Beniko Mason

Story-Listening: A Brief Introduction (in Japanese)

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:17:00 +0000

ストーリー・リスニング: 簡単な紹介

メイソン・ベニコ四天王寺大学短期大学部名誉教授

スティーブン・クラッシェン南カリフォルニア大学名誉教授

伝統的な外国語の授業では、物語の中で使われる語彙や文法は意図的に文の中に配置されます。物語は生徒がこれらの項目を学ぶのを助ける手段です。単語のリストと文法は通常、実際の物語が読まれたり、語られたりする前に学生に提供され、物語が話されたり読まれたりした後には、学生がその単語を覚えて「習得」できるように練習問題が提供されます。

対照的に、ストーリーリスニング (SL) では、物語を理解し楽しむことに重点が置かれます。教師は、物語の中から生徒が知らないかもしれないと思われる単語を選択することで、物語をより理解しやすくし、理解を補助する方法 (Krashen, Mason, & Smith, 2018)使用して物語を語るときに、これらの単語の意味を明確にします。たとえば、絵を描く、言い換える、簡単な翻訳を与える、聞き手が理解できる言葉を使って説明する、などです。教員の目標は、絵を描いて心象が心に浮かびやすくし、物語の中の理解できない言葉を理解できるように言い換えて、興味深い詳細を追加し、物語がどのように展開するのかを理解させることです。

Comprehension-Aiding Supplementation (CAS) は、理解を捕捉するために使われます。生徒が新しい単語を覚えたり、意識的に「記憶に残したり」するのを支援したり奨励したりすることを目的としたものではありません。これまでの研究では、CAS を使用すると、従来の方法論よりも優れた長期的な語彙習得が得られることが示されています。たとえ目標が語彙知識であっても、CAS によって強化された物語を聞くことに時間を費やす方が効果は高いです。新しい単語を聞いたり読んだりしながら意識的に「学習」しようとすると、理解が妨げられ、言語の成長が遅くなる可能性があります。

ストーリー・リスニングでは、特定の単語が物語の中に登場するかどうかを確認したりしません。物語の中に、私たちが生徒に教えたい言葉が「種として含まれている」わけではありません。むしろ、私たちはストーリーを伝えます。CASと呼ばれる補助を利用してたくさんの物語を学生に語ると、「適切な言葉のインプット」(Krashen, & Mason, 2020)が、頻繁に使われる単語もそうでない単語も自然と含まれていて、言語習得をサポートします。 (証拠については、Walter, 2020; McQuillan 2019 を参照)。

完全な習得（完全な意味と、新たに獲得した言語を容易に生成する能力）は、一度だけ触れただけで得られるものではなく、徐々に蓄積されていきます。取得者が理解可能な文脈で新しい単語や表現を見たり聞いたりするたびに、そのほんの一部が取得されます。ただし、十分な量の投入があれば、このわずかな増加でも大幅な獲得につながるのに十分なのです。

Mason, B., & Krashen, S. (2020). Story-Listening: A brief introduction. CATESOL Newsletter, July, 53(7). https://www.catesol.org/v_newsletters/article_158695931.htm

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Story-Listening: A Brief Introduction (in Spanish)

Thu, 11 May 2023 16:17:00 +0000

Translated by Ignacio Almandoz

En las clases tradicionales de lengua extranjera, el vocabulario y la gramática utilizados en las historias se coloca allí deliberadamente; la historia es una forma de ayudar a los estudiantes a aprender estos elementos. Las listas de vocabulario y las definiciones, generalmente se proporcionan antes de que las historias sean de hecho leídas o presentadas, y a los estudiantes se les proporcionan ejercicios tras la escucha o la lectura, para ayudar a los estudiantes a recordar las palabras y a “dominarlas”. Por el contrario, en Story-Listening (SL) lo importante es comprender y disfrutar cada historia (o cuento). El profesor hace que el cuento sea más comprensible detectando (previamente; cuando el profesor planifica y prepara la clase que va a dar) las palabras de la historia que cree que los estudiantes podrían no saber, para luego aclarar el significado de éstas, mientras cuenta el cuento, usando para tal fin una serie de técnicas que llamamos “suplementación para la facilitación de la comprensión” (Krashen, Mason, & Smith, 2018) (por ejemplo, hacer un dibujo, parafrasear, traducir brevemente y proporcionar un contexto lingüístico útil). Su objetivo es hacer comprensibles los elementos incomprensibles de la historia y también agregar detalles interesantes. La “suplementación para la facilitación de la comprensión” (SFC) no tiene como objetivo ayudar o animar a los estudiantes a recordar o “dominar” las nuevas palabras, pero nuestros estudios hasta ahora indican que la utilización de la SFC da como resultado una mejor y más duradera adquisición de vocabulario que la obtenida utilizando la metodología tradicional. Incluso cuando el objetivo es aprender vocabulario, es mejor dedicar tiempo a escuchar historias, utilizando las técnicas antes mencionadas (SFC). Intentar “aprender” nuevas palabras conscientemente mientras se escucha o se lee, distrae, (lo cual afecta negativamente a la comprensión) y puede ralentizar la adquisición. En SL, no se trata de asegurar que ciertas palabras estén presentes en el cuento; la historia no está “sembrada” con palabras que queremos enseñar a los estudiantes. Simplemente, contamos un cuento. Y si contamos un número suficientemente grande de ellos, presentados con SFC, siendo SFC uno de los elementos de lo que denominamos “entrada óptima” (Krashen y Mason, 2020), todo el vocabulario frecuente e infrecuente que los estudiantes están preparados para adquirir estará presente y en cantidad suficiente para hacer más efectiva la adquisición. (para ver pruebas documentadas, consúltese Walter, 2020; McQuillan 2019). La adquisición total (comprender el significado completamente y ser capaz de producir fácilmente el nuevo lenguaje adquirido) no ocurre después de una sola exposición, sino que se va construyendo gradualmente. Cada vez que los adquirentes ven u oyen una nueva palabra o expresión en un contexto comprensible, adquieren una pequeña parte de ella. Sin embargo, con una cantidad suficiente de aducto (input), este pequeño progreso es suficiente para continuar el camino hacia una adquisición sustancial.

