The document outlines eight listening skills: 1. Listening for specific information such as details about who, what, when, where, why, how much or how many. 2. Listening for main ideas which are usually explicitly stated and supported by details. 3. Recognizing main ideas which may be implicitly stated and can be identified through verbal cues like repetition and pacing. 4. Taking notes in an outline form using keywords, abbreviations and qualifying words to help pay attention and notice important information.

1. THE EIGHT
LISTENING SKILLS

2. 1 LISTENING FOR SPECIFIC
INFORMATION
Both major
& minor
details
Precise
information
The support for the main idea – how,
what, when, where, why, how much or
how many
Specific
information
refers to
TIP: Never
ever lose your
focus or you
will miss the
information.

3. 2 LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEAS
Main Idea • Key point / general idea / gist
Supporting
details
• How, what, when, where, why,
how much, how many
Main idea is usually
stated explicitly – in
the beginning, in
the middle or at the
end
Ask yourself.
What is
this
about?

4. 3 RECOGNIZING MAIN IDEAS
Eg. Firstly,
first and
foremost….
Verbal cues
Eg. First,
second, next,
in conclusion,
on the other
hand,
importantly,
significantly, it
is important to
realize…
Verbal
signposts
•Repeat main
points several
times.
•May not be
word for word
but close
enough to
indicate that it
is important
Repetition
Pace of
delivery
Speakers
vary the
pace.
Main points
might be
stated v-e-r-
y s-l-o-w-l-y
May pause
BUT, sometimes when main ideas are stated
implicitly, you must be able to recognize them.
How? By
identifying…

5. 4 TAKING NOTES
Listen carefully – brief, keywords, abbreviations & pay attention
to qualifying words (sometimes, usually, rarely, etc.)
Take accurate notes – don’t change meaning, note terms &
definitions, new words & ideas, specific facts
Use an outline form – eg. Mind maps
Omit descriptions and full explanations – keep it short
Highlight important points
Helps you:
• pay better
attention to
the speaker
• notice
important
information

6. 5 LISTENING CRITICALLY AND
ANALYSING INFORMATION
3
Provide
response
2 Interpret
& analyse
what
others say
1 Translate
spoken
words into
ideas
Within the confines of
our experience
Be critical. Ask
yourself. What does the speaker
say? What examples could
I give? What is the main
point? How does this detail
relate to the main point?

7. 6 RECOGNIZING AND INTERPRETING A
SPEAKER’S VIEWS, ATTITUDES OR
INTENTIONS
Tone of
voice
Words &
phrases
Status of
the
speaker
ROLE
Language,
words &
phrases
Use of
stress &
intonation
ATTI
TUDE
Eg: Young man, have you
mowed the lawn yet?
Infer: The speaker uses
the phrase young man. He
must be someone much
older. Mowing the lawn is a
chore. May it is his
father/mother or his
uncle/aunt.
Eg: Don’t you dare touch my CDs again, you
little brat!
Infer: The speaker uses words like don’t you
dare & little brat in a high pitch. He sounds
threatening and angry.

8. 7 DERIVING MEANING OF WORDS, PHRASES
AND SENTENCES FROM CONTEXT
Problem
1
Some words
or expressions
may pose a
problem to full
understanding
istenaround
2
To derive the
meaning,
listen to the
words
surrounding
them
Clues/hints
3
These words
that provide
clues or hints
are called
contextual
clues
Contextual clues helps you understand unfamiliar words /phrases & enjoy listening
without having to continuously refer to the dictionary.
TIP: Clues can be
presented as:
DEFINITIONS,
EXAMPLES &
EXPLANATIONS

9. 8 DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN FACTS
AND OPINIONS
FACTS
OPINIONS
When listening, we tend to infuse our own prior knowledge &
experience to understand information. Distinguishing fact from
opinion helps you make a sound judgement about the information
you are receiving.
Clues:
Data have shown..
It is discovered..
Studies found..
It indicates..
…backed up by
these facts…
Clues:
Believes..
Feel..
..of the view that..
..should have
taken..
It is quite clear..
I guess..
I suppose..