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.