LESSON 4.

LISTENING STRATEGIES 

In the next activity, you will watch au unscripted interview with a woman named Tracey. She will talk about an extreme sport she does. Use these listening strategies to help you, she says. 

PREPARE YOURSELF LE LISTEN

If you Know the general topic of what you're going to be listening to, think about what you already know about it before you listen. Ask yourself what do I expect to hear.?

FOCUS ON WHAT YOU DO UNDERSTAND 

Don't try to understand every word being said. Focus on what you understand. If you spend too much time trying to figure out what you don't understand, you will miss even more of what the person says.

LISTEN FOR THE MAIN IDEAS

Speakers will often shess what is important. They might rephrase, are important points, repeat important information or summarize. Let the speaker help you understand the topic and main ideas.

Listen Again For Details. 

If you are able to listen to something a second or third time, focus more on understanding the details. You can even try to figure out the meaning of words you didn't understand the first time by using the context.

COLLOCATIONS

Some words naturally go together. These are called collocations.

Collocations With Take.

Some verbs naturally collocate with certain nouns. Here are some collocations with take: 

I took up hang gliding five years ago. 

I take my dogs for a walk every morning. 

I took some haining before I started hang gliding.

Here are some other useful phrases from the movie: 

Little by little (gradually)

Little by little, I lost my fear of heights.

Back and forth (this way and that way).

The hang gliders were flying back and forth in the sky.

FEAR OF + NOUN.

I wanted to overcome my fear of heights.

 BE ABLE TO + VERB

I was scared of heights and didn't think I'd be able to do it

FIND YOURSELF + DOING SOMETHING 

I found myself standing on the path, watching the hang gliders.

WAYS TO EXPRESS FEAR

Perhaps because of the strong nature of the feeling, there are many ways to say you are afraid.

Here are some examples: 

The word fear is most commonly used as a noue. 

My fear of the ocean prevents me from surfing. 

I felt a terrible fear that made my legs shake.

You can feel scared or you can be scared. 

I felt scared before I jumped, but I felt relaxed during the free fall.

It was windy, and we were 18,000 feet up. I was really scared. 

You can also be scared of something. 

I'm seared of heights, so I don't go rock Climbing.

Another way. to express fear is be or feel afraid 

The powerboat was going too fast, and I was a paid.

Because the mountaire was high and the weather was terrible, I felt afraid.

I'm afraid of deep water, so I don't go in the ocean.

*Don't confuse afraid for expressing fear with afraid for apologizing.*

I'm afraid of deep water, so I can't go windsurfing with you. 

I'm afraid I can't go windsurfing with you. my spann are visiting.