Top 3 strategies to listen for key words
Most of the students think about the key words in listening. But most of the time the candidates forget to find the keywords. Following some strategies you can improve your listening score.
1. Read before you listen
A good number of candidates read the questions and instructions before listening. Certainly, you read the question and of course, you underline the keywords or maybe not. I would like to tell you that it may cause mistakes. I am not suggesting you not to do this, but think about these strategies first.
Most of the students think about the key words in listening. But most of the time the candidates forget to find the keywords. Following some strategies you can improve your listening score.
1. Read before you listen
A good number of candidates read the questions and instructions before listening. Certainly, you read the question and of course, you underline the keywords or maybe not. I would like to tell you that it may cause mistakes. I am not suggesting you not to do this, but think about these strategies first.
2. How to identify key words?
You might face problem to identify the keywords in the questions. Sometimes, you might find the keyword easily, but sometimes you may not. Even sometimes, keywords cannot ensure correct answer of the particular question. Let us analyze an example from the book.
For the speaker, what is the most impressive aspect of a solar eclipse?
What word will you take from this question as keyword? I think most of you will take ‘eclipse’ as keyword. But it may be a mistake. As there are no audio forms available, we just want to analyze transcript.
If we look through history, the solar eclipse has always had a profound effect on mankind. If we think for a moment what it means to have the sun blotted out: the source of life eradicated. In the ancient times, people were unaware of its natural cause and were profoundly impressed and believed it must be supernatural. Today most people know that it is caused by the moon passing between the sun and the earth and are more impressed by its beauty. SPEAKING AS AN ASTRONOMER, I FIND it scientifically fascinating. (Audio transcription).
In the question, have you noticed the keywords ‘for the speaker’? Actually at the beginning no candidates will think it as keyword. But after listening whole question, you will understand that this is the only keyword. Answer of the question depends on this keyword.
Q. For the speaker, what is the most impressive aspect of a solar eclipse?
A. It is supernatural
B. Its beauty
C. Its academic interest
The question began with for the speaker. The answer of the question will fully depend on the speakers liking and disliking. It is not about the solar eclipse. As the speaker is an astronaut, definitely he will take eclipse as an academic interest. So, ‘Its academic interest’ is the correct answer.
The Suggestion: Never concentrate only on keyword. It is better to read the whole question and comprehend the meaning not the word. Most of the candidates cannot make the question correct because of not reading the whole question. If you just focus on keyword, you will just match the keyword and keyword matching cannot ensure the answer of the question. Keywords technique might be useful in the section 1 & 2 but in the section 3 and 4 it might not work. The test actually wants to judge if you can understand the meaning not the individual word. If you cannot ensure enough score in your listening test, it means you did not focus on meaning, rather you focused on keywords.
3. Only use key words to let you know when to listen.
Keyword will help you of course. Sometimes, when you are less concentrate, you cannot understand if it is question no 3 or 4 or 5. To maintain the sequence, keyword can help you a lot. You can easily understand what the speaker is talking about. For example, if you listen the word eclipse, you will understand that the answer is coming soon.
