Start with a question
Before you listen or read, decide what you need. Use the question words: who, what, when, where, why, how. Also ask: "What must I do?" or "What must I bring?"
When you know the question, the answer is much easier to spot.
Scan for keywords
Scanning means moving your eyes fast to find one thing, like a time or a name. Skimming means reading fast to get the main idea only.
- Times, dates and numbers: Friday, 9 a.m., Rs 50.
- Names of people and places.
- Action words: bring, meet, call, submit.
When you listen, wait for these words. Ignore greetings and extra talk. Write short notes: "Fri 9, ground, bottle".
Get the main idea
The main idea is the one big message. Ask: "If I tell a friend in one sentence, what do I say?" For the notice: "Sports Day is on Friday morning."
Details support the main idea: the time, the place, what to bring.
Understand the speaker's ideas
A fact can be checked: "The match starts at 9 a.m." An opinion is what someone thinks or feels: "I think it will be fun."
- Opinion signals: I think, I feel, in my view, maybe, I believe, best, boring, lovely.
- Reasons: because, so, that is why.
- Change of idea: but, however.
Also notice the purpose: Is the speaker informing, asking, inviting or persuading? And the feeling: happy, worried, angry? Listen to words and tone.
Check your answer
Go back and test: Did I answer the exact question? Did I mix up a fact with an opinion? Did I miss a "not" or a "but"? A small word can flip the meaning: "Do not bring phones."
Key formulas and definitions
- Question first, then keywords
- Scan = find one detail; skim = get the main idea
- Fact = can be checked; opinion = what someone thinks
- Opinion signals: I think, I feel, in my view
- Purpose = why the speaker is speaking
Worked examples
1. Read this notice. "Hello everyone! Sports Day is this Friday at 9 a.m. on the main ground. Bring a water bottle. I think it will be fun!" When is Sports Day?
The question is "when". Look for time words. "This Friday" and "9 a.m." answer it. Answer: Friday at 9 a.m.
2. Read this notice. "Hello everyone! Sports Day is this Friday at 9 a.m. on the main ground. Bring a water bottle. I think it will be fun!" What should students bring?
The question is about bringing. Look for the action word "bring". Answer: a water bottle.
3. Read this notice. "Hello everyone! Sports Day is this Friday at 9 a.m. on the main ground. Bring a water bottle. I think it will be fun!" Which part is an opinion?
"I think it will be fun!" has the signal "I think" and a feeling word "fun". It cannot be checked, so it is an opinion.
4. Message: "Hi Tara, our class has a picnic on Sunday at the lake. Bring some snacks. I feel it is too far." What does the writer think about the lake?
The writer says "I feel it is too far". That is the writer's opinion: the lake is too far. The writer is a little unhappy about the place.
5. Radio: "The 5 p.m. train is cancelled. The next one leaves at 6. But the ticket is still valid." What do you need to know to travel?
Keywords: cancelled, 6, valid. Your ticket still works and you take the 6 o'clock train. The word "but" shows good news after bad news.
Common mistakes
- Trying to understand every word instead of looking for the answer.
- Starting to read before deciding the question.
- Mixing up a fact and an opinion ("It is boring" is not a fact).
- Missing small words like not, but, only and never.