academic listening skills

ACADEMIC LISTENING SKILLS Aylin Graves Thomas Bruce Graves BLACKswan LANGUAGEs e r i e s

BLACKswan LANGUAGEs e r i e s LAISCTEANIDNGESMKILILCS Kütüphane Bilgisi: • Dil Eğitim • Akademik ISBN: 978-605-5352-04-2 Black Swan Publishing House • Academic Listening Skills • Yayın Yönetmeni: Ali Cevat Paloğlu Kapak Foto: Aysu Bilgiç • Kapak Tarasımı: Kadir Şahin • Grafik: Betik • Baskı: Ümit Ofset +90 312. 384 26 27 [email protected] BLACKswan www.blackswan.com.tr SELFHELPser ies

Listening is a skill needed at all levels of learning. We have therefore designed this book FOREWORD to supplement your classes, regardless of your language level. We start with quick and easy 5-minute listening tasks and take you through to the level of listening to lectures and note-taking. We focus on setting achievable goals for the listener and introduce useful tools that you can use as you make sense of what you are hearing. First, we help you and your classmates to tune in to the sound of English with short an- nouncements, messages and dialogues on familiar topics. You learn new words, predict and try to follow basic instructions in authentic spoken English. As you become more familiar with listening, you can take on longer, more challenging tasks. We introduce you to practical tools for identifying the main idea and then, listen for the details of what is being said. At this stage you still want to benefit from listen- ing again, as if you were asking somebody to repeat something for you so that you can better understand. This helps you to grow your vocabulary, make informed guesses, and listen out for key words and phrases. These you can use to better respond to what you hear, both verbally and in writing. As more active listeners, we can be more productive in class. We find we are comfort- able with longer passages and we can learn from what we hear. We practice techniques that help us to concentrate on both the main idea and important details at the same time. As our confidence grows we focus on academic skills like note-taking. Finally, we are able to listen to sample lectures and interviews, and engage in project work that calls for creative thinking and debate. Academic Listening is written for Turkish students and their teachers, engaging you with proven techniques, contemporary language and interesting topics. We hope you enjoy the experience. Let’s break the sound barrier! Aylin & Bruce Graves Aylin Graves Bruce Graves is an English language instructor at is an English language coach and editor. Middle East Technical University, Ankara. His blog talkingturks gets you into the habit of watching, listening, reading and commenting on things in English. http://talkingturks.wordpress.com



CHAPTER I: TUNING-IN CONTENTS 1. On the Tube.............................................................................................................7 2. At the Airport ..................................................................................................... 11 3. Onboard the Aircraft ....................................................................................... 14 4. Train Travel ......................................................................................................... 17 5. Radio Adverts - 1 .............................................................................................. 21 6. Radio Adverts - 2 .............................................................................................. 25 7. Phone Messages ............................................................................................... 27 8. Book Reviews ...................................................................................................... 30 9. Mount Lemmon ................................................................................................. 34 10. What’s On In Turkey? ....................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER II: MAKING SENSE 11. Welcome to the World of Smells.................................................................... 43 12. Is City Air Giving You Acne? .......................................................................... 45 13. Light Pollution .................................................................................................. 47 14. Super-Thin is Out! ............................................................................................ 51 15. Nano Hits the Road .......................................................................................... 53 16. Prepared to Win the Lotto? ....................................................................... 56 17. Why Don’t Some Airlines Have a 13th Row? ............................................ 59 18. Café Fernando ................................................................................................... 61 19. Twitter: The 21st Century’s Hottest News Outlet ................................... 64 20. Can You Talk in English?................................................................................. 67 CHAPTER III: CONFIDENCE BUILDING 21. Are Diamonds Forever? ................................................................................. 72 22. Balcony Talk ........................................................................................................ 75 23. Will You Take the Road Less Travelled? ................................................... 79 24. Technology, a Better Pencil? ........................................................................ 82 25. The Month a Baby is Born Decides their Career ................................... 85 CHAPTER IV: ADVANCED LISTENING 26. Hole-in-the-Wall Learning Stations:A New Way to Learn ................... 90 27. Websites that Changed the World............................................................... 94 28. The Dabbawallas of Mumbai ......................................................................... 98 29. Walls of Earth ...................................................................................................102

