ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail

Listen for detail in short narratives and explanations (i) Understand and identify key words and phrases in a given context, and use them to aid listening (ii) Listen for and identify stress within words, and use this as an aid to recognising words (iii) Understand key grammatical structures for the level: (a) present simple, e.g. with adverbs of frequency (b) past simple with time markers, e.g. ago (c) present continuous with future meaning (d) have got and possessives (iv) Recognise these structures in their spoken form. E.g. I don't go there every day, more like once a week on average. I wasn't there last week, but he was there two weeks ago. I haven't got a lot of time. (v) Respond appropriately to explanations, e.g. by taking action (vi) Listen a number of times and where possible pick out more deta.

This resource is based on the DfES ESOL Skills for Life E2 recording 'Asking where things are'. It gives exam practice questions (C&G style) in the first section and in the second section an activity to enable learners to tune in to the sounds of English. The first section can be completed in class and the second at home or the whole sheet can be given for homework. Listening development at home enables learners to listen as often as they wish and tune in until they hear the text more clearly.

Level
Entry Level 1
Entry Level 2
English
FE E1.2 Identify & extract the main information from short statements & explanations
FE E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail
ESOL Lr/E2.3c Listen for a specific purpose

This resource has a range of activities to help students learn useful expressions/ language to make a complaint.
It is useful in building confidence in making complaints in person and on the telephone.

Editor’s note
Includes sample dialogue with questions (can also be used as a reading comprehension), matching cards, sammple scenarios, curriculum mapping and teaching notes.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 3
English
Functional English - speaking, listening & communicating
Functional English reading
Adult Literacy: Speaking & Listening
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E3.4d Give an explanation
ESOL Sc/E3.4a Express clearly statements of fact 
ESOL Sc/E2.3d Give an explanation
ESOL Sc/E2.2a make requests: ask for things or action
ESOL Lr/E3.2b Listen for detail face to face or on the phone
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail
ESOL Listen and respond (Lr)
ESOL Speak to communicate (Sc)
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service

Mingle activity to use straight after the Christmas holidays to review past simple.
Learners ask each other questions to try to find one name of another learner to fill in each square. First to finish shouts “bingo!”
Review as a group and check questions using past simple.
Give a prize to the winner.

Level
Entry Level 2
Entry Level 1
English
SLc/E2.2
AL SLc/E1.3
SLc/E1.2
ESOL
ESOL Sc/E2.3b Give personal information
ESOL Sc/E2.3a Express statements of fact
ESOL Sc/E2.2d Ask for factual information (present, past, future)
ESOL Sc/E2.2c Ask for personal details
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail

Two listening exercises based on everyday events. Each provides a transcript and written questions so they could also be used as reading comprehension exercises.
1) Asking where the pasta is in Asda
2) Listening to a weather forecast
Fully mapped to E2 Reformed Functional English (speaking, listening and communication). Also suitable for ESOL.

Editor's note

Updated September 2019: new reformed Functional English mapping and amended author information.

Level
Entry Level 2
English
FE E2.3 Respond appropriately to straightforward questions
SLlr/E2.3
SLlr/E2.2
FE E2.1 Identify & extract main information & detail from short explanations
ESOL
ESOL Lr/E2.3c Listen for a specific purpose
ESOL Lr/E2.3a Extract the main points when listening to presentations
ESOL Lr/E2.2a Listen for detail
Context
Retail Hospitality Customer service
Science, Nature & Weather