Learning through Media Outlets

BBC Hausa and VOA Hausa can be used to create activities to practice listening, pronunciation/speaking, comprehension, and reading.

Both news sources contain short articles and videos/audio (as well as longer ones if you’re more advanced and/or have more time). To start I search for headlines that contain words and/or phrases that I recognize or that are related to topics that I feel I have a decent grasp on. Then, depending on what type of source I choose (video/audio or print) and whether I am working independently or with my mentor, I use the following basic structures.

If studying independently:

Article/print: After choosing an article read it and note down what you think the main points are and any words you do not recognize. You can look up the words you do not recognize independently, and seek out an English-language (or another language you are fluent in) news source related to the same topic to try and verify whether or not you understood correctly. Obviously this method of checking leaves room for error so alternatively you can send your mentor the notes you took along with a link to the article to verify comprehension. At the same time you can record yourself reading the article and send it for feedback on pronunciation.

Video/audio: After choosing a video watch/listen to it and note down what you think the main points are and any words you do not recognize. Watch/listen multiple times if necessary. You can look up the words you do not recognize independently, and seek out and English-language (or other language you are fluent in) news source related to the same topic to try and verify whether or not you understood correctly. Obviously this method of checking leaves room for error so alternatively you can send your mentor the notes you took along with a link to the video to verify comprehension.

If working with a mentor:

Article/print: After choosing an article read the article aloud to your mentor. Before correction, have your mentor read the article aloud to you, noting down errors you may have made when you read it aloud the first time and words that you do not recognize. Read the article aloud again, making corrections where you noticed them and then allow your mentor to provide feedback in other places where you made mistakes. Following this, summarize the meaning – you could also have your mentor ask you questions about the article to verify comprehension. In more complex articles or those you are struggling to comprehend, you can also go through sentence by sentence focusing on those you do not understand the structure and/or meaning of.

Video/audio: After choosing a video watch it with your mentor. Watch the video again and note down words that you do not recognize and general ideas that you pick up on. If short enough (or if needed) watch the video a third time. After this, try and summarize what you think the video is about to your mentor. You could also have your mentor ask you questions about the video to verify comprehension.

**Note: The above are just basic guidelines I have used that work for me – obviously change your approach based on what works for you! I enjoy this approach because it combines multiple ways of learning (reading, listening, etc.) and have found it is the most fun when I choose topics that are of interest to me.

I also realize that not every language has access to these types of resources, but similar activities can be done using YouTube videos, books, materials developed by a mentor, etc.