In today's lesson we're going to be looking at the strategy and doing a note completion task for IELTS listening.

So let's get started.

A note completion task will look like this.

We'll have the instructions at the top and then the notes that we need to fill in.

So you need to listen to the audio and then choose a specific word or specific words that fit into these spaces.

So what's going to be our strategy?

Well first of all we need to read the instructions.

You'll find those here and in particular we need to pay attention to this part.

Write no more than two words and or a number.

So we can write one word, two words, a word and a number, two words and a number, just a number but we can't for example write three words.

The next thing I recommend to you is to look for a title.

You can find that here.

It's going to give us a bit of context about the recording that we're going to listen to.

In this case it says study skills tutorial.

So we know we're going to listen to an audio of somebody talking about their study skills.

The next thing we're going to do is predict the answers.

So go from number one to ten and think about what the answer could potentially be.

Remember the answers come in order and sometimes you'll need to answer two questions in a short period of time so be ready for that.

I recommend that you write the answers on the question paper so that after the recording finishes you can neatly transfer them to your answer sheet.

Remember you need to practice writing the answer while still listening to the audio.

Okay we're going to do this one together.

Let's predict what some of the possible answers could be.

Pause the video and try this yourself.

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See you inside.

Okay let's do it together now.

Dissertation topic, the something.

Okay so we know we need a name of a dissertation topic so we would write that down.

We can't possibly predict that, there's too many topics it could be.

So the next thing is strength.

Okay so we need to come up with a study skill strength, possibly researching, planning, it's hard to say.

Then we've got computer modelling and then afterwards it looks at the weaknesses.

So what could this student's weaknesses be?

Well one of them is a lack of background information so they don't know enough about the topic that they're going to do their dissertation about, potentially problematic.

And then poor something skills, so what could be some possible answers?

Poor reading skills, poor English skills maybe?

Okay and then we've got some possible strategies.

So the first one is peer group discussions and then we're going to look at the benefits and problems of each of these strategies.

So what's a benefit of peer group discussions?

Remember peers are people that you're of the level with.

For example peers could be students and then not a teacher, the teacher is not their peer.

So if they're meeting with their peers, for example fellow students, what's a benefit of that?

Perhaps they can increase their viewpoints, if lots of students talk together then they'll be able to share different ideas.

And then a problem, well dissertations tend to contain the same, the same what?

The same topic?

Maybe everyone chooses the same dissertation.

Okay then we've got another possible strategy for number six.

Use the something service, use the library service.

Benefit of using the library service provides structured program.

Okay what about a problem?

Well maybe there's limited places available in the library.

Another possible strategy is to consult study skills books.

A benefit is that they are a good source of reference and a problem could be that they are, can be too time-consuming to read maybe.

It's hard to say.

The idea is by predicting we're engaging with the questions and we're learning more about the topic that we're about to listen to.

So some recommendations, use a card index or read all notes before class, it's hard to say.

The next tutorial date will be on, so number 10 we need some sort of date so maybe for example the 15th of January.

Okay now that we've taken the time to predict some possible answers it's time to listen to the audio.

Listen to the audio and write down the answers for number one to ten.

You will hear a geography student called Caroline discussing her dissertation with her tutor.

Ah Caroline, come on in sit down.

Thanks.

So how's the dissertation planning going?

Well Dr. Schulman, I'm still having a lot of trouble deciding on a title.

Well that's perfectly normal at this stage and this is what your tutorials will help you to do.

Right.

What we'll do is jot down some points that might help you in your decision.

First of all you have chosen your general topic area haven't you?

Yes it's the fishing industry.

Oh yes that was one of the areas you mentioned.

Now what aspects of the course are you good at?

Well I think I'm coping well with statistics and I'm never bored by it.

Good.

Anything else?

Well I found computer modelling fascinating.

I have no problem following what's being taught whereas quite a few of my classmates find it difficult.

Well that's very good.

Do you think these might be areas you could bring into your dissertation?

Oh yes if possible.

It's just that I'm having difficulty thinking how I can do that.

You see I feel I don't have sufficient background information.

I see.

Well do you take notes?

I'm very weak at note-taking.

My teachers always used to say that.

Well I think you really need to work on these weaknesses before you go any further.

What do you suggest?

Well I can go through the possible strategies with you and let you decide where to go from there.

Okay thanks.

Well some people find it helpful to organise peer group discussions.

