Conversations Lectures

Problem solutions Cause and effect

Service Compare and contrast

Notice Hypothesis explanations

All the listening section relies on the note taking ability.

Many students say that when they are listening they dont know what to listen for. Note taking is
different to dictation. The purpose for you to take notes is that when you guys are taking classes at
any university, you will be listening to lectures, so you will have to take notes appropriately.

Lectures are pretty much similar to a reading comprehension essay. They are basically the same
structure, the same sequence. So if we analyze the structure of an essay the first thing is to be done
is the introduction of the information to be covered.

Things you need to listen for: Main idea, major details and minor details around three or five. In the
listening you have to get all the main points, not the minor points.

In order to find major details you have to pay attention to common signal words. (example of sign
posting) They tell you what is next. They tell you that the information you are about to hear is really
important. Therefore, whatever that comes after a transition word needs to be written down. They
are major details.

Other clues to important information: Self-correction.

Digression: When someone talks about what has been discussed last week or the previous class.

Questions or interruption: that is important information, so you need to be prepared to write down
the answer that the teacher gives.

Change of tone / idioms: you need to interpret the change of tone or the idiom.

Examples also really important information. Usually they are purpose questions. An example is given
to let the listener know how this example is connected to previous information.