Listening Comprehension & Conversation

Listening for main

ideas
Agenda

01 02
Listening strategy Tips
Listening for main ideas Signal phrases & repetition

03 04
Practice 1 & 2 Practice 3
● Identify the main idea
Identify the main idea(s) of
of 3 presentations
a report about an
● Identify the main
International High School
idea(s) of a short
in New York
presentation
Main ideas (gist content)
When listening to a passage or lecture, a
listener may be interested in getting the
main/general idea, rather than catching
detailed information.

The main ideas are the MOST

IMPORTANT ideas the speakers want us
to understand and remember. Listening
for main ideas is also referred to as
listening for gist.
Tips
 Signal phrases
Speakers often introduce the main
idea using signal phrases like…
● I’ll focus on…
● I’m going to talk about…
● I’ll talk about…
● We’ll consider…
● We’re going to look at…
● (One of) the most important…
Repetition
Main ideas are usually repeated
or rephrased in passages and
presentations.
Pay attention to those ideas that
are described in greater detail
and are repeated throughout the
passage/presentation/lecture.
Practice 1 & 2
 DIRECTIONS
Read the introduction to 3 presentations. Choose the option
that presents the MAIN IDEA of each presentation.

1. For most people, business meetings are boring, but

they don't have to be that way. Today, I’m going to give
you a few tips on how to run an effective business
meeting. Although every tip might not work for you,
meetings don’t have to put everyone in the room to
sleep.
a. Business meetings are often boring because they’re
too long and waste too much time.
b. Business meetings are often boring, but there are ways
to make them worthwhile.
c. Business meetings are often boring, so we should find
ways to eliminate them.
 DIRECTIONS
Read the introduction to 3 presentations. Choose the option
that presents the MAIN IDEA of each presentation.

1. For most people, business meetings are boring, but

they don't have to be that way. Today, I’m going to give
you a few tips on how to run an effective business
meeting. Although every tip might not work for you,
meetings don’t have to put everyone in the room to
sleep.
a. Business meetings are often boring because they’re
too long and waste too much time.
b. Business meetings are often boring, but there are ways
to make them worthwhile.
c. Business meetings are often boring, so we should find
ways to eliminate them.
 Practice 2
A short presentation
Directions Listen to a short presentation. As you listen, take notes on a
chart similar to the one below.

Main idea

Most important factor

First characteristic mentioned

Second characteristic mentioned

Last characteristic mentioned

Directions Listen to a short presentation. As you listen, take notes on a
chart similar to the one below.

Topic Characteristics of people who can help make a new

business a successful one.

Most important factor People/ Employees

Build a great team

First characteristic mentioned People who understand your vision for the business

Second characteristic mentioned Creative people/ Independent thinkers

Last characteristic mentioned People who are hard-workers

Signal phrases
What phrase(s) helped you identify the
topic (general idea) and the most
important factor in the previous talk?
Practice 3
An international High
School in New York City
Directions
You will listen to a report by Richard Schiffman featuring interviews with
students and teachers at the International School in Queens.
Choose the main points that are TRUE about the International School.

A. Students work in groups speaking their native languages.

B. Some students are immigrants to the US and others were born in the US.
C. Students improve both their English and their native language.
D. Teachers think that speaking two languages causes problems.
E. Students try to be assimilated quickly into American culture.
Directions
You will listen to a report by Richard Schiffman interview students and
teachers at the International School in Queens.
Choose the main points that are TRUE about the International School.

A. Students work in groups speaking their native languages.

B. Some students are immigrants to the US and others were born in the US.
C. Students improve both their English and their native language.
D. Teachers think that speaking two languages causes problems.
E. Students try to be assimilated quickly into American culture.
 Do you have any questions?

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