CHAPTERC H A P T E R I 1 TUNING-IN This chapter includes short listening activities to get your ear tuned to the rhythm of English. You will hear announcements from train and underground stations, advertisements, as well as dialogues between people. You will be asked to learn words, predict, listen and speak. Listening Goals in this Chapter: • Follow announcements • Understand short telephone messages • Follow radio announcements dealing with familiar topics • Follow basic instructions • Gain familiarity with authentic spoken English

7 TUNING-IN 1. On the Tube Londoners call the famous London underground the “tube”. Here, you will learn new vocabulary items about using the underground, listen to genuine announcements and practice asking for directions. Enjoy your ride on the tube! Orientation Tube Vocabulary The following words and phrases all have to do with travelling on the tube. Use them to fill in the blanks with a partner. You may use a dictionary if you need to. carriage change fare line stand clear of the doors mind the gap 1. A verb that refers to the route between two points on a railway. ___________________ 2. A verb that means “to transfer from one vehicle to another.” ___________________ 3. A noun that refers to a railway coach. ___________________ 4. A noun that means “the ticket price for a journey on public transport.” ___________________ 5. A phrase that means “to pay attention not to fall between the platform and the train”. ___________________ 6. A phrase that means “not to obstruct the doorway”. ___________________

CHAPTER 1 8 Now match the following pictures with appropriate words from the table: Picture 1: ___________ Picture 2: ___________ Picture 3: ___________

9 TUNING-IN First Listening: Purpose of the announcement In this section, you will hear two announcements. Listen and tick the purpose of each announcement. There may be more than one purpose for each announcement. Purpose of Announcement Announcement 1 Announcement 2 Start emergency evacuation Give advice for passengers at the back of the train Give route information Mention station name Second Listening: Getting the Details Work in Pairs Read the following questions together. Then listen again and write the answers. Announcement 1: Northern Line 1. You’re on the Northern Line going to Camden Town. You’re in the last carriage (at the back of the train). Listen to the announcement and write down what you should do and why. 2. Why do you think the last set of doors do not open in this station? Announcement 2: Piccadilly Line 3. You are on the Piccadilly Line going to Heathrow Airport Terminal 3. Listen to the announcement as the tube pulls in to Kings Cross Station. What should you do? 4. What should passengers for Terminal 4 do?

CHAPTER 1 10 Let’s Speak Below is a small section of the London tube. As you can see, there are many lines and each one is shown in a different colour. Work with a friend and do the following role plays: Role Play 1 – Go to Leicester Square: In Victoria tube station, Student A asks Student B for directions to Leicester Square. Student A: (Ask politely how to get to Leicester Square by tube.) Student B: (Give directions. Be sure to give the easiest route.) Student A: (Thank.) Student B: (Respond.) Role Play 2 – Go to Bond Street: In Leicester Square station, Student A asks Student B for directions to Bond Street. Student A: (Ask politely how to get to Bond Street by tube.) Student B: (Give directions. Be sure to give the easiest route.) Student A: (Thank.) Student B: (Respond.) Grey : Jubilee Light Blue : Victoria Dark Blue : Piccadilly Brown : Bakerloo Red : Central Black : Northern Yellow : Circle Green : District

11 TUNING-IN 2. At the Airport Here, you will learn new vocabulary items about travelling by air, hear an airport announcement, listen to a conversation at the check-in desk, and practice airport talk. Enjoy your flight! Orientation Airport Vocabulary Study the following words which are used in airports or on passenger planes. Word Definition Aisle seat Corridor seat (The opposite is window seat) Baggage claim Place in the airport where you pick up your baggage when you arrive at your destination Boarding pass A piece of paper that you get it shows your seat number on the plane. Carry-on (luggage) The smaller bags that passengers can take onto the aircraft to put in the overhead compartments Check-in desk The place where you get your boarding pass and hand in your suitcase. Domestic flight Flight within a country (The opposite is international flight). Overhead compartment Place over passengers’ heads to store carry-on luggage Refreshments Snacks and beverages Runway The strip of land for an airplane to land or take off Steward / stewardess / flight Man or woman who serves passengers during a flight attendant / host / hostess

