9 Listening

Before you listen

Complete the following to help you prepare for the listening:

1. In the video, we saw people’s reactions to an email. Read the email that was mentioned in the video and answer the questions below.

a) What do you think the listening will be about?

b) What do you already know about the situation?

Discuss what the following words and phrases mean. Listen carefully for these words and phrases in the listening activities and think about their meanings.

Listening 1

Complete the following:

Read the questions in the Comprehension section so you have an idea of what the keywords are and what information to listen for. Then listen to Susan and Maria talking about what happened.

After you listen

Comprehension

4. Who was supposed to be available when Norman tried to contact Maintenance?

a) Alex

b) Susan

c) Maria

5. Which personal management skills should Maria improve on?

a) Demonstrate a positive attitude and manage time effectively

b) Manage time effectively and work responsibly

c) Be creative and flexible and work responsibly

Indirect statements

When Susan and Maria are talking about the incident that happened at the mall, Susan chooses words and phrases to approach the situation with Maria less directly. What she says is different from what she actually means. Susan uses language as a softening strategy to address the incident without sounding like she is blaming Maria.

Read the sentences from Listening 1 below. Rewrite the sentences. Replace the indirect language with more direct language.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Vocabulary

1. Listen to Listening 1 again. Identify the words and phrases you heard in this listening. Talk about what the words and phrases mean. Compare them with the meanings you discussed in the Before you listen section.

2. Use a dictionary to look up the words and phrases you identified above. Write down their meanings. Some words may have more than one meaning. Be careful to select the meaning of the word as it is used in the listening.

3. Write sentences using the words you wrote meanings for. Talk about your sentences.

Listening 2

Read the questions in the Comprehension section so you have an idea of specific things you need to listen for.

a) Based on the questions, what do you think the listening excerpt will be about?

b) What do you already know about the situation?

Ana works at one of the stores in the mall. Listen to Ana talk about the incident and answer the questions that follow.

After you listen

Comprehension

4. According to Ana, what should be done to avoid this kind of incident in the future?

a) Someone should call Maintenance.

b) The mall should maintain the floors better.

c) They should not carry out large boxes.

5. Did the contents of the box break?

a) Yes

b) No

c) We don’t know

Vocabulary

1. Listen to Listening 2 again. Identify the words and phrases you heard. Talk about what the words and phrases mean. Compare them with the meanings you discussed in the Before you listen section.

• Use a dictionary to look up the words and phrases you identified above. Write down their meanings. Some words may have more than one meaning. Be careful to select the meaning of the word or phrase as it is used in the listening.

2. Write sentences using the words and phrases you wrote the meanings for. Talk about your sentences.

Discussion

Go back to the questions in the Before you listen section. Think about what you heard in Listening 1 and Listening 2. Discuss the answers to these questions:

• Did you correctly predict what the listening activities were going to be about?
• How did reading the questions ahead of time and thinking about what you were going to listen for help you understand?

Listening progress check

Read the comprehension questions on the next page first so you notice what you need to listen for. Then listen to Raja speak with his friend Sam about their workplaces.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

1. What is Raja and Sam’s relationship?

a) Co-workers

b) Supervisor and employee

c) Friends

2. What are they discussing?

a) The way things are handled at different workplaces

b) The promotion that Sam got

c) How Raja likes his co-workers

3. What is Sam hoping will happen soon?

a) He will get a new job at a different company.

b) He will get accustomed to the workplace culture.

c) He will get a new position at his company.

4. What is Raja still getting used to?

a) How problems are addressed

b) How to send emails

c) His co-workers

5. Which notice to staff do you think fits the workplace culture where Sam works?

a) There was an issue with production last week. Please refer to your training manuals and follow the instructions closely to avoid mistakes in the future.

b) There was a problem with production last week. We will meet on Tuesday at 10:00 m. to discuss the problem and identify possible solutions. Please bring your ideas.

c) There was a problem with production last week. There will be a meeting for all to attend on Tuesday at 10:00 m. The production manager will review the rules for efficient production lines.

6. What is the best way for Raja to get accustomed to his workplace culture?

a) Ask his boss lots of questions

b) Observe the behaviours of his co-workers and supervisors

c) Ask his friends

Vocabulary

Match each of the words or phrases below to its meaning on the right.