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Godfather Death

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

Godfather Death

A POOR MAN had twelve children and was forced to work night and day to give them even bread. When therefore the thirteenth came into the world, he knew not what to do in his trouble, but ran out into the great highway, and resolved to ask the first person whom he met to be godfather.

The first to meet him was the good God who already knew what filled his heart, and said to him, “Poor man, I pity you. I will hold your child at its christening, and will take charge of it and make it happy on earth.” The man said, “Who are you?” “I am God.” “Then I do not desire to have you for a godfather,” said the man; “you give to the rich, and leave the poor to hunger.”

Thus spoke the man, for he did not know how wisely God apportions riches and poverty. He turned therefore away from the Lord, and went farther.

Then the Devil came to him and said, “What do you seek? If you will take me as a godfather for your child, I will give him gold in plenty and all the joys of the world as well.” The man asked, “Who are you?” “I am the Devil.” “Then I do not desire to have you for godfather,” said the man; “you deceive men and lead them astray.”

He went onward, and then came Death striding up to him with withered legs, and said, “Take me as godfather.” The man asked, “Who are you?” “I am Death, and I make all equal.” Then said the man, “You are the right one, you take the rich as well as the poor, without distinction; you shall be godfather.” Death answered, “I will make your child rich and famous, for he who has me for a friend can lack nothing.” The man said, “Next Sunday is the christening; be there at the right time.” Death appeared as he had promised, and stood godfather quite in the usual way.

When the boy had grown up, his godfather one day appeared and bade him go with him. He led him forth into a forest, and showed him a herb which grew there, and said, “Now shall you receive your godfather’s present. I make you a celebrated physician. When you are called to a patient, I will always appear to you. If I stand by the head of the sick man, you may say with confidence that you will make him well again, and if you give him of this herb he will recover; but if I stand by the patient’s feet, he is mine, and you must say that all remedies are in vain, and that no physician in the world could save him. But beware of using the herb against my will, or it might fare ill with you.”

It was not long before the youth was the most famous physician in the whole world. He had only to look at the patient and he knew his condition at once, and if he would recover, or must needs die. From far and wide people came to him, sent for him when they had anyone ill, and gave him so much money that he soon became a rich man.

Now it befell that the King became ill, and the physician was summoned, and was to say if recovery were possible. But when he came to the bed, Death was standing by the feet of the sick man, and the herb did not grow which could save him.

“If I could but cheat Death for once,” thought the physician, “he is sure to take it ill if I do, but, as I am his godson, he will shut one eye; I will risk it.” He therefore took up the sick man, and laid him the other way, so that now Death was standing by his head. Then he gave the King some of the herb, and he recovered and grew healthy again. But Death came to the physician, looking very black and angry, threatened him with his finger, and said, “You have overreached me. This time I will pardon it, as you are my godson; but if you venture it again, it will cost you your neck, for I will take you yourself away with me.”

Soon afterwards the King’s daughter fell into a severe illness. She was his only child, and he wept day and night, so that he began to lose the sight of his eyes, and he caused it to be made known that whosoever rescued her from death should be her husband and inherit the crown. When the physician came to the sick girl’s bed, he saw Death by her feet. He ought to have remembered the warning given by his godfather, but he was so infatuated by the great beauty of the King’s daughter, and the happiness of becoming her husband, that he flung all thought to the winds. He did not see that Death was casting angry glances on him, that he was raising his hand in the air, and threatening him with his withered fist. He raised up the sick girl, and placed her head where her feet had lain. Then he gave her some of the herb, and instantly her cheeks flushed red, and life stirred afresh in her.

