Use Of English & Communication Skills : Listening and Reading Skills

WHO IS A LISTENER?

A listener is a person is anybody who is capable of listening to anything said and possibly participates in
what listened to demands to be done. Listening is a day to day activity.
Listening can be divided into two major parts
1.listening in general, social settings
2.listening for specific purposes
Listening enabling skills include
 functioning ears
 .concentration
 .ability to think along with the speaker(ability)
 .ability to anticipate what the speaker is about to say(relationship)
 Ability to note important signpost that keep listening activities going

Note
You listen to comprehend and you comprehend while listening comprehension is the act of
understanding what you have listened to.
In order to comprehend you should
1. Listen attentively
2. Follow the speaker
3. Posses vocabulary
4. Recognize general speech pattern
5. Previous knowledge

Factors that affect comprehension
 Not being familiar with the topic
 Lack of concentration
 Lack of interest
 Limited language and vocabulary of the subject matter
 Inability to think deeply

Note
Comprehension is at different level both deep and superficial
Note the following words and meanings
1. Tolerable-acceptable
2. Shallow foundation-low beginning
3. Criterion-basis
4. Incompatible-not in agreement
5. Trivial-insignificant
6. Bruising-pushing
7. Discrepancy-pride
8. Ego-pride
9. Flexibility-not rigid
10. Contemplating-thinking
11. Affectionate-loving

Note that note taking means taking notes from lectures while note making is an activity done during
study time
How to take notes from lectures
 Listen carefully to the lecturer
 Understanding
 Putting down summaries of the main points
 Use of abbreviations
 Use of symbols

Information retrieval
Types of information to retrieve through listening comprehension include
1. Instructions-these are given in form of commands, steps, procedures and process
2. Directions-these are given in forms of steps to be taken
3. Facts-these are regarded as true information

Note
A lot of information is stored in data form and the data is a collection of information in a computer or a
research document and also huge data accumulated across a time are stored in a databank and it be
stored in form of figures, tables and charts.

Note
the most important part of listening is listening for the main idea to be able to determine the major
point to be put down as notes.
Listening for interpretation and critical analysis
A critical mind is an intelligent mind, listening for interpretation and critical evaluation is the type of
listening skill that enable you to be real master of what the speaker is saying which is most difficult,
interpretation involves deriving meaning of what is said while critical analysis involves looking at the
merit and demerit of what is heard.

Skimming
This is the fastest reading speed and it is used to get a general idea, impression and overview or the
quickly, while scanning means screening very rapidly to locate important information within a large
chunk of reading materials. Note that both are the fastest reading speed.

READING SPEED
 SLOWEST SPEED-this is called study speed with high level of concentration and understanding
 AVERAGE READING SPEED-this is used for reading materials that are important and require
intense reading and comprehension, but are easier than textbooks
 FASTEST READING SPEED-in this type of speed you do not need high level of concentration
Note. A good reader achieves 50 percent comprehension while skimming and scanning at more than 800
words per minute and in a slow type of reading you should ensure you read at least 200-300 words per
minute. for a poor reader to achieve a comprehension rate of 80-90 percent the study speed will be as
low as 60-125 words per minute

NOTE THE FOLLOWING WORDS AND MEANINGS
1. ACUITY-keenness
2. FRITTER-waste bag
3. PROSPERTEROUS-unreasonable
4. PROVOCATIVE-inciting
5. PROCASTINATES-delays
6. CELIBACY-remaining unmarried
7. LOQUACIOUS-talkative
8. ADAPT-adjust
9. ILLEGITIMATE-illicit
10. SEVERED-tied up
11. OMINOUS-promising
12. CONCOTS-hides
13. RECRIMINATION-counter charge
14. MEMORABILIA-meditation
15. ADMONITORY-high handed
16. ESOTERIC-out of place
17. RESILENT-enduring

NARATIVE TEXTS
Note that narrative texts are common because they tell stories and their characteristics include
 In most cases narratives are not formal they are informal full of slangs and colloquialism and
they also come in semiformal formats
 They follow a story line with the background to the story, unfolding the plan and climax. The
climax is often referred to as the most intense or exciting part of the story
 They keep the reader in suspense
 They follow a sequential order
 They do not explain
 They show vividness, clarity, are imaginative

EXPOSITORY TEXT
 Expository text are more formal than the narrative text
 They do not tell stories
 They are organized in logical and sequential order
 They explain
 They are supposed to be factual

SCIENTIFIC TEXTS
 Its language is specific and diverse
 Some scientific text are more formal than others
 They have their own peculiar structure and style
 Some scientific texts are more highly technical than others
With these few points you are good to go