PREFACE Listening Plus 1 was intended to support both teachers and learners of Listening 1, but most importantly, it was aimed for increased consistency in the supplementary materials and ample practice of the skills taught in the course. In the old programs, the core textbooks used in the Listening courses were designed in the integrated approach with a focus on business English. Two major issues were identified by both the teaching faculty and students. For one thing, when all the four micro skills were integrated into one single lesson, there seemed to be insufficient instruction and practice for each skill.
For another thing, the business contexts given in the lessons turned out to be quite difficult for the English major students, which required both the teacher and learners to spend substantial amounts of time getting familiar with business concepts and terminology before working on improving the language skills. When the new program was launched, the new course books – Q Skills for Success: Listening & Speaking series - were implemented and the two issues were resolved. However, there was a new concern: as our bachelor program specializes in Business English, the students still need exposure to business concepts and opportunities to use their language skills in business situations. This supplementary material was compiled to address this concern.
We would like to give students listening tasks in which they can practice the listening comprehension and note-taking skills they have learnt from the core textbook in business contexts. We also want to provide all the teachers in charge of Listening 1 with a collection of handy exercises, which helps to ensure all classes will work on the same business topics throughout the course. Our team of three instructors started our work with deciding on the components of each unit: vocabulary practice, listening comprehension exercises, and note-taking practice. After that, we discussed to select potential sources of materials, taking into account the levels of proficiency (A2 – B1), quality of audio recordings, complexity of the business concepts, and the possibility of adapting and designing tasks corresponding to the skills taught in the core textbook.
The eight units were divided among three of us, and all the new materials were trialed by the teachers in charge of the Listening 1 classes in the first semester of 2021-2022 for feedback and suggestions. At the end of the semester, the units were revised with too easy or difficult tasks modified, and new tasks added to short lessons. 1 The final version of the book consists of eight units, each of which includes business vocabulary exercises, followed by various listening and note-taking tasks for further practice of the skills introduced in the corresponding units in the core textbook. The listening strategies taught in the textbook are also briefly reminded at the end of each unit to help the students review their lessons.
The remaining sections are transcripts, suggested answers, and a glossary. A CD containing all the audio files also goes with the book. For each lesson, we recommend that the students complete the lesson in the course book before moving on to working on this supplementary material. It is suggested that the vocabulary exercises be completed before the listening and note-taking ones so that students can understand the business situations and then use the newly learnt listening skills effectively in these new contexts.
2 Table of Contents UNIT 1 – LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEAS. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: IDENTIFYING NEW WORDS. 8 UNIT 2 – UNDERSTANDING CAUSE AND EFFECT. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING VISUAL ELEMENTS.
NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: ORGANIZING NOTES. 16 UNIT 4 – LISTENING FOR SPECIFIC INFORMATION. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS. 19 UNIT 5 – LISTENING FOR REASONS AND EXPLANATIONS.
NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING SIMPLE OUTLINE. 23 UNIT 6 – LISTENING FOR DATES AND OTHER NUMBERS. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: REVIEWING AND EDITING NOTES. 27 UNIT 7 – RECOGNIZING A SPEAKER’S ATTITUDE.
NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING NOTES TO WRITE A SUMMARY. 31 UNIT 8 – RECOGNIZING FACTS AND OPINIONS. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING NOTES TO WRITE A SUMMARY. 55 5 UNIT 1 – LISTENING FOR MAIN IDEAS I.
VOCABULARY PRACTICE Exercise 1: Match the pairs of phrases 1. on sale Exercise 2: Choose the correct definition for the words and phrases in the box journalism staff members sales profitable award-winning the market 1. Having won a prize or prizes 2. The total number of products that are sold 3.
The job or activity of writing news reports for newspapers, magazines, or television 4. Making or likely to make money 5. The people who work for an organization 6. The business or trade in a particular product II.
LISTENING PRACTICE Exercise 1: Listen to the conversations and choose the correct answers Conversation 1 What are Alicia and Ali doing? A. They're looking for the Placement Center. They're looking for summer jobs. They're looking for jobs in Maryland.
6 Conversation 2 What are the speakers discussing? A. The clothes to wear to an event B. The size of the conference room C. The number of people expected Conversation 3 What is the topic of the conversation? A.
Terms of a contract B. Methods of delivery C. Details of an order Exercise 2: Listen and decide whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE 1. They’re discussing what products should be bought.
They’re looking for exciting and profitable toys. The man’s recommending a sports product suitable for all ages. Exercise 3: Listen and answer the questions 1. What is the purpose of the first speaker’s talk?.
What business is advertised by the second speaker?. What is the third speaker mentioning?. NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: IDENTIFYING NEW WORDS Exercise 1: Listen to an advertisement and complete the notes. Exercise 2: Listen to two people describing how they got their job.