When Death saw that for a second time he was defrauded of his own property, he walked up to the physician with long strides, and said, “All is over with you, and now the lot falls on you,” and seized him so firmly with his ice-cold hand, that he could not resist, and led him into a cave below the earth. There he saw how thousands and thousands of candles were burning in countless rows, some large, others half-sized, others small. Every instant some were extinguished, and others again burned up, so that the flames seemed to leap hither and thither in perpetual change.

“See,” said Death, “these are the lights of men’s lives. The large ones belong to children, the half-sized ones to married people in their prime; the little ones belong to old people; but children and young folks likewise have often only a tiny candle.”

“Show me the light of my life,” said the physician, and he thought that it would be still very tall. Death pointed to a little end which was just threatening to go out, and said, “Behold, it is there.”

“Ah, dear godfather,” said the horrified physician, “light a new one for me, do it for love of me, that I may enjoy my life, be King, and the husband of the King’s beautiful daughter.”

“I cannot,” answered Death, “one must go out before a new one is lighted.” “Then place the old one on a new one, that will go on burning at once when the old one has come to an end,” pleaded the physician. Death behaved as if he were going to fulfill his wish, and took hold of a tall new candle; but as he desired to revenge himself, he purposely made a mistake in fixing it, and the little piece fell down and was extinguished. Immediately the physician fell on the ground. And now he himself was in the hands of Death.

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

Vocabulary in Japanese

The Heavenly Wedding

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

The Heavenly Wedding

A POOR PEASANT-BOY one day heard the priest say in church that whosoever desired to enter into the kingdom of heaven must always go straight onward. So, he set out, and walked continually straight onward over hill and valley without ever turning aside. At length his way led him into a great town, and into the midst of a church, where just at that time God’s service was being performed. Now when he beheld all the magnificence of this, he thought he had reached heaven, sat down, and rejoiced with his whole heart. When the service was over, and the clerk bade him go out, he replied, “No, I will not go out again, I am glad to be in heaven at last.” So the clerk went to the priest, and told him that there was a child in the church who would not go out again, because he believed he was in heaven. The priest said, “If he believes that, we will leave him inside.” So he went to him, and asked if he had any inclination to work. “Yes,” the little fellow replied, “I am accustomed to work, but I will not go out of heaven again.” So he stayed in the church, and when he saw how the people came and knelt and prayed to Our Lady with the blessed child Jesus which was carved in wood, he thought “that is the good God,” and said, “Dear God, how thin You are! The people must certainly let You starve; but every day I will give You half my dinner.” From this time forth, he every day took half his dinner to the image, and the image began to enjoy the food. When a few weeks had gone by, people remarked that the image was growing larger and stout and strong, and wondered much. The priest also could not understand it, but stayed in the church, and followed the little boy about, and then he saw how he shared his food with the Virgin Mary, and how She accepted it. After some time the boy became ill, and for eight days could not leave his bed; but as soon as he could get up again, the first thing he did was to take his food to Our Lady. The priest followed him, and heard him say, “Dear God, do not take it amiss that I have not brought You anything for such a long time, for I have been ill and could not get up.” Then the image answered him and said, “I have seen thy good-will, and that is enough for me. Next Sunday thou shalt go with me to the wedding.” The boy rejoiced at this, and repeated it to the priest, who begged him to go and ask the image if he, too, might be permitted to go. “No,” answered the image, “thou alone.” The priest wished to prepare him first and give him the holy communion and the child was willing, and next Sunday, when the host came to him, he fell down and died, and was at the eternal wedding. - -

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

Truth and Falsehood Story-Listening Demonstration

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

Truth and Falsehood

Many years ago, Falsehood saw Truth on the road. Falsehood said hello and asked Truth, “How are you doing these days?” Truth answered and said, “It is difficult for a man like me”.

Falsehood looked at Truth up and down. Truth was wearing ragged clothes. Truth said, “To be honest, no one employs me these days. Everyone laughs at me. I do not have a job, so I don’t have money to buy food. I am always very hungry. I am sad”.

Falsehood said, “I can help you. I can show you how to make money easily and live well. Come with me. But, promise not to say a word against me.”

Truth was so hungry that he almost fainted. So, he agreed to go with Falsehood. They came to the best restaurant in town. They sat at the best table and ate good food and drank best wine.

