Note-taking with Symbols
AdvancedSymbols like → = b/c ∴.
- Arrows carry data: ↑ up, ↓ down, → change — one symbol saves a sentence.
- Keep abbreviations consistent: w/, b/c, gov, edu — you must still read them tomorrow.
- ∴ (therefore) and = (equals) record the logic, not just the facts.
文體小知識：Use shorthand.
§Text Passage
1Good afternoon. Today's short talk is about recycling in our city. Over the past five years, our recycling rate has improved, but there is still a long way to go. In 2020, we recycled about 30 per cent of our plastic waste. By 2025, the figure rose to 45 per cent — that's a 15 per cent increase. Our city produces more than ten thousand tonnes of waste every single day.
2Why the improvement? Three reasons: new collection points, school education campaigns and stricter laws. The number of glass bottle collection machines doubled, and paper recycling rose from 40 to 55 per cent. Food waste, however, fell by only 5 per cent, so more work is needed. Officials hope the rate will reach 60 per cent by 2030.
3Remember: when taking notes, use an upward arrow for increases and a downward arrow for decreases. For example, write 'plastic ↑ 30% → 45%'. The symbol '=' means 'the same as', and '∴' means 'therefore'. A circle can stand for a repeated action or a full cycle. Use 'w/' for 'with' and 'b/c' for 'because' to save time.
4These short forms keep your notes clean and let you listen more carefully. After the talk, review your symbols and turn them back into full sentences. If you miss a symbol, leave a gap and fill it in after the recording stops. Good notes are not about writing more; they are about writing smart. Next week, we will look at how to note down names and numbers accurately. Thank you for listening, and happy recycling!
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Good afternoon. Today's short talk is about recycling in our city.
各位下午好。今天的短講是關於我們城市的回收。
Over the past five years, our recycling rate has improved, but there is still a long way to go.
過去五年，我們的回收率有改善，但還有很長的路要走。
In 2020, we recycled about 30 per cent of our plastic waste.
2020 年，我們回收了大約三成塑膠廢料。
By 2025, the figure rose to 45 per cent — that's a 15 per cent increase.
到 2025 年，數字升到 45%——即是升了十五個百分點。
Our city produces more than ten thousand tonnes of waste every single day.
我們城市每日產生超過一萬噸廢物。
Why the improvement?
為什麼有改善？
Three reasons: new collection points, school education campaigns and stricter laws.
三個原因：新回收點、學校教育宣傳與更嚴格的法例。
The number of glass bottle collection machines doubled, and paper recycling rose from 40 to 55 per cent.
玻璃樽回收機數目翻了一倍，廢紙回收率亦由 40% 升到 55%。
Food waste, however, fell by only 5 per cent, so more work is needed.
不過廚餘只減了 5%，所以還要加把勁。
Officials hope the rate will reach 60 per cent by 2030.
官員希望 2030 年前回收率可以達到 60%。
Remember: when taking notes, use an upward arrow for increases and a downward arrow for decreases.
記住：做筆記時，上升用向上箭頭，下降用向下箭頭。
For example, write 'plastic ↑ 30% → 45%'.
例如寫「塑膠 ↑ 30% → 45%」。
The symbol '=' means 'the same as', and '∴' means 'therefore'.
「=」符號代表「等於」，而「∴」代表「所以」。
A circle can stand for a repeated action or a full cycle.
圓圈可以代表重複的動作或者完整的循環。
Use 'w/' for 'with' and 'b/c' for 'because' to save time.
用「w/」代替「with」，「b/c」代替「because」，省時間。
These short forms keep your notes clean and let you listen more carefully.
這些簡寫令筆記整齊，又令你可以更專心聆聽。
After the talk, review your symbols and turn them back into full sentences.
講座結束後，重溫你的符號，將它們還原成完整句子。
If you miss a symbol, leave a gap and fill it in after the recording stops.
如果漏了一個符號，留個空位，錄音停了之後補回。
Good notes are not about writing more; they are about writing smart.
好筆記不是寫得多，而是寫得聰明。
Next week, we will look at how to note down names and numbers accurately.
下星期我們會看看怎樣準確地記下人名與數字。
Thank you for listening, and happy recycling!
謝謝大家收聽，回收愉快！
1Summary 重點摘要
Symbols like → = b/c ∴.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Sign.
Fast writing.
→.
=.
b/c.
∴.
!.
Compare.
3Step by step Steps
- →Arrows save the most time: ↑ up, ↓ down, → change. Example: plastic recycling was 30 per cent in 2020 and 45 per cent by 2025 — write “plastic ↑ 30% → 45%”; one symbol carries a five-year, 15-point rise.
- =The equals sign records sameness or definitions: “the same as” becomes =; also w/ = with. Do not invent too many private symbols — the common set is the safe set.
- b/cb/c = because: compress reasons too. Example: the three reasons for the rise — ① collection points ×2 (the machines doubled) ② school edu campaigns ③ stricter laws — one line of symbols holds them all.
- ∴∴ = therefore, keeping the logic: food waste ↓ only 5% ∴ more work needed — one line even stores the conclusion, so you never write the full sentence while listening.
- CirclesA circle stands for a cycle or repeated action: the recycling cycle is just a ring; repeated figures become ×2, ×3 — like the glass bottle machines ×2.
- Tidy up afterTidy up straight after listening: leave a gap for any missed symbol and fill it once the recording stops; then turn the symbols back into full sentences — if you cannot, you did not really catch it.
- Fixed systemKeep your symbol set fixed: gov = government, edu = education, ↑ ↓ → = ∴ — the same set every time, so the exam never needs on-the-spot invention.
5Worked example Example
Take symbol notes while listening to the recycling talk: turn the plastic figures, the three reasons and the 2030 target into shorthand.
- Step 1: Numbers become arrows: 'plastic ↑ 30% → 45% (2020-25)' — one line holds a five-year, fifteen-point rise.
- Step 2: Causes become a chain: '↑ b/c ① collection points doubled ② school edu campaigns ③ stricter laws'.
- Step 3: Contrasts and conclusions: 'food waste ↓ only 5% ∴ more work needed'.
- Step 4: Add the targets: 'paper ↑ 40% → 55%'; 'hope ↑ 60% by 2030'.
- Step 5: After the talk, translate symbols back into sentences; fill any gap left during listening.
- Answer: Symbol notes compress the whole talk into three lines. Line one: 'plastic ↑ 30% → 45% (2020-25)' — a single arrow records a fifteen-point rise over five years. Line two captures the causes: '↑ b/c ① collection points doubled ② school edu campaigns ③ stricter laws'. Line three keeps the contrast and the goal: 'food waste ↓ only 5% ∴ more work needed; hope ↑ 60% by 2030', with paper rising '40% → 55%' alongside. After the recording, every symbol is translated back into a full sentence as a comprehension check, and gaps are filled at once. Smart notes write less and hear more — the ears stay on the speaker, not on the pen.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Benefit?
Q2Arrow?
Q3Equals?
Q4Because?
Q5Therefore?
Q6Important?
8Recap Recap
- Arrows carry data: ↑ up, ↓ down, → change — one symbol saves a sentence.
- Keep abbreviations consistent: w/, b/c, gov, edu — you must still read them tomorrow.
- ∴ (therefore) and = (equals) record the logic, not just the facts.
- A circle can stand for a cycle or a repeated action.
- After listening, translate symbols back into sentences; if you can, you understood.