Listening and Speaking Skills
When listening, paying attention to these helps you understand the speaker’s emotions.
Tone and intonarion
The phrasal verb meaning to begin something, often used with projects or tasks.
Sentence: "Before you can start a new project, you need to _____ it ____ properly."
start off
"If __________, we can proceed without further discussion."
necessary
"It is important that every student hands in their assignment on time."
"It is important that every student hand in their assignment on time"?
This term describes the pauses and breaks in speech that help convey meaning.
Pacing
This idiom means to fully commit to a decision or course of action.
Sentence: "If you really want to succeed, you have to ________ and not hold anything back."
go all in
"It's crucial that she __________ the documents before the deadline."
submit
If it were possible, I will attend the meeting tomorrow."
"If it were possible, I would attend the meeting tomorrow"?
Active listening often involves this, repeating back what the speaker has said in your own words.
paraphrasing
The phrasal verb meaning to delay or postpone an event or action.
Sentence: "We had to ________ the meeting until next week because the presenter was sick."
Put off
: "__________ from me to tell you what to do, but I think you should reconsider your decision."
Far be it
"Her performance was more better than we expected."
"Her performance was much better than we expected"?
A key strategy in speaking to make sure your audience follows your main points is using this type of language.
signposting
An idiom meaning to reveal a secret or disclose information.
Sentence: "She accidentally ________ during lunch, revealing the surprise party plans."
Spilled the beans
"This project is __________ more complicated than the last one we completed."
significantly
"No sooner had she arrived when the meeting began."
"No sooner had she arrived than the meeting began"?
The technique of shifting stress to important words or phrases to highlight key points in speech.
emphasis
The phrasal verb that means to examine something carefully, often to understand it better.
Sentence: "The detective promised to ________ the case and find out the truth."
Look into
"__________ more information, we will need to delay the meeting."
Pending
"The conference, at which we will attend, is scheduled for next Monday."
"The conference, which we will attend, is scheduled for next Monday" or "The conference, at which we will be present, is scheduled for next Monday"?