Lesson 4 of 12 · Keeping it flowing

Listening people notice

Good listeners aren't silent. They show they're listening, out loud.

About 20 minutes
Chapter 4 of the book
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Activity 1 of 5 · Sort

Listening signals

English speakers use small words to show they're listening. Each one does a different job. Sort them.

Signal sorter

Does this phrase keep them going, show interest, or check you've understood?

✓ Done

A learner's story

Fatima's silence

Fatima · pharmacist from Beirut · upper intermediate

Fatima concentrated hard when her British colleagues spoke. She listened to every word, so she stayed completely still and quiet. After a few weeks, her manager asked if she was unhappy in the team. “You never seem very interested in what people say.”

Fatima was shocked. She had been listening more carefully than anyone. But in English conversation, silence can sound like boredom. Listeners are expected to make small noises and short comments: “Mm-hmm”, “Really?”, “Oh no!”

She started adding them, and checking what she'd heard: “So you mean the meeting's moved to Thursday?” People started telling her more.

Activity 2 of 5 · Choose

Spot the good listener

Four people tell you something. Which reply shows you're really listening?

Reply

✓ Done

Say it

Phrase box

Useful phrases from this chapter. Anything that isn't British English is labelled.

Keep going

Mm-hmm.
Right.
I see.

Show interest

Really?
Oh, wow.
That's brilliant!

Check understanding

So you mean…?
Sorry, did you say Tuesday?
Let me check I've got this right…

Activity 3 of 5 · Build

Say it back

Paraphrasing means saying back the main idea in your own words. Add the feeling, and people feel heard.

Paraphrase trainer

Pick what someone said. Edit the main idea and the feeling, and the tool builds your reply.

✓ Done

Activity 4 of 5 · Play

Listen and write

Listen to each sentence in a British voice, then type what you hear. It trains your ear for natural speed.

Dictation

Press play as many times as you need. Small spelling slips still count as heard.

✓ Done

The research

In a 2014 study by Harry Weger and colleagues, people talked to a listener who either gave advice or used active listening: short signals, paraphrasing and questions. Those with an active listener felt much more understood.

Activity 5 of 5 · Say it

Say it aloud

Practise your paraphrase and a few signals until they feel natural.

Your listening line

Your line comes from the paraphrase trainer.

✓ Done

Before you move on

Three questions

In your first language, how do people show they're listening?

Which listening signals will you try this week?

Think of a time someone really listened to you. What did they do?

5 activities to go

Finish all five activities to complete Lesson 4. Your progress saves on this device, and finished lessons are marked on the lessons page.

What to remember

Five things to keep

Silence can sound like boredom in English. Make small noises.
Use “Mm-hmm” and “Right” to keep people talking.
Paraphrase: say back the main idea in your own words.
Name the feeling: “That sounds stressful.”
Checking isn't rude. It shows you care about getting it right.

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