Multi-Level Dictation

We have discussed multi-level dictation before in this space, but those of you who know me already know my position on the value of repetition (Repetition is good. Repetition is good). A multi level dictation starts with the tutor and learner reading a passage aloud together, something like the one quoted from the April/May edition of ESL/basic literacy newspaper The Key (http://www.keynews.org/) below. Then, the teacher reads aloud while learner follows the same story, except with a few blanks for him to fill in. See below:

Level A:

Home Loan Crisis Will Affect Everyone

Sub-prime loans at fault

by Bill Lavelette

Easy money is not so easy. Millions of people bought homes with easy money. Now it is turning out to be a painful experience.

The pain is coming from what is called "sub prime loans." The damage caused by these loans is rippling through the economy. Some figures suggest that the loans have caused a slight decline in the value of homes all across the nation.

People also have less money to spend on other things as a result of these loans. The damage is likely to continue for the rest of this year, some experts say.

Sub-prime loans replaced mortgages
Sub prime loans have always been controversial. They have become more popular since 1998. About 20 percent of all home loans are now sub prime loans.

Those loans are more common in low-income and minority neighborhoods. They will suffer the most when people have trouble re-paying the loans.

Some people who could not get regular loans were able to buy homes with sub prime loans. Others could get regular mortgages. But many of them were pressured into sub prime loans.

Many of the sub prime loans in recent years replaced regular mortgages. People whose homes increased in value were pressured to switch from regular mortgages to sub primes. That allowed many people to take equity out of their homes and spend that money on other things. Equity is the amount of money that is more than the amount owed on the home. For example, a home is worth $100,000 and its owners owe $40,000 on their mortgage. That means they have $60,000 in equity.

Okay, now you’re ready to move to the next level. Give the learner a printout of the level B version of the story, with about two blanks per sentence that they will fill in.

Level B:

Easy money is not so __________. Millions of people bought __________with __________money. Now it is turning out to be a __________experience.

The __________is coming from what is called "sub __________loans." The damage caused by these __________is rippling through the economy. __________figures suggest that the __________have caused a slight decline in the value of __________all across the nation.

People also have less __________to __________on other things as a __________of these loans. The damage is __________to continue for the __________of this year, some experts say.

Sub-prime loans __________mortgages
Sub prime loans have always been controversial. They have become more __________since 1998. About 20 __________of all home loans are now sub prime loans.

Those loans are more __________in low-income and __________neighborhoods. They will __________the most when people have trouble re-paying the loans.

Some people who __________not get __________loans were able to buy homes with sub prime loans. __________could get regular mortgages. But many of them were pressured into sub prime loans.

Many of the sub __________ loans in recent years replaced __________mortgages. People whose homes increased in __________were pressured to switch from regular mortgages to sub primes. That allowed many people to take __________ out of their homes and __________ that money on other things. Equity is the amount of money that is __________ than the amount owed on the home. For example, a home is __________ $100,000 and its owners owe $40,000 on their __________. That means they have $60,000 in equity.

Filling in the blanks is much easier than doing a pure dictation. And again with the repetition—you can take it from level B to C, which has even more blanks. Check it out:

Level C:

__________ money is not so __________. __________ of people bought __________with __________ money. Now it is __________ out to be a __________experience.

The __________is __________ from what is called "sub __________loans." The damage caused by these __________is __________ through the economy. __________figures suggest that the __________have caused a slight __________ in the value of __________all across the nation.

__________ also have less __________to __________on other things as a __________of these __________. The damage is __________to continue for the __________of this year, some __________ say.

Sub-__________ __________ replaced mortgages
Sub __________ __________ have __________ been controversial. They have __________ more __________ since 1998. About 20 __________of all __________ __________ are now sub prime __________.

Those __________ are more __________in low-__________ and __________neighborhoods. They will __________the most __________ people have __________ re-paying the loans.

Some __________ who __________not get ____________________ were able to buy __________ with __________ __________ __________. __________could get regular mortgages. But many of them were pressured into __________ __________ __________.

Many of the __________ __________ __________ in recent __________ replaced __________mortgages. __________ whose __________ increased in __________were pressured to __________ from __________ mortgages to __________ __________. That allowed many __________ to take __________ out of their __________ and __________ that __________ on other things. __________ is the amount of money that is __________ than the amount owed on the __________. For example, a __________ is __________ $100,000 and its __________ owe $40,000 on their __________. That __________ they have $60,000 in equity.

And, if the two of you are still feeling enthusiastic, take it to:

Level D

__________ __________ is not so __________. __________ of __________ bought __________with __________ money. __________ __________ __________ __________ out to be a __________experience.

The __________is __________ __________ __________ is called "__________ ____________________." The damage __________ by __________ __________is __________ through the __________. __________figures __________ that the ____________________ caused a slight __________ in the value of __________all __________ the nation.

__________ also __________ less __________to __________on __________ __________ as a __________of these __________. The __________ is __________to continue __________ __________ __________of __________ year, some __________ say.

Sub-__________ __________ __________ mortgages
Sub __________ __________ have __________ been controversial. __________ __________ __________ more __________ since 1998. About 20 __________of all __________ __________ are now sub prime __________.

Those __________ are more __________in low-__________ and __________neighborhoods. They will __________the most __________ people have __________ re-paying the loans.

Some __________ who __________not get ____________________ were able to buy __________ with __________ __________ __________. __________could __________ regular __________. But many of them were __________ into __________ __________ __________.

__________ of the __________ __________ __________ in recent __________ replaced ____________________ __________ whose __________ increased in __________were pressured to __________ from __________ __________ to __________ __________. That allowed __________ __________ to take __________ out of their __________ and __________ that __________ on other things. __________ is the __________ of money that is __________ than the __________ owed on the __________. For example, a __________ is __________ $100,000 and its __________ owe $40,000 on their __________. That __________ they __________ $60,000 in __________.

Of course, multi-level dictations can always be found in Hands-On English, a bi-monthly magazine for tutors and teachers. It lives on the check-out table of the Literacy Network Library. Or you could do as I just did, copying a basic level text from the internet and adding blanks yourself. OR—another thought occurred to me!—try this as an extension of the Language Experience Approach stories you create with your learner. That is, create a story together, then type it up at home and do it again next week as a multi-level dictation.