Listening for Key Information
FoundationPredict the topic, listen for keywords and numbers, take short notes — and never panic at one unknown word.
- Before listening: read the questions and predict answer types — date? time? place? objects?
- While listening: catch numbers and keywords — eight fifteen, playground, raincoat
- Take short notes: Fri 1610 · meet 8:15 playground · hat + snack + raincoat
文體小知識：Catch the key details first time.
§Text Passage
1Good morning, students. This is Miss Chan, your class teacher of 1A, with an important announcement about our class picnic. Please put down your pens and listen carefully, because I will give you the key details in a moment.
2The picnic will be on Friday, 16 October, at Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po. We will meet at the school playground at eight fifteen in the morning, and the coach will leave at eight thirty sharp. The journey takes about forty-five minutes, so we should arrive before nine thirty. At the campsite, we will cook lunch, play team games and walk along the bike trail by the sea. Please bring your own water, a sun hat, a small snack and a raincoat, because the weather changes quickly in October. You do not need to bring any money. If it rains heavily, the picnic will move to next Monday, and I will announce the change in the morning assembly.
3Now please write these key details in your handbook: the date, the meeting time and the things you must bring. Check them with your group leader before you go home. I will repeat the meeting time once more: eight fifteen at the playground. Thank you, and let us hope for fine weather.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Good morning, students.
各位同學早晨。
This is Miss Chan, your class teacher of 1A, with an important announcement about our class picnic.
我是 1A 班主任陳老師，現在報告一項關於班旅行的重要事項。
Please put down your pens and listen carefully, because I will give you the key details in a moment.
請放下你們的筆，留心聽，因為我待會會講些重點資料。
The picnic will be on Friday, 16 October, at Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po.
旅行會在十月十六號星期五舉行，地點是大埔大美督。
We will meet at the school playground at eight fifteen in the morning, and the coach will leave at eight thirty sharp.
我們會在早上八點十五分在學校操場集合，旅遊巴八點半準時開出。
The journey takes about forty-five minutes, so we should arrive before nine thirty.
車程大約四十五分鐘，所以我們會在九點半前到達。
At the campsite, we will cook lunch, play team games and walk along the bike trail by the sea.
在營地我們會煮午餐、玩集體遊戲，還會沿海邊單車徑散步。
Please bring your own water, a sun hat, a small snack and a raincoat, because the weather changes quickly in October.
請自備食水、太陽帽、少量小食同雨衣，因為十月的天氣變化很快。
You do not need to bring any money.
你們不必帶錢。
If it rains heavily, the picnic will move to next Monday, and I will announce the change in the morning assembly.
如果下大雨，旅行會順延到下星期一，我會在早會宣布更改。
Now please write these key details in your handbook: the date, the meeting time and the things you must bring.
現在請將這些重點資料寫在手冊裡：日期、集合時間同要帶的東西。
Check them with your group leader before you go home.
放學前同組長核對一次。
I will repeat the meeting time once more: eight fifteen at the playground.
我再重複一次集合時間：八點十五分，操場。
Thank you, and let us hope for fine weather.
多謝各位，希望那天天公造美。
1Summary 重點摘要
Predict the topic, listen for keywords and numbers, take short notes — and never panic at one unknown word.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Use ears.
Important facts.
Phone, time.
Person name.
Clock time.
Where.
Write down.
Ask again.
3Step by step Steps
- PredictBefore listening, decide what kind of answer you are hunting: a date? a time? a place? things to bring? Miss Chan announces it: I will give you the key details in a moment.
- Listen for keyCatch numbers and keywords: Friday, 16 October; eight fifteen; Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po — write each one the moment you hear it.
- Take notesNever full sentences — keywords only: Fri 1610 · meet 8:15 playground · bring water/hat/snack/raincoat. That is the only way to keep up.
- Numbers firstNumbers are always tested: meet at 8:15, coach leaves 8:30, forty-five minutes — missing one spoils the answer.
- Places nextCapitalised names are easy to spot: Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po, the school playground, the bike trail by the sea.
- Listen for changesIf it rains heavily, the picnic will move to next Monday — when you hear if, wake up: that is the back-up plan, and it gets tested.
- Check afterwardsCheck them with your group leader before you go home — three items: the date, the meeting time, the things to bring. Anything repeated (eight fifteen, twice) is almost certainly an answer.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
From Miss Chan's picnic announcement, note down three key details: when is the picnic? When and where do students meet? What must they bring?
- Step 1: Predict before listening — the questions will ask for a date, a meeting time + place, and things to bring.
- Step 2: Note the date the moment you hear it — The picnic will be on Friday, 16 October at Tai Mei Tuk.
- Step 3: Catch the meeting details — meet at the school playground at eight fifteen; the coach leaves at eight thirty sharp.
- Step 4: Wake up at 'bring' — bring your own water, a sun hat, a small snack and a raincoat; no money needed.
- Step 5: Check — the teacher repeats eight fifteen at the playground at the end; repetition signals the key point.
- Answer: The picnic is on Friday, 16 October at Tai Mei Tuk in Tai Po. Students meet at the school playground at eight fifteen, and the coach leaves at eight thirty sharp. They must bring their own water, a sun hat, a small snack and a raincoat, but no money. Listen for changes too: if it rains heavily, the picnic will move to next Monday, and the change will be announced in the morning assembly — stay alert whenever you hear if.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What do you listen for?
Q2What is a number?
Q3What do you do when you miss it?
Q4What helps you remember?
Q5What is a place?
8Recap Recap
- Before listening: read the questions and predict answer types — date? time? place? objects?
- While listening: catch numbers and keywords — eight fifteen, playground, raincoat
- Take short notes: Fri 1610 · meet 8:15 playground · hat + snack + raincoat
- Watch for changes: If it rains, it will move to next Monday — stay alert at if
- Missed a word? Keep going; repeated information is usually the answer