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Lecture 2 - Listening For Details

This document provides instruction on listening for specific information. It explains that when listening for details, the listener focuses on a particular type of information like names, numbers, or objects, ignoring irrelevant parts. Specific information is often factual. The document outlines steps to follow: 1) Read questions carefully to understand what is asked; 2) Predict what the answer may be and clues to find it; 3) Pay close attention when the information is given using signposting language; 4) Listen carefully and find the answers. Signposting language helps guide the listener through what is said by indicating what was said, will be said, or contrasts/exceptions. Examples are provided to practice these skills.

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213 views

Lecture 2 - Listening For Details

This document provides instruction on listening for specific information. It explains that when listening for details, the listener focuses on a particular type of information like names, numbers, or objects, ignoring irrelevant parts. Specific information is often factual. The document outlines steps to follow: 1) Read questions carefully to understand what is asked; 2) Predict what the answer may be and clues to find it; 3) Pay close attention when the information is given using signposting language; 4) Listen carefully and find the answers. Signposting language helps guide the listener through what is said by indicating what was said, will be said, or contrasts/exceptions. Examples are provided to practice these skills.

Uploaded by

Hoàng Trung
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LECTURE 2

Basic Listening Skills 2


Listening for Specific Information

Imagine you are a detective taking a closer look at those buildings you saw earlier on as a superhero. This time,
rather than taking in the big picture, you are looking for something specific and rejecting anything that does not
match what's on your list.

Similarly, when listening for details, you are interested in a specific kind of information – perhaps a number,
name or object. You can ignore anything that does not sound relevant. In this way, you are able to narrow down
your search and get the detail you need.

Note: Specific information is often factual in nature such as a name, a place, a profession, an object, a number or a
quantity.

Ex: In a listening test, if you are asked to write down the age of a person, listen for the words related to age ('old',
'young', 'years', 'date of birth', etc.) or a number that could represent that person's age. If it is a conversation, you
might wait to hear someone beginning a question with 'How old…?'

Steps of Listening for the Specific Information

Step 1: Read the question(s)/statement(s) carefully to understand what you are trying to find and do not forget to
underline the key words in each question/statement.
Step 2: Based on the key words and your general understanding of each question/statement’s meaning, try
to predict how the answer might appear and what clues help you locate the answer.

To answer questions about Look for

Who, where Capital letters, names


When Numbers, dates, time periods
How much, how many, how long Numbers, measurements (e.g. meters, inches, etc.)

What, how, why Key word(s)/word(s) from the questions

Step 3: Recognize when the information is about to be given and pay particularly close attention to that point.
Signpost words can give you a big hand in doing this activity.

Signposting Language

Signposting language is the words and phrases that people use in order to guide the listener coherently through
what is being said.

It is used to make clear what has just happened, and what is going to happen next, so in other words, it acts as
a guide so the listener can follow what you are saying.

Because of
Even if finally

v
Not only
v even though

v
v

For instance
secondly
v
v
Here are some of the more common signpost words and phrases, with their meanings.

Signpost Words/Phrases Meanings


First This is the beginning of a list of points
Like An example is going to be given
Anyway This could mean a change of subject or nearing the end of the talk
I mean The speaker is about to rephrase or give an example
So An effect or a result of a previous point is about to be stated
Moving on Another point is going to be introduced
As I said The speaker is going to recap an earlier point
To make myself clear The speaker is going to rephrase a point
Right This could mean the speaker is about to begin, change the subject or is
nearing the end of the talk
To put it another way The speaker is about to rephrase a point
This isn’t always so The speaker is about to give exceptions to or contrasts to a previous
comment
Now The speaker is about to begin a new subject
Talking about that The speaker is going to expand on a point

Note: The answer you are looking for might be expressed in the recording in a number of different ways, so be
ready to listen for synonyms or other paraphrased/reword forms

Step 4: Listen carefully and find the answers.


Practice 1:

Practice 2:

Practice 3

Practice 4:
Practice 5:
Practice 6:

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