Use an audio(or video)recording to practise and develop your
listening strategies. Listen to a piece, not just once, hut several times,
varying the way you do it. For example, start by trying to understand general
meaning or the main idea. In this stage it helps to listen out for key words and
to stop the tape at frequent 1 and
predict what is going to come next. Later, practise listening 2 for specific information or practise
note-taking. Transcripts are probably most usefully 3
during later stages of listening. Try to build up an un
derstanding of he piece through several listenings. Focus on
pronunciation and notice how preceding words may influence the pronunciation of
the following ones. Practise listening to intonation patterns and 4 variations in sentence or word stress. Do these
contain clues about the speaker’s emotions Use video
recordings to develop your skill at interpreting paralinguistic clues(e. g.
gestures, head and eye movements)to enhance your understanding of the language
context. What can you learn about 5 body language (eye contact, physical distance, hand movements, facial
expressions)in the target language community Watch a section with the sound
off, trying to 6 content, perhaps
producing your own commentary or dialogue, then re-watch and compare your
version with the original. Use a short section of a tape
recording for a self-dictation exercise. Check it against a transcript when you
are 7 you have listened to it enough
times. Alternatively, use a short section of a video with subtitles to set
yourself a dictation. Cover the subtitles while transcribing, then replay with
subtitles 8 to check your
transcription. Remember that the subtitles may not correspond exactly to what
you hear. Use a recording to practise other skills besides
listening. For example, practise note-taking and then write a short summary, or
listen to extract useful vocabulary. Exploit satellite TV
channels in different ways to improve your listening. For example, 9 on teletext subtitles, if available, to aid
your understanding, or spend time focusing on one aspect of communication eg.
ways of interrupting, questioning and 10 in the target language if you are watching a soap or chat show.
Alternatively, focus on an aspect of pronunciation such as accent, trying to
note differences between speakers’ accents. A.
intensively B. identify C.
satisfied D. responding E.
intervals F. appropriate G.
exposed H. purpose
I. employed J. predict
K. switch L. professional