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Lesson 45
A1+
Extension
60 min

Listening for Gist

Catch the main idea — don't translate every word.

Learn the strategies that A1+ listeners use: predict, listen for keywords, ignore unknown words.

  1. A0/A1
    Beginner
  2. A1/A2
    Elementary
  3. A2/B1
    Pre-Intermediate
  4. B1/B1+
    Intermediate
  5. B2
    Upper-Intermediate
  6. C1
    Advanced
  7. C2
    Proficiency

Look & say · Step 1

5 min

Get ready

discussion
Listen

What is hardest about listening?

activity
Audio

What do you listen to in English?

reflection
Gist

What does 'gist' mean?

Words to learn · Step 2

8 min

New words today

Open in Vocabulary Bank

predict

Guess before listening

"Predict the topic first."

keyword

Important word

"Numbers are keywords."

gist

Main idea

"Listen for the gist."

ignore

Don't focus on

"Ignore unknown words."

listen again

Listen a second time

"Listen again for details."

speaker

Person who talks

"Who is the speaker?"

place

Where it happens

"Where is the conversation?"

time

When it happens

"What time is it?"

feeling

Mood/emotion

"Is the speaker happy?"

note

Short written info

"Take a note of the number."

context

Situation around words

"Use context to guess."

pause

Stop briefly

"Pause and check."

Activate · Personalise · Recycle

Use these words now

Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.

speaker

"For me, speaker is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

listen again

"For me, listen again is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

gist

"For me, gist is …"

Finish the sentence with your own idea.

You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.

Matching
Match the question with the keyword type.

Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Answer all items, then check.
Categorise
Group the strategies.
Answer all items, then check.

Sounds & saying · Step 3

5 min

Catching numbers and names

In fast speech 13 vs 30 sound similar! Listen to the STRESS: thirTEEN (end), THIRty (start).

  • • thirteen
  • • thirty
  • • fourteen
  • • forty
  • • fifteen
  • • fifty

Language focus · Step 4

10 min

Strategies, not grammar

Open in Grammar Bank

Quick rule

Strategies, not grammar

When you listen, follow 4 steps: 1) PREDICT (think about the topic), 2) listen for KEYWORDS (numbers, names, places), 3) IGNORE words you don't know, 4) listen TWICE if possible.

See it in action
1

Step 1 — Predict: 'It's at the airport, so I'll hear gate, flight, boarding.'

2

Step 2 — Keywords: '7 p.m., London, gate 22.'

3

Step 3 — Ignore: Don't panic at unknown words. Keep going.

4

Step 4 — Listen twice: First for GIST, second for DETAILS.

Question 1.Step 1 is…

Question 2.Keywords are…

Question 3.Unknown words →

Question 4.Listen twice: first for…

Answer all items, then check.
Conversation Builder
Build it. Hear it. Say it.

Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.

1
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
2
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
3
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…
4
1Build
Tap words below to build the sentence…

Quick check 1.'Gist' means…

Quick check 2.Best A1 listening goal:

Answer all items, then check.

Reading · Step 5

7 min

Listening like a champion

Many A1 learners think listening is the hardest skill. 👂 The good news: there are STRATEGIES that help. Before you listen, predict the topic. 🔮 Look at any pictures or titles. While listening, focus on KEYWORDS — names, numbers, places, times. 🔑 Don't try to understand every word! When you hear something new, IGNORE it and keep going. If possible, listen TWICE: first for the main idea (gist), then for details. 🔁 Take short notes. 📝 Practice 5–10 minutes every day. Slowly, your ears will get faster than you think.

Question 1.What helps before listening?

Question 2.Focus on…

Question 3.Best practice time per day?

Answer all items, then check.
True / False
Is each sentence True or False?

Q1.You must understand every word.

Q2.Daily short practice helps.

Answer all items, then check.

Listening · Step 6

10 min

Phone call to a hotel

Listening audio

Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.

Hotel

Good afternoon, Sunrise Hotel, how can I help?

Anna

Hello, I'd like to book a room for two nights.

Hotel

Sure! When would you like to arrive?

Anna

On Friday the 14th. We'll leave on Sunday morning.

Hotel

Single or double?

Anna

Double, please. With breakfast.

Hotel

That's 120 euros per night, so 240 total.

Anna

Perfect, I'll book it.

Question 1.How many nights?

Question 2.Arrival day?

Question 3.Total price?

Answer all items, then check.
Tick what you hear
Tick the keywords you hear.
Answer all items, then check.

Practice · Step 7

8 min

Choose the word

Question 1.Step 1: ___ the topic.

Question 2.Focus on ___.

Question 3.___ unknown words and keep going.

Question 4.Listen ___ if you can.

Answer all items, then check.
Type a short answer
Write 1–3 words

Q1.Main idea = ___

Q2.Important word = ___

Answer all items, then check.

Survival English · Step 8

4 min

Listening — extract key info

Task

Listen to an announcement (your teacher reads). Note down 5 keywords (time, place, number, name, action).

Strategy

Don't translate. Just catch the keyword and write it. Compare with a partner after.

Example

Heard: 'Flight BA215 to London is now boarding at gate 22, 8:45.' → Notes: BA215 / London / gate 22 / 8:45

Writing · Step 9

5 min

Write a little

Your task

After a listening exercise, write 5 keywords and 1 sentence with the gist.

Show model answer

Keywords: airport / flight / gate 22 / 8:45 / London. Gist: A flight to London is boarding now at gate 22.

Speaking · Step 10

12 min

Talk together

Pairs: take turns reading short messages. The listener writes 3 keywords + the gist.

Useful phrases

  • • I heard: ___, ___, ___
  • • The main idea is…
  • • I didn't catch ___.
  • • Can you repeat the number/name?
  • • I think it's about ___.
Dialogue completion
Choose the natural reply.
  • A
    What did you hear?
  • B
    _______________
  • A
    What's the gist?
  • B
    _______________
  • A
    What was the time?
  • B
    _______________
Answer all items, then check.

Homework · Step 11

Take-home

Practice at home

listening

Listen to a short podcast or video. Write 5 keywords + 1 gist sentence.

speaking

Record a 30-second announcement for your partner.

vocab

Learn 12 listening-strategy words.

Recap · Step 12

3 min

What you learned

  • 🔮 You can predict the topic before listening.
  • 🔑 You can catch keywords.
  • 🧹 You can ignore unknown words.
  • 🎯 You can get the gist of a short text.
Back to CourseNext: Reading Short Texts