You know each week a different person studies a different topic and shares it with the group.

Oh right.

It really helps build confidence.

Yeah.

You know having to present something to others.

I can see that.

The drawback is that everyone in the group seems to share the same ideas.

They keep being repeated in all the dissertations.

Okay.

You could also try a service called Student Support.

It's designed to give you a structured programme over a number of weeks to develop your skills.

Sounds good.

Yes unfortunately there are only a few places but it's worth looking into.

Yes of course.

I know I've got to work on my study skills.

And then there are several study skills books you can consult.

Right.

They'll be a good source of reference but the problem is they are sometimes too general.

Yes that's what I've found.

Other than that I would strongly advise quite simple ideas like using a card index.

Well yes I've never done that before.

It's simple but it really works because you have to get points down in a space.

Another thing I always advise is don't just take your notes and forget about them.

Read everything three times.

That'll really fix them in your mind.

Yes.

I can see it would take discipline but...

Well if you establish good study skills at this stage they'll be with you all your life.

Oh yes I completely agree.

It's just that I don't seem to be able to discipline myself.

I need to talk things over.

Well we'll be continuing these tutorials of course.

Let's arrange next month's now.

Let's see.

I can see you virtually anytime during the week starting the 22nd of January.

What about the 24th?

I'm free in the afternoon.

Sorry I'm booked then.

What about the following day?

The first day I can make the morning.

Fine we'll go for the 25th then.

That's great thanks.

Let's look at the answers.

Number one was fishing industry.

So two words fishing industry.

Listen again.

What we'll do is jot down some points that might help you in your industry.

Oh yes that was one of the areas you mentioned.

Okay number two was statistics.

Now remember spelling is important.

If you spell the word incorrectly you don't get the point.

Listen again.

Now what aspects of the course are you good at?

Well I think I'm coping well with statistics and I'm never bored by it.

So she said she's coping well with statistics.

Now to cope with something means to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a person in a difficult situation.

So if you cope well with something it means that you're able to deal with statistics.

If you can't cope with something it means that you're finding it very difficult.

So her strength is statistics.

She copes well with statistics.

The next one was number three.

The answer is note-taking.

Can you see the hyphen in the middle?

Some other possible answers were note-taking with a space in the middle.

Let's listen again to the audio.

Well do you take notes?

I'm very weak at note-taking.

My teachers always used to Well I think you really need to work on these weaknesses before you go any further.

Okay so she says I'm very weak at note-taking.

So if you're weak at something that means you're not good at something and if you're strong at something it means that you are good at something.

So I'm weak at maths means I'm not very good at maths.

I'm strong at swimming means I'm a good swimmer.

Okay number four.

The benefit of peer group discussions is that it increases confidence.

Listen again.

Well some people find it helpful to organise peer group discussions.

You know each week a different person studies a different topic and shares it with the group.

Oh right.

It really helps build confidence.

Yeah.

You know having to present something to others.

I can see that.

All right.

What about number five?

Dissertations tend to contain the same ideas.

Listen again.

The drawback is that everyone in the group seems to share the same ideas.

They keep being repeated in all the dissertations.

Okay.

Do you notice that in the notes we've got the word problems but in the recording we've got the word drawbacks.

So a drawback is a disadvantage or the negative part of a situation.

It's a synonym for problems.

Remember in the IELTS listening test you'll often be tested on your use of synonyms.

So problem and drawback are synonyms.

In fact you might know this because it's a very useful synonym for your IELTS essays.

Okay.

Number six is student support.

Listen again.

You could also try a service called student support.

It's designed to give you a structured programme over a number of weeks to develop your skills.

Sounds good.

Number seven is places.

Limited places.

It's the same as when we were predicting actually.

Listen to this part again.

Yes.

Unfortunately there are only a few places but it's worth looking into.

Yes of course.

For number eight we needed to talk about the problems of consulting study skills books.

So the problem is that they can be too general.

Listen to this part again.

And then there are several study skills books you can consult.

Right.

They'll be a good source of reference but the problem is they are sometimes too general.

Yes that's what I've found.

So the tutor gives some recommendations.

The first one is to use a card index and the second one is to read all notes three times.

So you could say three times with a number and a word like this or you could say three times with two words.

Listen to this part again.

Another thing I always advise is don't just take your notes and forget about them.

Read everything three times.

That'll really fix them in your mind.

Finally it's number 10.

The next tutorial day is on the 25th of January.