After they finished the meal, Falsehood banged the table with his fist, and called the waiter. Falsehood said, “Give me my change back!” The waiter said, “You never paid the bill!” “Call the manager!” Falsehood said. The manager came. Falsehood said, “Your waiter cheated and stole my change. I am a sincere, law-abiding citizen. This restaurant steals hard-earned money from customers! You are thieves, but I am not fooled!” The manager was worried about the restaurant’s reputation. Instead of listening to his waiter, he listened to Falsehood. The manager gave Falsehood the change.

The waiter cried and said to God, “Why don’t you help me? I am honest and hard-working.” Truth groaned. He could not say a word against falsehood, because he had promised earlier.

Later Falsehood laughed loudly. He slapped Truth on the back and said, “This is the way you do it! You can have free meal and make some money!”

“I would rather starve,” said Truth. After that they never traveled together again.

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

The Tale of a Snake

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

The Tale of a Snake

There was once a little child whose mother gave her every afternoon a small bowl of milk and bread, and the child seated herself in the yard with it. When she began to eat, however, a snake came creeping out of a crevice in the wall, dipped its little head in the dish, and ate with her. The child had pleasure in this, and when she was sitting there with her little dish and the snake did not come at once, she cried,

“Snake, snake, come swiftly,

Hither come, thou tiny thing,

Thou shalt have thy crumbs of bread,

Thou shalt refresh thyself with milk.”

Then the snake came in haste, and enjoyed its food. Moreover it showed gratitude, for it brought the child all kinds of pretty things from its hidden treasures, bright stones, pearls, and gold playthings. The snake, however, only drank the milk, and left the bread- crumbs alone. Then one day the child took its little spoon and struck the snake gently on its head with it, and said, “Eat the bread-crumbs as well, little thing.” The mother, who was standing in the kitchen, heard the child talking to some one, and when she saw that she was striking a snake with her spoon, ran out with a log of wood, and killed the good little creature.

From that time forth, a change came over the child. As long as the snake had eaten with her, she had grown tall and strong, but now she lost her pretty rosy cheeks and wasted away. It was not long before the funeral bird began to cry in the night, and the redbreast to collect little branches and leaves for a funeral garland, and soon afterwards the child lay on her bier.

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

The Rose

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on the story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm.

The Rose

THERE WAS once a poor woman who had two children. The youngest had to go every day into the forest to fetch wood. Once when she had gone a long way to seek it, a little child, who was quite strong, came and helped her industriously to pick up the wood and carry it home, and then before a moment had passed the strange child disappeared. The child told her mother this, but at first she would not believe it. At length she brought a rose home, and told her mother that the beautiful child had given her this rose, and had told her that when it was in full bloom, he would return. The mother put the rose in water. One morning her child could not get out of bed. The mother went to the bed and found her dead, but looking very happy. On the same morning, the rose was in full bloom.

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

Chuang-Tzu and his Wife

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 16:20:00 +0000

This is a story-listening demonstration by Beniko Mason. It is based on a traditional story.

Chuang Tzu and his Wife

Chuang-tzu saw a young woman. She was grieving, and vigorously fanning a new grave. He asked her why she was fanning a grave. She replied, “ “I am doing this because my husband begged me to wait until the earth on his tomb was dry before I remarried!”

Chuang-tzu offered to help her, and as soon as he waved the fan once, the earth was dry. The young widow thanked him and departed.

On his return home, Chuang-tzu related this incident to his wife. She expressed astonishment at such conduct on the part of a wife.

“There’s nothing to be surprised at,” rejoined the husband. “That’s how things go in this world.”

She said that she would never do a thing like that.

Some time after this Chuang-tzu died. His wife grieved, and buried him.

A few days later a young man named Chu Wang-sun came to her house. He said that he was an old friend of her husband. When he heard that her husband was dead he went to his tomb and bowed. He said that he wanted to stay in Chuang-tzu’s room and wanted to study there.

After half a month had passed, the widow asked an old servant who had accompanied Wang-sun if the young man was married. On his replying in the negative, she requested the old servant to propose a match between them. Wang-sun disagreed, saying that people would criticize their conduct. He said, “It has been only two weeks!”

“Since my husband is dead, what can people say?” replied the widow. She then took off her mourning garments and prepared for the wedding.

Wang-sun took her to the grave of her husband, and said to her, “Your husband has returned to life!”

She looked at Wang-sun and recognized the features of her husband. It was her husband! She was so overwhelmed with shame that she hanged herself.

Chuang-tzu buried her in an empty tomb.

The End

(link to the PDF of this story)

Fundamentals of Language Teaching

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 16:17:00 +0000

This PDF Introduces the fundamentals of language teaching.

(Link to the PDF of the paper.)

A step-by-step example of a story-listening lesson featuring The Ungrateful Son

Wed, 06 May 2020 16:17:00 +0000

This PDF demonstrates how I conduct a story-listening lesson.

(Link to the PDF of the handout)