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Developing Listening Skills in KET
Topic Work
At this level learners should be able to understand phrases and
high frequency vocabulary related to areas of immediate personal
relevance, e.g. basic personal information, shopping, local area.
Students need to be able to operate across the range of KET topics,
which are listed in the KET Handbook. Most course books at this
level cover such topics. See classroom activities for Part 1.
Vocabulary Development
Linked to topic work is vocabulary development. This is important
for developing all skills, not just listening. Students should record
new words under topic headings, as they need to be able to understand
words associated by topic, both in Part 1 and in the Part 2 matching
task.
Understanding General Meaning
At this level learners should be able to catch the main point in
short, clear, simple messages and announcements. In KET Listening
it is important that they understand the main point or points in
recordings at this level. Students do not need to understand every
word, provided that they can grasp the main meaning. Teachers should
work in class to build confidence, asking students to listen out
for key content words and messages in recordings, but not to worry
if they fail to get every word.
Recognising Paraphrase
Another important skill, especially for Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the
paper, is that of recognising paraphrase. It is worth drawing students'
attention to examples of paraphrase in past papers, using tapescripts
in the early stages to highlight the actual words used. See classroom
activities for Part 2.
Using Tapescripts
In the early stages of preparing students for KET Listening, being
able to read tapescripts while they listen can make all the difference.
These help by guiding students through recordings and building up
their confidence. See classroom activities for Parts 3, 4 and 5.
Recognising the Alphabet
Students need to be trained in recognising the English alphabet,
and should be able to hear a letter and write it down accurately.
This is required specifically for the note-taking tasks in Parts
4 and 5, but is also an important real-world skill, for example
where students might have to spell out their names or addresses
on the phone. See classroom activities for Parts 4 and 5.
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