PREPARATION

A2 • Lesson 6

Active Listening

Vocabulary and reading to prepare for your lesson

Target Vocabulary

Click each word to see its meaning and an example.

Key Words

to listen verb

To pay attention to what someone says.

"I listen carefully when my friend talks."

to understand verb

To know what something means.

"I understand what you said."

attention noun

Focus and concentration on something.

"Pay attention to what I say."

to nod verb

To move your head up and down to say yes.

"I nod to show I understand."

to look at someone verb phrase

To make eye contact; to watch someone.

"I look at the speaker when they talk."

to respond verb

To reply; to answer someone.

"I respond when someone asks me a question."

an interruption noun

When you stop someone from talking.

"Don't make interruptions. Let them finish."

Speaking Chunks

I see. phrase

Show you understand what someone says.

"You went to London? I see."

That makes sense. phrase

Show you understand the logic or reason.

"You were tired. That makes sense."

Tell me more. phrase

Ask for more details about something.

"That sounds interesting. Tell me more."

I didn't understand that. phrase

Politely say you didn't hear or understand.

"Can you say that again? I didn't understand that."

Yes, I agree. phrase

Show you have the same opinion.

"Yes, I agree with you."

Go on, please. phrase

Encourage someone to continue speaking.

"That's interesting. Go on, please."

Reading: Being a Good Listener

Good communication is not just about speaking. It is also about listening. When someone talks to you, you listen carefully. You show that you understand them. You respond to what they say.

Active listening means you pay attention. You look at the person who is talking. You nod your head to show you understand. You don't interrupt them. You let them finish their sentence.

You can show you are listening in many ways. You can say "I see" or "That makes sense." You can ask questions like "Tell me more" or "Why?" These show you are interested in what they say.

If you don't understand, you can ask "Can you say that again?" or "I didn't understand that." It is okay to ask for help. People like when you really listen to them.

Good listeners help make conversations better. You listen, you understand, you respond. You make the other person feel important. This is an important skill in speaking.

~235 words • A2 Level

Discussion Questions

Think about these questions before your lesson.

Keyword Speaking Practice

For each question above, write maximum 3 keywords — no sentences. Then practise speaking your answer out loud from just the keywords.

Q1: "What do you do when you listen to someone?"

Your 3 keywords: / /

Now say your answer out loud. Speak for about 30 seconds from just your keywords.

Q2: "Is it easy for you to listen carefully?"

Your 3 keywords: / /

Speak for 30 seconds. Let your brain build the sentences from the keywords.

Q3: "How do you show someone you understand them?"

Your 3 keywords: / /

Say your answer out loud — don't just think it! Your keywords are enough.

Remember: keywords only. Your brain does the rest. Mistakes are good — they mean you're practising speaking, not reading.

Start Lesson 6 →

Preparation time: ~15 minutes