--- Forwarded Message from "David Pankratz" <[log in to unmask]> --- >Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 10:38:41 -0500 >From: "David Pankratz" <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: To drill or not to drill I recently conducted a small, informal survey of lab users asking them if they use the "drill" function on our cassette machines or not, and if so, how useful they find it. (The "drill" function allows them to record their voices as they listen to the tape, enabling them to replay the passages and compare their recordings to the native speaker.) My quick impression as I look over the results is that about 15-20% of those who filled out our questionnaire do use this feature _and_ find it beneficial. I intend to write up a complete summary of the results. In the meantime, I would like to ask if have any of you have done a similar survey, or do you know of any published studies on this topic? I often hear lab directors say something like "most students do not really use this function on our lab cassette machines." I find this issue very interesting and respecially relevant in light of the shift to digital delivery of listening materials, which to my knowledge does not provide the option--at least not yet--for students to "listen, record, and compare." Any observations you have or leads on studies would be appreciated. David Pankratz Loyola University Chicago