Take notes about how each person was lucky. Speaker 1 Speaker 2 What happened? How lucky? LISTENING STRATEGY 1 To listen for main ideas, pay attention to repeated words and ideas. Listen for emphasis on certain words and sentences. Also listen for the summary of the main ideas at the ends of the talk.
8 UNIT 2 – UNDERSTANDING CAUSE AND EFFECT I. VOCABULARY PRACTICE Exercise 1: Match the pairs of sentences 1. The course taught me how to manage people. Consequently, they all won a medal.
Team Orange completed the challenge first. As a result, everyone attends them. I'd never had a formal speech before. Consequently, she was promoted last week.
The training days are useful. As a consequence, I am now a team leader. Jess learned a lot from the training. For this reason, I was very nervous.
Exercise 2: Fill in the gaps with the correct words and phrases in the box market research selling points order profits chain business administration 1. The government has placed an ________ for new vaccination supplies. With a career in ________, managers can keep their business running efficiently. Ananas is a ________ of local footwear stores favored by Vietnamese youth.
________ shows that demand for Vinfast electric cars will continue to grow. The low price is one of the main ________ of Bobapop milk tea shop chain. They were accused of making ________ from charity crowdfunding. LISTENING PRACTICE Exercise 1: Listen and fill in the gaps 1.
The task taught us how to run a team. ……………, I now lead a team often. Team-building days are great for morale. ……………, the atmosphere in our office is good.
We have regular IT training sessions. ……………, everyone has good computer skills. We do team building every year. ……………, we work really well together.
During team building we meet new staff. ……………, we know our co-workers well. 9 Exercise 2: Listen to the conversations and choose the correct answers Conversation 1 Why has the order for the equipment not been done yet? A. The costing has not been finalized.
The minimum amount of equipment is not enough. Some departments are requesting more money. Marketing and IT departments need three weeks to decide. Conversation 2 According to the woman, what is the main reason for her success? A.
Public interest in a healthy lifestyle C. Long-term investments D. Significant price reduction Exercise 3: Alan Martin, a young entrepreneur, describes five important steps for setting up a business. Listen and complete the chart below.
Step 3: Prepare a good ………………. Listen again and answer the following questions. What percentage of business ideas fail? 2. Why do they fail? 3.
What two factors does your market research need to take into consideration? 4. Why a good business plan is needed? 5. What does a business plan usually include? Name three things. Which step does Alan think is the most important? Why? 10 III.
NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: USING VISUAL ELEMENTS Make a drawing of the infographic below. Then, listen to a lecture about a successful businessman, and complete the gaps. LISTENING STRATEGY 2 To listen for causes and effects, pay attention to connecting words like so and because. VOCABULARY PRACTICE Exercise 1: When customers have a problem with their purchase(s), there are some solutions which can be offered.
Choose the correct word in the box representing each solution. compensation a replacement a discount a refund a credit voucher 1. We'll offer you 20% off if you buy it today. We can't repair it, but we will send you another one.
If you return it to the shop, we'll give you your money back. It's valid for 12 months, and you can use it in any of our stores. Sorry, you can't have your money back for the holiday, but we will send you a check for $200. Exercise 2: Cross out the noun in each group which does not go with the verb.
make a complaint / a customer / an apology 2. deal with a service / a customer / a problem 3. handle a query / a compliment / a complaint 4. offer a refund / a solution / a complaint 5.
satisfy a need / a customer / a discount II. LISTENING PRACTICE Exercise 1 1. Look at the picture below. Through what channels do you think customers can communicate with a company? 12 1.
You are going to listen to a customer talking about customer service. Listen to the first part of the talk and answer the questions 1-3. What did the customer order? 2. What was the problem? 3.
How did he contact the company? 1. Predict how the company responded to the problem, then listen to the entire talk and answer the questions 4-5. How long did it take the company to respond to the customer? 5. What solution did the company offer? Exercise 2 2.
What do you think customer service staff should do in the following situations? Match the situations 1-5 with the actions A-E. A customer is angry about a mistake. A customer describes the problem. Say what you can do 3.
A customer complains but doesn’t C. Stay calm demand any action. The company can’t do what the D. Accept that you probably won’t customer wants.
The customer is a very difficult person. Listen carefully and repeat to check 13 2. Listen to an extract from a training seminar for customer service staff and check your answers. Carl and Ines are giving a presentation.
Look at their slides and choose the possible answers for the questions below. What is the subject of the presentation? 2. How was the data collected? A. By making phone calls B.
By pressing some buttons C. Customer service survey C. By gathering written feedback 3. Listen to the introduction to the presentation and check your answers.
NOTE-TAKING SKILLS: ORGANIZING NOTES Exercise 1: Listen to the next part of the presentation in the Exercise 3 above. The presenter will discuss the ‘in-store interview’. Prepare a page to take notes using the outline below. IN-STORE INTERVIEWS (1) ………………….
15 Exercise 2: The sales team at ADH Graphics is receiving a call from a potential client.