Why use dictations in class

          Using dictations as a language learning device has been neglected in our country in recent years. Though a lot of teachers and students consider dictations dull, time-consuming, non-communicative and pointless, I believe that, when not used too often, they can be beneficial for the students.  
         What are some of the advantages of dictations: they improve listening skills and the ability to distinguish sounds; improve spelling and raise grammatical awareness; improve the ability to guess words from context; improve concentration and develop short-term memory; involve all students in the class and prevent bad discipline; get students acquainted with interesting texts.

          I'd like, however, to introduce to you a dictation which nobody finds dull or boring. The teacher dictates separate sentences containing scientific facts or facts of nature (some of the sentences are deliberately wrong) and the students put down in their notebooks only the sentences that they believe are true. For example:

1. Glass is made from liquid sand. (True)
2. Fish sleep with their eyes closed. (False), etc.