Podcast
Questions and Answers
According to Gabriella, what is a common experience for language learners when comparing speaking and listening skills?
According to Gabriella, what is a common experience for language learners when comparing speaking and listening skills?
- Speaking and listening skills are usually equally challenging.
- Most learners perform better in speaking than in listening. (correct)
- Most learners find listening easier than speaking.
- Learners generally avoid practicing listening due to its difficulty.
What does Gabriella suggest as a more effective strategy than pretending to understand when facing communication difficulties?
What does Gabriella suggest as a more effective strategy than pretending to understand when facing communication difficulties?
- Asking the speaker to repeat themselves multiple times.
- Quickly ending the conversation to avoid embarrassment.
- Using complex vocabulary to demonstrate language proficiency.
- Summarizing the speaker's points to ensure understanding. (correct)
In what type of situation does Gabriella suggest it's acceptable to pretend to understand due to listening comprehension challenges?
In what type of situation does Gabriella suggest it's acceptable to pretend to understand due to listening comprehension challenges?
- While having a casual conversation with a stranger. (correct)
- When opening a bank account and understanding the terms.
- During a job interview where first impressions matter.
- When discussing critical paperwork at a government office.
When summarizing to clarify understanding, what specific technique does Gabriella recommend?
When summarizing to clarify understanding, what specific technique does Gabriella recommend?
According to the interview, what makes exam listening tasks particularly challenging compared to real-life conversations?
According to the interview, what makes exam listening tasks particularly challenging compared to real-life conversations?
What is the primary goal of summarizing information when you haven't fully understood it?
What is the primary goal of summarizing information when you haven't fully understood it?
Which of the following scenarios represents a situation where summarizing information would be most beneficial?
Which of the following scenarios represents a situation where summarizing information would be most beneficial?
What does Gabriella imply about the effectiveness of asking someone to repeat themselves when you haven't understood them?
What does Gabriella imply about the effectiveness of asking someone to repeat themselves when you haven't understood them?
In the context of language learning, why might speaking be considered less stressful than listening?
In the context of language learning, why might speaking be considered less stressful than listening?
What common feeling does the presenter confess to experiencing when listening to people speak quickly in a foreign language?
What common feeling does the presenter confess to experiencing when listening to people speak quickly in a foreign language?
How can summarizing information, even when partially understood, help in a conversation?
How can summarizing information, even when partially understood, help in a conversation?
In what specific way does Gabriella suggest phrasing a summary when seeking clarification?
In what specific way does Gabriella suggest phrasing a summary when seeking clarification?
According to Gabriella, what is a potential negative consequence of pretending to understand in important conversations?
According to Gabriella, what is a potential negative consequence of pretending to understand in important conversations?
Besides summarizing, what other skill does Gabriella emphasize as important for effective communication?
Besides summarizing, what other skill does Gabriella emphasize as important for effective communication?
What is the main reason the presenter finds listening in a foreign language particularly challenging?
What is the main reason the presenter finds listening in a foreign language particularly challenging?
In the context of the interview, what does 'high stakes' refer to?
In the context of the interview, what does 'high stakes' refer to?
What is the ultimate goal of using the summarizing strategy suggested by Gabriella?
What is the ultimate goal of using the summarizing strategy suggested by Gabriella?
How does Gabriella suggest to control a conversation when you are struggling to understand?
How does Gabriella suggest to control a conversation when you are struggling to understand?
When is it most critical to avoid pretending to understand in a conversation, according to Gabriella?
When is it most critical to avoid pretending to understand in a conversation, according to Gabriella?
What is the initial step Gabriella recommends when summarizing information to aid comprehension?
What is the initial step Gabriella recommends when summarizing information to aid comprehension?
Flashcards
Listening Stress
Listening Stress
A common feeling where one's brain shuts down when people speak too fast in a new language.
Exam vs. Real Life Listening
Exam vs. Real Life Listening
Exams usually give one or two chances to listen; real life allows asking for repetition.
Listening Strategies
Listening Strategies
Pretend to understand or summarise what was said to keep the conversation going.
Summarising Strategy
Summarising Strategy
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Controlling the Conversation
Controlling the Conversation
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Conversation Stakes
Conversation Stakes
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Study Notes
- The interview features Gabriella, an English teacher from Leeds University, discussing listening skills.
- The presenter admits to struggling with listening in their B1 German, finding it more stressful than speaking.
- It's common for language learners to perform better in speaking than listening in exams.
- Exams differ from real life because you can't ask for repetition or explanation and have limited chances to listen.
- It can feel awkward to constantly ask for repetition in real-life conversations.
Strategies for Real-Life Listening
- One strategy is pretending to understand and exiting the conversation quickly.
- This isn't helpful in high-stakes conversations with important consequences, such as at a government office or bank.
- A better strategy is to summarize what was said to clarify understanding.
- Start the summary with phrases like "OK, so the first thing I have to do is …?" or "And which office is that again?" turning it into a question.
- Breaking the information down into smaller questions allows you to control the conversation.
- This encourages the other person to provide answers and further clarification.
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