B. Foundations of Language · Listening, Speaking and Word PowerListening Strategies: Before, During and After
B1.2 A1.1 A3.1About 40 minutes
Learning goals- I can choose listening strategies to use before, during and after listening.
- I can take two-column notes and listen for signal words.
- I can notice non-verbal information, like slides, gestures and tone, while I listen.
- I can ask clear clarifying questions and give a relevant response that fits the situation.
Words to know
listening strategy
A plan or tool that helps you understand what you hear.
signal words
Words that tell listeners what's coming, like first, however or in conclusion.
two-column notes
Notes with main ideas on the left and details on the right.
clarification
Making something clear when you didn't understand it.
non-verbal information
Meaning you get without words, from slides, gestures, facial expressions or tone of voice.
Remember from Grade 5
In Grade 5 you listened for a speaker's purpose (inform, instruct, persuade, entertain), took key-word notes, and asked clarifying questions. In Grade 6, you'll choose from a whole toolkit of strategies before, during and after listening, and you'll practise giving responses that fit the situation.
Let's start with a question
Why is listening harder than reading?
When you read, you can slow down, reread and look back. When you listen, the words keep going. You can't press rewind on a guest speaker! That's why good listeners use strategies: they get ready before, stay active during, and check their understanding after.
| When | Strategies to choose from |
|---|
| Before | Set your purpose (Why am I listening?). Think about what you already know. Predict what you'll hear. Prepare a question or two. Get ready: sit where you can see, put away distractions. |
| During | Take two-column notes. Listen for signal words. Watch non-verbal information (slides, gestures, facial expressions, tone). Visualize. Monitor: notice when you stop understanding. |
| After | Summarize the main ideas. Compare with your prediction. Ask clarifying questions. Respond in a way that fits the situation. Reflect: What will I remember? |
Signal words help you follow
Speakers use signal words to show how ideas connect. When you hear one, you know what kind of information is coming:
- Order: first, next, then, finally
- Importance: the main reason, most importantly, remember that
- Example: for example, such as, for instance
- Contrast: however, on the other hand, but
- Cause and effect: because, as a result, so
- Ending: in conclusion, to sum up
When you hear most importantly, write it down!
Listen with your eyes, too
A lot of meaning comes without words. A speaker's slides or pictures show key ideas. Gestures can show size or direction. A serious tone or a pause can show that something matters. A puzzled face in the audience might tell the speaker to explain again. Effective listeners notice all of this.
Asking for clarification
A clarifying question names exactly what you didn't understand:
- "Could you explain what you meant by carbon footprint?"
- "Did you say the trip is on the 15th or the 16th?"
- "So you're saying ___. Is that right?" (restate and check)
"I don't get it" isn't a clarifying question, because the speaker doesn't know which part to explain.
A relevant response fits the context
After listening, your response should connect to what you heard and fit the situation:
- After a guest speaker: thank them and ask a question about their talk.
- After a classmate's presentation: give specific feedback ("Your diagram of the circuit made the steps clear").
- After a news report or podcast: discuss it, or write a short reflection.
- After instructions: restate the steps to check, then do them.
Worked exampleLet's take two-column notes
A firefighter visits your class and says:
"Today I'll talk about home fire safety. First, every home needs working smoke alarms on every level. Test them once a month. Next, make an escape plan with two ways out of every room. Most importantly, once you're out, stay out. Never go back inside a burning building. Finally, pick a meeting place outside, like a neighbour's tree."
- Before: My purpose is to learn how to stay safe. I predict she'll talk about smoke alarms.
- During: I hear the signal words first, next, most importantly, finally. Each one starts a new main idea.
- Left column (main ideas) | right column (details):
- Smoke alarms | every level; test once a month
- Escape plan | 2 ways out of every room
- Stay out! (most important) | never go back inside
- Meeting place | outside, e.g. neighbour's tree
- After: Summary: Have working alarms, plan two ways out, stay out and meet at one spot. My prediction was right about smoke alarms.
- Clarifying question: "What should we do if both ways out of a room are blocked?"
- Response that fits: "Thank you for coming. I'm going to make an escape plan with my family this weekend."
The signal words showed where each main idea started, and the notes are short enough to write while listening.
The firefighter's talk as two-column notes. Each signal word started a new main idea, and most importantly flagged the one to star.Abbreviate
You can't write every word. Use short forms: w/ (with), b/c (because), → (leads to), # (number), e.g. (for example). Just make sure you can read them later!
Just for funFunny but true: Your eyes have lids, but your ears don't. Your ears are always on duty, which is great for listening and not so great when someone nearby is practising the recorder.
Hands-on activityPodcast or news listening challenge
You need: a short (3 to 5 minute) podcast, radio segment or news report for kids (a grown-up can help choose one), paper folded into two columns, and a pencil.
