Listening skills
Listen with a plan
- You hear each recording twice — use both chances.
- Read the question before the recording starts.
- Predict the kind of answer: a place, a time, a number.
Explore
The two-listen routine
Read, predict, choose on listen one, check on listen two - then let it go.
Practice
How many times do you hear each recording?
Each recording is played twice.
Practice
Before you listen, you should ___ the kind of answer you need.
Predicting prepares your ears.
Catch the detail
- Listen for specific facts: names, dates and places.
- The answers usually come in the same order as the questions.
- First listening: choose. Second listening: check.
Use the two playings differently: answer first, then check
Practice
The answers usually come in a random order.
They usually follow the order of the questions.
Do not be tricked
- A speaker may say one option, then change their mind.
- The wrong options are called distractors.
- Listen to the whole idea before you choose.
Practice
A speaker says 'I wanted blue, but I chose green.' The colour they chose is…
Listen to the whole idea: they chose green.
Predict, then catch it
- Question: "What time does the film start?" — predict: a time, probably evening.
- You hear: "The film was going to start at six, but the early show sold out, so we're going at half past eight."
- Distractor: six (the plan that died). Answer: 8:30 — introduced by so, the final decision.
- Second listening: confirm that 8:30 survives to the end of the sentence.
Practice
Match the spoken signal to what it tells your ears.
Distractors always announce themselves — these little words are the announcement.
Key idea
- You hear it twice — choose, then check.
- Predict, then listen for specific facts.
- Wait for the whole idea; avoid distractors.