PEL201-Advanced English

Communication Skills
Lecture No. 12 & 13
Listening to Identify Main and Supporting Ideas
 Objectives:
• To understand the basic strategies of listening

• To develop the effective listening ability

• To be able to understand the message properly and to use high frequency

vocabulary

• To develop a greater awareness of the listening stream to fetch out the gist of
the speech
• improve their listening
 Vocabulary Dose of Idioms
• Up in the air 
When things are highly uncertain when a decision has not been made yet.
Example: We were hoping to sign the contract by the end of the month, but there
are still too many things up in the air we need to deal with first.
• To learn the ropes 
To learn the basics of a profession, a specific task or activity.
Example: It took her a while to learn the ropes, but now she is confident and we
feel that we can count on her to manage her client portfolio effectively. 
• The bottom line 
Usually referring to the final profit margin of a business when all expenses have
been paid.
Example: At the end of the day, what shareholders care about is the bottom line
which will determine the dividends they take home every year.
• To get down to business 
To start getting serious about something. 
Example: We’ve wasted enough time debating on the official launch date. Let’s get
down to business now, we have work to do.
• To think outside the box
To think unconventionally, creatively and explore new non-conformist ideas.
Example: If you want to succeed in this highly competitive economic environment,
you have to think outside of the box to gain an edge on your rivals.
• Get carried away
over-enthusiastic
In my excitement over our product, I can sometimes get too carried away when
presenting.
• At your finger tips
easily available
You should always have the latest sales figures at your finger tips in case you are asked
about them.
• Be ahead of the game
to know more than your competitors
The key to winning a sales pitch is to try to always be ahead of the game 
• By the book
To do things strictly by the rules.
Example: I don’t want to take any chances of getting caught by the financial
regulators and having to pay significant fines. We have to do everything by the book.
• Green light
(the permission)
As you can see, the systems are all in place, so all we need is the green
light from you to get started.
• Mind goes blank
(forgetting)
My biggest fear about giving a presentation to a large audience is my
mind going blank.
• Up your sleeve
(to have a few secret plans)
I like to have a few extra tips up my sleeve in case they are needed.
• Hands are tied
When you are unable to carry out any meaningful action because of regulations, rules or other
people with authority.
Example: I wish I could help you cut through all this red tape but my hands are tied. My boss won’t
let me. 
• To corner the market 
To control enough quantity of a product or service that enables one to then change the market price
willingly. It can also mean to be the only one making or providing a given product or service.
Example: Intel has pretty much cornered the market of microprocessors for servers. Their direct
competition, AMD, is a distant second.
• A learning curve 
The process of learning, usually from trial and error. We often say that there can be a steep learning
curve, which means that one has to learn things quickly to meet the requirements of a specific job.
Example: There was a steep learning curve when I started out trading stock options, but I now feel
like I’m finally getting the hang of it
 Practice
Q 3) Up your sleeve means_________
• A- To hide some information
• B- To have secret plans

Q 4) Get carried away means_______

• A-lose self-control.
• B- over-enthusiastic
• C- Both
Exercise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEjLajYPp_g
Listening to Identify Main and Supporting Ideas

• What is the purpose of listening?

• We always have a purpose for listening. We may listen to the radio in the morning
to decide whether to wear a coat or take an umbrella. We may listen to a song for
pleasure. We listen in different ways based on our purpose. Having a purpose
helps us listen more effectively.
• In listening, reading and writing the main idea is the MAIN POINT
the speaker and/ or writer is trying to say. • It is the most important
idea the speaker is trying to communicate • Chief point an author is
making about a topic • Usually the main idea will be at the start of the
lecture / conversation, news etc• Followed by the supporting details •
Then the main idea will be repeated again to emphasize the point (to
stress it once again) • The main idea is the heart of the lecture or
conversation
• In most lectures, several main ideas are presented. • These are
the concepts the lecturer wants the audience to remember. •
Sometimes, the lecturer provides a general, or thesis,
statement that includes all the concepts. • When the lecture is
well organized with a clear beginning, middle, and end, the
main idea is easy to identify.
 Video
• Link: https://youtu.be/LWFnpeimPfE

• When is the main idea presented in the conversation by the speaker?

 Parts of a Lecture
• 1. Introduction
Usually the general, or thesis, statement is included here. Sometimes the main
ideas are mentioned, but not fully explained.

• 2. Body
The main ideas and supporting ideas with examples are always presented here.

• 3. Conclusion
Traditionally, this section contains a summary of all the main ideas. The general,
or thesis, statement will be repeated, or it may be introduced here for the first
time.
 Ways to identify main and supporting ideas
• Speakers often use rhetorical questions to signal main ideas, topics,
and themes. These are questions that the speaker asks out loud, and
that the speaker plans to answer in his/ her presentation. In general,
rhetorical questions will always be answered in the lecture or
presentation. Therefore, rhetorical questions are important discourse
markers to pay attention to.
 Ways to identify main and supporting ideas
2) Repetition, or how many times a word or phrase is repeated. If
something is repeated several times, it suggests importance.

3) Pace is the speed of speech. Unimportant points or small details are

usually spoken more quickly. Important points, such as main ideas, are
usually spoken more slowly and clearly.

4) A lecturer’s visual aids, such as outlines, lists or drawings, often

provide obvious clues to a speaker’s main points. These visual aids should
be taken advantage of. •
 Video
• Link:
https://d3c33hcgiwev3.cloudfront.net/Zt6OGhufEea3RQoRNEpMkw.p
rocessed/full/360p/index.webm?
Expires=1611619200&Signature=fOKrVikNgI0UBdwv~teMfdfPHXpV91
YK7L8hY5BAWkUrzrU3u2Kek9P9ROJE988VOU7L4s4Xnuf9Q81G~Rv70
3bsR7s0dmZMEnXjOatRiFVPocCC6Gzx94vmBWd2j-
W7b3hjrrt~WKj7gQKHVriAnMU4rX1V7G3Jg1qMZ6mCru8_&Key-Pair-
Id=APKAJLTNE6QMUY6HBC5A
 Ways to identify main and supporting ideas
• SUPPORTING DETAILS • A conversation or lectures contains facts,
statements, examples- specifics which guide us to a full understanding
of the main idea. • They clarify, illuminate, explain, describe, expand
and illustrate the main idea and are supporting details.

• Suppose I ask you ‘Where is the best restaurant in Delhi? • The

question is the main idea. • You then continue to say Chargrill
Restaurant, western food, cheap, delicious, many choices, friendly
waiters. • These will be the supporting details.
 Video
• Link: https://youtu.be/rIk4LHiYc_A
 Practice
• Main idea is said only once by the speaker

• True

• False
 Practice
• Main idea is said only once by the speaker

• True

• False
• Supporting ideas are repeated and stressed throughout the discourse

• True

• False
• Supporting ideas are repeated and stressed throughout the discourse

• True

• False
• When the lecture is well organized with a clear beginning, middle, and
end, the main idea is easy to identify.

• True

• False
• When the lecture is well organized with a clear beginning, middle, and
end, the main idea is easy to identify.

• True

• False
• Usually the main idea will be at the start of the lecture / conversation

• True

• False
• Usually the main idea will be at the start of the lecture / conversation

• True

• False