listening skills

1.  Write a list of listening skills that you learned about from each of the units that we studied.  Find them on - page 9, page 35, page 58, page 82, page 107.

Identifying main ideas:
-main ideas
-examples, arguments, or other types of supporting information

Making inferences 
-not always state their ideas or opinion directly

Listening for examples
-listening for phrases
-Noticing rising intonation

Recognizing appositives that explain
-a phrase that gives additional information in sentence.
-set off by commas and intonation

Organizing notes with T-chart
-cause&effect, problem&solution, discussions of difference before and after a particular event
-dividing paper into two columns and write one category at the top of each column
-connecting ideas between each other  


2.  Which listening skill (mentioned above) did you find the most valuable?  Why?
Organizing notes with T-chart.
I always write down lots of words and incomplete sentences while taking notes. It becomes difficult that everything mixes together and isn't in order, and then I will have trouble continuing summary and even a short oral feedback. In this way, it helps me to induce and clarify the connection between ideas immediately. Reviewing main ideas and remembering key points become easy because of the illusion of T-chart in mind. 

3.  What are some ways in which your listening in English has improved this semester?

Because we have listened to many different types of listening materiel, I think I'm more familiar with different speed and accents; moreover, I can guess what will be mentioned next by some of information provided before which helps me to catch the points of listening more easily. 

4.  What are some challenges that you still face in your English listening?  How do you plan to overcome these challenges?

I can't write and spell words as fast as I can think. That is, there is not enough time for me to record everything which passes through my mind. I'll try to enrich my vocabulary by listening again and again, so I can recognize the words immediately. Also, I will listen more materiel especially focus on news reports like BBC and NPR and take notes by several tips we mentioned in this semester in order to speed up.
5.  Based on your experience with listening to many different types of activities in English this semester (listening to radio reports, radio interviews, TED talks, the audio book, a song, etc.), what is the most efficient way that you can train yourself to improve your English listening on your own?  Explain your answer.

I think TED talks are the most efficient way for me, but it's also the most difficult one. For a university student, lectures and speech are the most common way gaining knowledge and new information. TED talks, platforms delivering ideas through some funny and humor ways, not only provide interesting materiel to practice notes taking, but also serve as models of attractive presentation.