You are going to hear a text about English courses. First you will have 30 seconds to study the table below. Then you will hear the text twice. While listening, match the course descriptions (A-G) to the courses (1-5). There is one example (0) at the beginning. There is one description that you do not need to use. After the second listening, you will have 30 seconds to finalise your answers. Start studying the task now.
ENGLISH COURSES
COURSE
THIS COURSE ...
0 E
A ... has lessons only in the morning.
B ... gives you practice in note taking.
C ... teaches you to make telephone calls.
D ... offers lessons all day.
E ... improves your conversation skills.
F ... helps you to study on your own.
G ... focuses on writing and discussion.
1
2
3
4
5
Score: 5 points
Answer Key :
example
1
2
3
4
5
E
F
D
G
A
B
As the instruction suggests, it is important – as always – to study the task before you start listening. You need to tune into the topic and understand what exactly is required from you. As you read the descriptions or possible course themes, be aware that in this task type there is usually minimum one extra prompt that you will not need to use. And it is always useful to mobilise your knowledge about the topic – in this case it is language learning and courses – and think of synonyms for the words in the descriptions (e.g. speaking and conversation) so that you are better prepared for the decision-making.
Item 1: We hear “improve their existing knowledge”, which only indicates that the course is not for beginners, but later we hear “help learners to become more independent” and “continue when the course is over”. These are the clues for matching Course 1 to “helps you study on your own” in E.
Item 2: The recording says “intensive”, “morning classes”, and “additional classes each afternoon” , which should be sufficient for making a good choice: E and what it offers – “lessons all day”.
Item 3: To begin with “practice in all the language skills” is not much to help you, but then you hear “writing skills”, “class journal” and “discussion skills” , which will guide you to G.
Item 4: “weekday afternoons” and “ four evenings per week” could contradict what is stated in A, but if we listen carefully, it becomes clear that only the “mornings are spent studying” , while the “social and cultural activities” will follow later.
Item 5: among the several skills we need to improve as a student abroad, “taking ……notes” neatly fits with “practice in note taking” in B.
Now continue with more matching tasks in the rest of this chapter.