CHAPTER 1 12 First Listening: Predicting What sort of passengers do you think should be allowed to board the airplane first? Who needs to get on before others? Make a list together with a partner: ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Now listen and check your predictions. Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything. You will have a chance to listen again. Second Listening: Getting the Details Read the following questions and see if you can answer them from your first listening. Then listen again and complete all the answers. Dialogue: At the Check-in Desk 1. What flight documents does the check-in assistant want to see? ________________________________________________________________ 2. How old is the baby? ________________________________________________________________ 3. Where does the passenger want to sit? Why? ________________________________________________________________ 4. Where is the passenger taking her backpack? ________________________________________________________________ 5. Why will the passenger be able to pre-board? ________________________________________________________________ Announcement: Pre-boarding Announcement 1. Which flight is this announcement for? ________________________________________________________________ 2. Who are they calling first to pre-board the plane? ________________________________________________________________ 3. What documentation do the passengers need to board the plane? ________________________________________________________________ 4. When can other passengers board the plane? ________________________________________________________________

13 TUNING-IN Let’s Check In Guess who is speaking. Write CA for check-in assistant or P for passenger: 1. Is it possible to get an aisle seat? 2. Can I see your ticket, please? 3. How many bags are you checking in? 4. You’ll board at Gate 7. 5. Can I use my laptop on board? 6. Please be at the gate thirty minutes before your flight. 7. Where can I get a trolley? 8. Your flight has been delayed by one hour. 9. Enjoy your flight. 10. Would you like an aisle or a window seat? Now pair up with another student for role-play. One of you will be a check-in assistant and the other one a passenger. Write a check-in dialogue by using at least 5 of the statements above and act it out. My Role Play Dialogue

CHAPTER 1 14 3. Onboard the Aircraft Here, you will learn useful vocabulary about air travel, hear in-flight announcements, listen to a conversation between a flight attendant and a passenger, and practice speaking. Enjoy your flight! Orientation Airspeak All of the words below relate to air travel. With a partner, look over the words and answer the questions. Use a dictionary if necessary. take off land descend altitude cabin crew fasten your seatbelt destination flight attendant 1. Which words refer to people working on a passenger plane? ________________________________________________________________ 2. Which words describe the actions of an aircraft? ________________________________________________________________ 3. Which word describes an action required from passengers? ________________________________________________________________

15 TUNING-IN First Listening: Predicting Work with a partner to answer the following questions: What kind of announcements are made by flight attendants? ___________________________________________________________________ What kind of announcements are made by pilots? ___________________________________________________________________ Now listen and check your predictions. Important: Don’t stop listening if you don’t understand something. You will have a chance to listen again. Second Listening: Getting the Details Announcement 1: Listen again and answer the following questions. 1. What is the destination of the flight? 2. What should you do with your baggage? 3. What should you do with your electronic devices? 4. What airline is this? Announcement 2: This announcement has a lot of numbers in it! Can you follow what each number refers to? Listen and match the numbers with the correct word. 76 Altitude 30,000 Temperature in Istanbul 400 Time 2 Speed 20 Flight number

CHAPTER 1 16 Announcement 3: Listen again and answer the following questions. 1. What is the problem? 2. Order the things you must do: a. Breathe normally. ____ b. Pull on the nearest mask. ____ c. Adjust the mask. ____ d. Place the mask on your face. ____ Announcement 4: What does the flight attendant ask you to do? Check all the items you hear. a. Go to the nearest seat. b. Fasten your seatbelt. c. Close your tray table. d. Collect your headphones and blankets. Let’s Speak Use the list below to choose the 2 most important characteristics flight attendants need: a. Paying attention to safety and comfort b. Being able to respond quickly to any situation c. Multi-tasking (i.e. doing more than one task at one time) d. Working with a smile, being friendly and approachable e. Taking pride in the organisation Now, in 5 minutes, share your response with another student and explain your reasons. See how similar or different your responses are.