WEEK 1 - LISTENING SKILLS
1. Listening for Main Ideas
 Listen to get a rough idea on what the speaker is saying.
 Identify the subject or topic of the text
2. Listening for Supporting Details
 Listen to get certain information that can help explain the main idea.
 These supporting details can help explain by giving examples or repeating key information.
3. Listening for Specific Information
 Listen intensively by narrowing down the passage.
 Listen to get some precise and exact details relating to something such as dates, or reasons for a
certain event.
4. Summarising and Paraphrasing
Summarising
 A summary contains the main points in the text and is written in your own words.
Paraphrasing
 Paraphrasing is the art of putting into your own words what you thought you heard and
understood.
 A paraphrase can be longer than the original.
 Concentrate on the meaning and not the words.
5. Note-taking
 Note taking helps you to focus on the message.
 Just because you understand something, you might not remember it. You need to write it down
especially when the information is extensive or complex.
 Do not worry about missing a point. Leave space and pick up the material you missed during the
second listening.
 Fine- tune the structure and organization of your notes to increase the note-taking speed and
comprehension later.
6. Making Inferences
 Inferencing means determining the speaker’s intent about something that is not stated explicitly in
the text.
 When you listen, you can infer information based on the situation, the speaker’s attitude and the
non-verbal communication.
 By listening attentively and using content in a text, together with existing knowledge, you come to
a personal conclusion of what the speaker does not actually say.
7. Drawing Conclusions
 After listening to the text, you may synthesise the information and form an opinion or draw a
conclusion.
 Conclusions are drawn through logical reasoning based on available facts and evidence.
8. Predicting
 Sometimes when listening to text, we can anticipate or predict what the speaker will say next.
 We can determine what will be said next by listening to certain words or cues.
 As we progress in our listening and organize the information as it is received, we can make and
confirm predictions.
9. Recognising the Speaker’s Attitude, Role and Relationship
 When listening, interpret speaker’s word usage and tone.
 Look for the feelings or intent beyond the words.
 The speaker who raises his or her voice is probably either angry or frustrated.
 Identify the role of the speaker. The speaker may be giving information, reasons, suggestions or
advice on a particular issue.