Listening Note-taking Strategies

•Have a clear purpose

•Recognize main ideas
•Select what is relevant, you do not need to write
down everything that is said
 Listening Note-taking Strategies

Before the Lecture:

•pre-read about the topic
•check the pronunciation of any new words or
discipline-specific language in the pre- readings.
 Listening Note-taking Strategies

Distinguish between main points, examples,

repetition, restatements and new points by:
• Listening for structural cues (transition words,
introduction, body and summary stages)
• Listening for phonological cues ( voice
change in volume, speed, emotion).
LECTURE: A TYPICAL UNIVERSITY COURSE
DEGREES IN MOST NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

B.A. or B.S.
Bachelor of Arts / Science: after four years of study
M.A. or M.S.
Master of Arts / Science: after two additional years.
Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy: after two or more additional years.
Students who are studying for a B.A. or B.S. are called
undergraduates or ‘undergrads’
Those who are studying for an M.A. or Ph.D. are called
graduates or ‘grad’ students.
 PRE – LISTENING QUIZ
•How much do you know about typical university
courses in the United States and Canada?
 PRE – LISTENING QUIZ
Are the following statements True or False.
1. Some undergraduate lecture classes have 300 students in
them.
2. Courses at American and Canadian universities are taught
only by professors.
3. The information in lectures is the same as the information
in text books, so attending lectures is usually not
necessary.
4. Your homework will always be read and corrected by your
professor.
5. A discussion section is a class where students meet
informally to help each other with their coursework.
 PRE – LISTENING QUIZ
Are the following statements True or False.
6. The ability to write well is not very important for
undergraduates.
7. Only graduate students are required to do research.
8. If you cheat and you are caught, you might have to leave
the university.
 PREVIEWING VOCABULARY
cheating attend
discussion section fail a course
experiment get kicked out
laboratory take notes
lecture
midterm exam
plagiarism
quiz
requirement
teaching assistant
term paper
LECTURE: NEIGHBORHOOD
WATCH MEETING
 CULTURE NOTES

In many American cities, neighbors join together to form

a Neighborhood Watch. They agree to work together to
stop crimes in their area. They watch out for unusual
activity in their neighborhood. If they see anything
suspicious, they call the police.
At the first Neighborhood Watch meeting, a police
officer usually comes to speak to the neighbors about
crime prevention.
Neighborhood Watch signs
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions in small groups

1. Look up the meaning of the following word pairs:
•neighbor/neighborhood
•burglar/burglary
•robber/robbery
•crime (uncountable)/crimes (countable)
•thief/ theft.
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions in small groups

2. Is there much crime in the area where you live? What
kind? Do you feel safe in your area?
3. Does your area have something like a Neighborhood
Watch? Do you think it would be a good idea? Why or
why not?
4. What are some things you can do to protect yourself
and your home against crime?
 PREVIEWING VOCABULARY

NOUNS
alarm VERBS ADJECTIVE
break-in break into violent
deadbolt prevent
decal
EXPRESSION
device
get into the habit
front/back (of)
license
right
(car) theft
timer
valuables
LECTURE: ENTREPRENEURS
 BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE

The following lecture is about people who start new

businesses or industries. They are called
entrepreneurs - and about the process they follow in
creating their businesses.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com

 FAMOUS ENTREPRENEURS

Jerry Yang, founder of Yahoo

Frederick Smith,
founder of FedEx
Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions in small groups

1. Have you ever seen or heard the word ‘entrepreneur’?
Tell what you know about this word.
2. What makes a business leader successful? Knowledge?
Skill? Personal characteristics? Make a list on the board.
Write both the noun and adjective forms of the words.
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions in small groups

3. Give examples of people you know about who
have started their own businesses. Which of these
characteristics did they have?
4. Which of these characteristics do you have? Do you
think you would be a good entrepreneur? Why or why
not?
 PREVIEWING VOCABULARY

NOUNS
brilliant idea VERBS
quality found
solution have (something) in common
team hire
vision identify
raise capital
solve
surf the internet
take risks
 LECTURE
CHANGES IN THE U.S. JOB MARKET
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2020
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2020
Job Percent Salary Training
change rank needed Post –
high school
Medical assistants 59% 3 On the job
Network systems and data 57% 1 B.A.
communications analysts
Physician's assistants 49% 1 B.A.
Home health aides 48% 4 On the job
Computer software 46% 1 B.A.
engineers, applications
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2020
Job Percent Salary Training
change rank needed Post –
high school
Computer software engineers, 45% 1 B.A.
systems software
Fitness trainers and aerobics 44% 3 Vocational
instructors
Database administrators 44% 1 B.A.
Veterinary technologists and 44% 3 Associate
technicians degree
Hazardous materials removal 43% 2 On the job
workers
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2020
Job Percent Salary Training
change rank needed Post –
high school
Dental hygienists 43% 1 Associate
degree
Personal and home care aides 40% 4 On the job
Computer systems analysts 39% 1 B.A.
Environmental engineers 38% 1 B.A.
Postsecondary teachers 38% 1 M.A. or Ph.D
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

Fastest Growing Occupations, 2002-2020
Job Percent Salary Training
change rank needed Post –
high school
Network and computer 37% 1 B.A.
systems administrators
Preschool teachers, except 36% 4 Vocational
special education
Computer and information 36% 1 B.A. or higher
systems managers
Physical therapists 35% 1 M.A.
Occupational therapists 35% 1 B.A.
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Study the table and answer the questions that follow

1. What information is given in this table?
2. What years are covered?
3. The table has four columns. What information is given in
each one?
4. What job do you hope to have in the future? Is it on this
list?
5. Which jobs require a college education?
6. Which jobs have the highest salaries?
 PREVIEWING VOCABULARY

NOUNS
automation NOUNS VERBS
bottom line a job market
grow by X%
category labor costs
competition manufacturing
economy rank
health care salary
illness service
trend
 LECTURE
CHANGES IN THE AMERICAN FAMILY
 PRE-LISTENING DISCUSSION

Discuss these questions in small groups.

1. Look at the photos of the two families.
Describe the family members and their
lifestyles. When do you think each photo was
taken?
2. Based on the photos, how do you think the
"typical" American family has changed since
the 1950s?
3. How are families changing in your
community? Why?
 PREVIEWING VOCABULARY

NOUNS VERBS ADJECTIVE

cost of living flexible
daycare benefit
center can / can't afford
flexibility
Transfer
homemaker
maternity leave volunteer
opportunity policy