Global Utilities

La Trobe University
Language and Academic Skills (ESL)

Listening

Many students find listening to lectures hard work. Not only is it difficult to concentrate for an hour or more, many students are confused and find it difficult to decide what information is important. It helps to understand how lectures are organised and how to take notes.

The purpose of lectures

When lecturers deliver a lecture they give more than information; they also critique research and present arguments which they support with evidence. They also demonstrate how practitioners in particular disciplines make enquiries and what procedures are used. Lecturers provide a live demonstration of how to discuss and make claims using language appropriate to the subject.

The following statement might help you to understand.

Academic knowledge is not just a collection of facts or skills, rather it is an understanding of interrelated ideas and ways of looking at the world.

Your lecturers and tutors are also trying to teach and so they will give cues about the structures of the ideas underlying a subject.

Think about your teachers/lecturers, past and present. How have they introduced main/important points/new points? finished points?

Using cues

Speakers have predictable mannerisms which you can observe. These will alert you that something important will be announced.

These include:

  • repeating ideas
  • repeating a particular word or phrase
  • repeating something very slowly so that it can be noted down word for word
  • re-positioning - standing up, moving closer to the audience
  • talking more quickly, or louder, or with more emphasis, or making dramatic pauses
  • using particular hand gestures, looking serious
  • focussing attention on the audience
  • writing something on the board or overhead projector
  • saying students must know something or be able to do something

Linking words will also inform you that the speaker is going to give a different idea/viewpoint, move to the next step or something new, explain and connect an idea, repeat the point using different words, finish a point, give examples, let you know something is important, say why something happened.

Linking Expressions

  • Contrast words introduce a different idea/viewpoint: conversely, however, but, despite, on the other hand
  • Repetition words repeat the point using different words: also, too, in addition, even more, to repeat, in other words, let me put that another way, in other words, what I have been saying is, to recapitulate
  • Emphasis words let you know something is important: specifically, most importantly, especially, the next point is significant, this is crucial
  • Number, list and order words introduce the next step or something new: then, secondly, finally, ultimately, moving on now
  • Summary words finish a point: in brief, in conclusion, to wrap up, for these reasons, the crunch of the argument is..., so to sum up, moving on now
  • Cause and effect words say why something important happened: accordingly, because, consequently, therefore, if....then, as a result, resulting in, leading to, consequently, therefore
  • Concession words explain and connect ideas by introducing another way of looking at the same point: given that, in light of, of course, even though, whereas, while, nevertheless, although
  • Exemplification words introduce examples and explanations (which could help you understand a concept): for example, in other words, that is, for instance, namely, a case in point is.., let me illustrate this by..., take the case of..., in fact
  • Digression words indicate that something is not a main point: Incidentally, by the way, this reminds me of a funny story, a side issue to this is...

How to be an be an active listener

  1. In order to be an active listener as opposed to a passive one, you need to think about what you are listening to, why you are listening and the best way for you to listen.
  2. Lectures usually parallel the reading. If you have the main points and page numbers you can fill the gaps later. Sometimes you can listen, not for what is said but for how it is said. In this way you will become familiar with the language of ideas in a particular subject.
  3. Make a balance between writing and listening. If you are constantly writing you will not have enough space to decide what is important.
  4. Listen for how the information is presented. Lecturers have their individual style and recognising their patterns of delivery will help you to determine what is important.
  5. If there is too much unfamiliar material - then make a list of questions /new terms and seek answers from the reading, other students, and finally the tutor or lecturer.
  6. If a Lecture is hard to follow because it is badly organised leave a lot of space so you can fill in the gaps later.
  7. Review your notes afterwards - in your head, with a diagram, a list of new points and/or discussion with other students. This is very important because thinking about what you know or need to know is a learning strategy. Don't try to remember every detail - categorise points into sections and give titles to these sections.
  8. If you tape the lectures use these to improve your note-taking skills. You can listen for how the lecturer presents new points. Sometimes instead of writing notes, you could test your memory by listening to a section, then stopping and recalling the main points. Avoid listening for every word, because this will slow you down and will make you dependent on taped notes.
  9. Identifying what you already know about a subject develops your ability to understand new material. Prepare for listening by reading on the topic, thinking about what you already know and predicting what will be discussed or explained.

Suggestions on how to deal with lectures

These ideas were adapted from the Eastern Illinois University Academic Advising Centre.

Before the lecture

  • Do the recommended reading  to give you an idea of the topics to be discussed and what you don't know
  • Determine whether your professor gives  lectures which parallel the readings or lectures which are  independent from the textbook and do not follow the readings 
  • Just before the lecture, review last session's notes and skim the textbook and or hand outs
  • Think about what you already know
  • Anticipate the lecturer's main points. Think about what are you supposed to learn
  • Arrive early
  • Sit near the front of the class in the centre of the row, unless you plan to leave early
  • Begin notes for each lecture on a new page
  • Think about how the lecturer usually structures the presentation of ideas
  • Date each page of your notebook, and date/number each handout. Keep handouts together
  • Identify the chapter being covered and the title of lecture at the top of the page
  • Sit next to someone who you know to be a good student
  • If you sit next to a native speaker, you could copy words which you find difficult to spell

During the lecture

  • Don't let your mind wander
  • Listen for verbal clues to identify the most important information: repetition, vocal emphasis/excitement, information written on the board
  • Be aware of the sort of body language the lecturer usually uses
  • Use the structure of the lecture to organise your notes
  • Listen for the main points, rather than trying to write down everything the lecturer says
  • Leave enough space on your pages to add more notes and comments
  • Highlight information the lecturer states is important or will be on the exam
  • Use symbols, numbering, underlining and abbreviations whenever possible

After the lecture

  • Edit/revise your notes as soon as possible after lecture
  • Fill in any gaps and annotate your notes
  • Add any additional details to help to clarify points
  • Make comments to connect the ideas 
  • Use the readings/textbook or a friend's notes to help fill in missing information 
  • Check for accuracy
  • Organize your notes using into concept maps, diagrams, charts, matrixes, etc. 
  • Use your memory to recall main ideas and what you remember of the topic 
  • Discuss the subject with others following the lecture
  • If you seek clarification from your tutor ensure that you have clear and specific questions
  • Review notes regularly; information is retained better when learned regularly in sections and when meaningful connections are made

Online listening resources