Listening For Information From Different Sources

Listening for Specific Information

Giving Specific Information

Give specific information

Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. When we learn a language; there are four skills that we need for complete communication. When we learn our native language, we usually learn to listen first, then to speak, then to read, and finally to write. These are called the four “language skills”.

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing

As you can see, listening is the first language skill. It is perhaps the most important skill of all, the basis for the other three. Listening is key to all effective communication, without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood – communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily become frustrated or irritated. If there is one communication skill you should aim to master then listening is it.

Responding Appropriately to given Instructions

Respond appropriately to given instructions

When you are listening to texts read by a teacher or someone else you must do the following:

• Figure out the purpose for listening. Activate background knowledge of the topic in order to predict or anticipate content and identify appropriate listening strategies.
• Attend to the parts of the listening input that are relevant to the identified purpose and ignore the rest. This selectivity enables you as students to focus on specific items in the input and reduces the amount of information in short-term memory in order to recognise it.
• Listening for the main idea.
• Predict.
• Listen for specific details.
• Recognising word-order patterns.
• Check comprehension while listening and when the listening task is over.
• Draw a conclusion.
• Summarise to get specific information.

Reproducing in Writing what is Heard

Reproduce in writing what is heard

Activity 1

Have your friend read for you so that you can write down what he/she is reading.

Listening for General Information

General Opinion about a Text One has Heard

General opinion about a text he/she has heard

When you are listening to get the general idea the following must be done:

• Note the use of new words.
• Listen to the text read by another person
• Try to use the new vocabulary in everyday life, including during games.
• Check the meaning of words in the dictionary or ask a teacher.
• Summarise the general idea behind the text you have heard.

A General Summary Theme/Idea/Meaning of a Text Heard

Give a general summary theme/idea/meaning of a text heard

Activity 2

Give a general summary theme/idea/meaning of a text heard.