Listen and Speak to Communicate

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Listen: Listening Critically progression

To listen with understanding, listeners need to develop a critical awareness of who is speaking and why. As they become aware of different speakers’ purposes and points of view, they are able to make their own judgments about the relevance, reliability or bias of what they hear.

Most adults will be able to: Activities
1.
  • have some awareness of people’s different purposes for speaking
  • be aware that all speakers have a perspective (point of view).

Listeners begin to develop awareness of people’s different purposes for speaking and that different speakers convey different perspectives. These may be expressed in the speaker’s tone, intonation and body language as well as in words. Areas of study can include:

  • identifying speakers’ purposes and perspectives while watching them speak on television and other media.

Elaborating

Learners explore ways in which they can add precision, interest and clarity to their speech.

2.
  • recognise the purposes and possible uses of different kinds of connected discourse6
  • have some awareness of their own purposes for listening.

Listeners develop an awareness of the possible uses of spoken language. Areas of study can include:

  • comparing different ways of conveying information
  • discussing the different ways in which speech can be used to influence listeners.

Elaborating

Learners explore ways in which they can add precision, interest and clarity to their speech.

Listening for details

Learners listen for details in specific situations (such as passing on messages), and communicate those details to others.

3.
  • think critically about the ideas and language as they listen, in order to understand, evaluate and respond appropriately and meet the listening purpose
  • use strategies to compare and evaluate information and ideas.

Listeners are aware of how speakers can influence listeners and they use this awareness to help them understand and evaluate what they hear. Strategies listeners can use for evaluating oral discourse include reviewing information, summarising ideas and making comparisons with information or ideas from other speakers or sources. Areas of study can include:

  • listening to a simple news report, summarising the issue and expressing an opinion on the issue.

Elaborating

Learners explore ways in which they can add precision, interest and clarity to their speech.

Listening and discussing

Learners develop their ability to listen for meaning and to demonstrate understanding through discussion. This also involves critical and interactive skills.

Listening critically

Learners develop skills to identify a speaker’s purpose and point of view, determine possible bias, and to give their own opinion about what they have heard.

Listening for details

Learners listen for details in specific situations (such as passing on messages), and communicate those details to others.

Recognising the impact of words

Learners explore the ways in which words work together to develop an understanding of collocations, denotations and connotations.

4.
  • think about underlying meanings in order to understand not only the sense of the words but also the intent of the speaker.

Listeners use strategies to think about the underlying meanings of what they hear. They make inferences about the speaker’s intent (purpose) and consider any possible bias. Areas of study can include:

  • listening and responding appropriately when taking part in a role play in which one speaker (who could be a police officer, kauma - tua, landlord, boss or neighbour) is displeased with the other
  • listening for, identifying and evaluating the viewpoints of speakers on a radio talkback programme.

Listening and discussing

Learners develop their ability to listen for meaning and to demonstrate understanding through discussion. This also involves critical and interactive skills.

Listening critically

Learners develop skills to identify a speaker’s purpose and point of view, determine possible bias, and to give their own opinion about what they have heard.

Recognising the impact of words

Learners explore the ways in which words work together to develop an understanding of collocations, denotations and connotations.

5.
  • use strategies to analyse ideas and information and to consider meaning critically
  • evaluate the truth, relevance, or usefulness of information in relation to the speaker’s (or the listener’s) purpose.

Listeners analyse ideas and information and consider the meaning critically using a range of strategies, such as comparing and contrasting, asking questions and evaluating the relevance, validity and adequacy of information. They examine the apparent meaning of the speaker’s words and the speaker’s probable intent and then respond appropriately. Areas of study can include:

  • listening for, identifying and evaluating the viewpoints and truthfulness of speakers who are advertising products in various ways in recorded radio advertisements
  • listening to and evaluating the questions asked and responses given in a news report about a controversial issue.

Listening and discussing

Learners develop their ability to listen for meaning and to demonstrate understanding through discussion. This also involves critical and interactive skills.

Listening critically

Learners develop skills to identify a speaker’s purpose and point of view, determine possible bias, and to give their own opinion about what they have heard.

6.
  • use a wide range of strategies to reflect critically on purpose and meaning
  • evaluate a speaker’s point of view, attitude, bias or agenda
  • have an understanding of the methods that speakers can use for specific purposes.

More expert listeners reflect critically on purpose and meaning using a wide range of strategies, such as applying relevant information to different scenarios, comparing different points of view and drawing conclusions or forming generalisations about the “big picture”. They can evaluate a speaker’s point of view, attitude, bias, or agenda and they understand the language devices used by the speaker to express or obscure these. Areas of study can include:

  • listening to and discussing political speeches, debates and news media interviews.

Listening and discussing

Learners develop their ability to listen for meaning and to demonstrate understanding through discussion. This also involves critical and interactive skills.

Listening critically

Learners develop skills to identify a speaker’s purpose and point of view, determine possible bias, and to give their own opinion about what they have heard.

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