How to Study
LISTENING
Elementary & Pre-Intermediate
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Student Academic Support Unit (SASU)
What is Listening?
Listening is an active process that goes beyond merely hearing sounds. It involves receiving, understanding, and interpreting spoken language.
1
Receiving
Hearing the sounds of speech clearly.
2
Understanding
Comprehending the words, phrases, and overall message.
3
Responding
Formulating a reply or taking appropriate action.
Academic listening focuses specifically on understanding spoken English in educational contexts, such as lectures, instructions, and group discussions. It demands sustained concentration and the ability to interpret complex ideas.
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The Importance of Listening Skills
45%
Percentage of communication time typically spent listening in a professional setting.
2x
Good listeners are often perceived as twice as intelligent and more empathetic.
100%
Crucial for academic success, enabling better comprehension of coursework and instructions.
Strong listening skills are not only vital for academic achievement but also for effective daily communication and building relationships. They enhance your ability to learn, collaborate, and understand the world around you.
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Types of Listening
Academic Listening
Engaging with structured content like lectures, presentations, and taking detailed notes.
Conversational Listening
Participating in informal discussions, social interactions, and daily chats.
Critical Listening
Analysing and evaluating information, arguments, and speaker credibility.
Appreciative Listening
Enjoying content for pleasure, such as music, stories, or podcasts.
Each type of listening requires a different level of focus and engagement, but all contribute to overall communication proficiency.
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Challenges in Understanding Spoken English
Rapid Speech Pace
Native speakers often speak at 150-200 words per minute.
Diverse Accents and Pronunciations
Exposure to various global English accents can be challenging.
Background Interference
Environmental noise can disrupt comprehension.
Unfamiliar Vocabulary
Encountering unknown words and idiomatic expressions.
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Effective Listening Techniques
Focused Listening
Identify the main idea first, then concentrate on supporting details.
Active Engagement
Paraphrase what you hear and ask clarifying questions to ensure understanding.
Minimise Distractions
Create a quiet environment and avoid multitasking to fully concentrate.
Observe Cues
Pay attention to body language, facial expressions, and contextual clues.
Practising these techniques can significantly improve your ability to comprehend spoken English in various contexts.
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Note-taking Skills for Listening
Use Shorthand
Employ abbreviations and symbols to capture information quickly.
Structure Your Notes
Organise notes by main topics, sub-points, and key examples for clarity.
Review and Summarise
Go over your notes shortly after listening to reinforce learning and fill in gaps.
Practice with Templates
Utilise guided note-taking templates to develop an effective system.
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Note-taking Skills for Listening
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Note-taking Skills for Listening
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Cornell Method (Cornell Note-Taking System)
Note-taking Skills for Listening
Mind Map
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● It is a visual note-taking technique: Uses words, colors, symbols, and lines.
● The main idea is at the center: The core of the topic is placed in the middle of the circle.
● Expands with branches: Subtopics are shown as branches coming out of the main idea.
● Facilitates association: Helps establish connections between pieces of information.
● Supports creativity and memory: Colors, symbols, and shapes make it easier to remember information.
Note-taking Skills for Listening
Symbols
Using symbols
-Saves time
-reduces repetition.
-provides less writing, more meaning.
-improves readability
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Note-taking Skills for Listening
Abbreviations
Initialism� ○ Take the first letter of each word.� ○ Example: UN (United Nations), EU (European Union)�
Clipping� ○ Write only part of the word.� ○ Example: info (information), exam (examination)�
Mixed� ○ A combination of letters and sounds.� ○ Example: dept. (department), b/c (because), w/ (with)�
Create Your Own Abbreviations� ○ You can develop your own shortcuts while taking notes.� ○ Example: imp. = important, w/o = without
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Listening Practice Sources
Podcasts with Transcripts
BBC Learning English offers excellent resources.
TED Talks with Subtitles
Ideal for engaging with academic and diverse topics.
YouTube Educational Channels
Utilise captions for better comprehension.
Repeat and Shadow Exercises
Improve pronunciation and listening fluency by mimicking audio.
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Effective Strategies Summary
Focused Listening
Prioritise identifying the main idea before delving into details.
Multimedia Tools
Utilise subtitles/captions with podcasts, TED Talks, and YouTube videos.
Repeat & Shadow
Engage in exercises to enhance retention and speaking fluency.
Structured Note-taking
Develop a system for effective note-taking during listening tasks.
Implementing these strategies consistently will significantly boost your listening comprehension and overall English proficiency.
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Building Strong Listening Skills
Listening is an active and continuously developing skill. By combining effective techniques with diverse practice sources and honing your note-taking abilities, you will achieve significant progress. Consistent effort will lead to greater academic success and enhanced communication in English.
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The Importance of Mastering Listening for Language Exams
Listening measures your ability to understand spoken English—an essential skill in all major language exams like TOEFL, IELTS, YDS, and YÖKDİL.
Mastering listening is crucial for language exams because it shows how well you understand spoken language in real-life contexts. Listening tasks test your ability to catch main ideas, specific details, speaker attitudes, and implied meanings. Strong listening skills help with pronunciation, vocabulary retention, and natural language use—making it easier to succeed in speaking and writing tasks as well.
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Resources
BBC Learning English
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Breakingnewsenglish
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/
Duolingo
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Resources
TED Talks
www.ted.com or YouTube
Spotify & Apple Podcasts
LyricsTraining
BBC Learning English (App)
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Good Luck!
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