Carve your pathway to success in Secondary English Listening Comprehension and Oral Communication.
By EPH Editorial Team
The Chinese exams can be a daunting challenge for many pupils, particularly the composition and comprehension sections. However, there are distinct skills and strategies that can be developed through practice to help you ace these sections. Here are some useful tips to help you improve in both areas.
As the Secondary English Listening Comprehension and Oral Communication sections contribute 30% of the total score in the English examination, doing well in these areas can significantly impact the overall result. Therefore, proper preparation is crucial for developing the skills necessary to succeed in these components. Let us hear from Alex Wang, M.Ed., author of several Secondary English supplementary books, to gain insights into how students can excel in listening comprehension and oral.
Q: What do examiners look for in the Secondary English Listening Comprehension and Oral Communication examinations?
For listening examinations, examiners look for functional listeners who are able to listen for a specific purpose. The emphasis is on the intention. Simply hearing isn’t listening at all. Listening is to hear in order to use the information heard for some purpose.For oral examinations, examiners look for accurate pronunciation, appropriate rhythm, and a good representation of intention. Often, students focus so much on the pronunciation of words that they neglect the intention of their responses. Examiners are often impressed by speakers who are confident in their delivery and use a varied and appropriate lexicon to convey their opinions, thoughts, and feelings.
Q: How can students overcome the challenges in speaking and listening?
Speaking is like swimming; you get better at it by doing. Surrounding yourself with people you can converse with safely and without judgment is crucial. Speaking with adults who have strong language skills is beneficial, as they can help identify errors and introduce more appropriate vocabulary. Listening, on the other hand, begins with intention. Setting a clear intention to listen actively, without judgment or analysis, ensures the information being conveyed is understood with clarity. In both cases, students must step out of their comfort zone to embrace these challenges. It may feel awkward at first, but the effort is well worth it.
Q: How do strong listening and speaking skills benefit students academically and beyond?
Once we have developed strong listening and speaking skills, the ability to co-exist, co-ordinate, and co-operate opens many opportunities in all areas of life, be it academically, occupationally, or socially. Effective communication skills are essential in today’s technology-driven world, where interactions can occur across the globe. These skills not only help to prevent misunderstandings and miscommunication but also foster understanding, tolerance, and empathy.
For more practice in listening and speaking, students can tap on the Secondary English Listening Comprehension & Oral Communication series ($24.90 each) by Educational Publishing House. This series consists of practices that are aligned with the latest assessment requirements. It also comes with audio clips (listening practices and model oral responses) and videos (oral practices).
