Artic Circle.

                           

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ADVANCED

1) As we get older and when we think about our past we sometimes ponder the things that we should have done. And we also may regret those things we did badly and the mistakes we made.    

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2) In reality, we can always learn from our mistakes and hope to never make them again. For example, if I failed a test because of a lack of study, the next test I will hope to pass because of hard work. 

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3) Remember too that some regrets are not based in reality and we may waste time thinking that they are. Would I have really not have been involved in a car crash if I had been driving more slowly? 

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4) After all, the other driver ought to have been concentrating and not playing with their radio. We have to be honest with ourselves and live in the now. The only things we can control are the things happening now, in this moment.

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EXPERT

1) Johnny asked a girl in a library “do you mind if I sit beside you”?

The girl answered with a loud voice: “I DON’T WANT TO SPEND THE NIGHT WITH YOU!”  38

All the students in the library started staring at Johnny and he was embarrassed.

After a couple of minutes, the girl walked quietly to Johnny´s table and she told him: “I study psychology and I know what a man is thinking. I guess you felt embarrassed, right?”  54

Johnny answered with a loud voice: "$10,000 JUST FOR ONE NIGHT? THAT’S TOO MUCH!”  20

All the people in the library looked at the girl in shock and Johnny whispered in her ears: “I study Law and I know how to make someone feel guilty”.  34

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2) Oliver, Jake and their boss were at a meeting. Suddenly, they saw a genie.

The genie said: "I usually fulfill three wishes at a time. But you are three people, so I will fulfill one wish to each one of you.  50

Oliver said: "Send me to New York with a lot of money." Oliver disappeared. 

Jake said: "Send me to Paris with a lot of beautiful girls". Jake disappeared. 

The genie asked the boss: "What is your wish?" 51

He answered: “I want these two idiots back at office after lunch.”

Moral: Always Let the BOSS SPEAK FIRST! 25

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