- Before: Read the title. Write your purpose and one prediction.
- During: Take two-column notes. Circle any signal words you hear. If there are pictures or video, note one thing you learned from them that the words didn't say.
- After: Write a two-sentence summary. Then write one clarifying question about a part that wasn't clear.
- Tell a family member about the report in one minute, using your notes.
- Ask them: "Did my summary make sense?"
What to look for: notes with main ideas on the left and details on the right, a summary that matches the report, and a clarifying question that names a specific part.
Your turn
1Name one strategy for each stage: before, during and after listening.
Examples: Before: set a purpose or predict. During: take two-column notes or listen for signal words. After: summarize or ask a clarifying question.
2What do the signal words on the other hand tell you?
A contrast is coming: a different side or idea.
3Rewrite "I don't get it" as a clarifying question about a talk on volcanoes.
Example: **"Could you explain what magma is?"** or "What's the difference between magma and lava?"
4Why are two-column notes useful when listening?
They separate main ideas from details, so you can see the big ideas quickly and review them later.
5A speaker points to a map while saying "The river flows this way." What kind of information is the pointing?
Non-verbal information (a gesture). It shows direction.
6What is a fitting response after a guest speaker's talk?
Thank the speaker and ask a relevant question about the talk.
7Turn this into short notes: "The most important thing to remember is that you must wear a helmet every time you ride your bike."
Example: MOST IMPORTANT: helmet every ride.
More practice: warm-up
1What do you set before listening, to know why you're listening?
2Which signal word shows an example: however or for instance?
3True or false: You should write every word the speaker says.
False. Write key words and main ideas.
4What does monitor mean when you're listening?
To notice whether you're understanding, and when you're not.
5What does the symbol → usually mean in notes?
More practice: on your own
1You're about to listen to a presentation on the Canadian Shield. Name two things you could do before it starts.
Examples: think about what you already know (rocks, lakes, forests in northern Ontario), predict what you'll hear, prepare a question, or set your purpose (to learn what the Shield is).
2The speaker says, "As a result, the town flooded." What kind of signal word is as a result, and what should you write down?
A cause-and-effect signal word. Write the cause (what happened before) and the effect (the town flooded).
3A classmate presents about bees. Write specific feedback that's a relevant response.
Example: "Your photo of the honeycomb helped me see why the cells are hexagons." It names a specific part of the presentation.
4Why should you restate and check ("So you're saying...?") after instructions?
It shows the speaker what you understood, so they can fix any mistake before you start.
5In science class, the teacher says, "Remember that a conductor lets electricity flow." What two clues tell you this is important?
The signal words "Remember that" and the fact that it's a definition of a key science word (conductor).
Challenge
1Take two-column notes on this: "Maple syrup season usually begins in late winter. First, people tap the trees. Sap flows best when nights are below freezing and days are above freezing. Then the sap is boiled for a long time. It takes about 40 litres of sap to make one litre of syrup."
Example:
- Season | late winter
- Step 1: tap trees | sap flows: nights below 0 °C, days above 0 °C
- Step 2: boil sap | for a long time
- Amount | about 40 L sap → 1 L syrup
2Explain why the same clarifying question might be fine in a small group but not during a formal assembly.
In a small group, you can ask right away because it's informal. In a formal assembly, interrupting would disrupt the event, so you should wait for a question period or ask the speaker or teacher afterward.
3A speaker says "This is very important" in a quiet, bored voice and doesn't look up. What might listeners think? What does this show about non-verbal information?
Listeners might think it isn't really important, because the tone and body language don't match the words. It shows that non-verbal information can change how people understand a message.
Quiz
1. Which is a strategy to use before listening?
2. Which signal word tells you a contrast is coming?
3. Which is the best clarifying question?
4. In two-column notes, what goes in the left column?
5. A speaker holds up three fingers and says, "I have three reasons." The fingers are...
6. What is a fitting response after a guest speaker's talk?
Big idea (B1.2, A1.1, A3.1): Grade 6 students select and use listening strategies before, during and after listening, notice non-verbal information, seek clarification and give relevant responses that fit the context. Note-taking supports learning in every subject.
How to help at home:
- Listen to a short news story, radio segment or podcast together. Pause and ask, "What signal words did you hear?"
- Have your child take two-column notes on something practical, like directions to a new place or instructions for a chore.
- Model clarifying questions: "Did you mean Tuesday or Thursday?"
Common difficulties:
- Trying to write everything. Practise key words and abbreviations.
- Vague questions ("I don't get it"). Ask, "Which part?" and help them name it.
- Ignoring visuals. Remind them that slides, diagrams and gestures carry meaning too.