Embedded Files
Preparation work for live session
Preparation work for live session
Is death a taboo topic in your culture?
If you were told you had six more months to live, how would your view of life change? How would you spend the time?
How did the animated short make you feel about life?
Why are some listenings harder than others?
Why are some listenings harder than others?
There are a number of factors which can make spoken texts harder to listen to. Audio quality for example, or an unfamiliar accent. But one of the most predictive factors is whether the text was planned or spontaneous. When the speaker plans what they're going to say they may deploy a wider range of vocab, and utilise more unusual words with quite specific meanings, which can make the text more challenging. On the other hand, planned speeches are often much more structured and to some extent predictable. The speaker is more likely to stay on topic and will avoid sudden digressions. Spontaneous speech is often faster paced too, which can present difficulties for listeners.
The other factor which can impact difficulty is whether the text is one person talking at length (a monologue) or a conversation between two or more people (a dialogue). The latter again can be trickier as there is a constant switching between speech rhythms, cadences, accents and style. There may also be more interruptions, jokes, spontaneous cultural references and unfinished sentences.
The image on the right shows the structure of the text we're studying this week. The podcast host first introduces the topic, then introduces the guest and then begins the conversation, so it has three stages of difficulty. See if you notice whether the text becomes harder to process as it moves through the stages.
Live session discussion - task review
Live session discussion - task review
What would you describe as being a quintessential quality of the culture of your home country?
Compare your notes from the first time you listened on page 2 of the preparation materials. How much information did you get for each of the stages? Remember, this was just the first time you listened so you weren't expected to get anything more than a few details.
We listened more closely to the spontaneous part of the monologue on page 5. What were you able to note down about the guest, Frank Ostaseski? There were some cultural references to American TV and news.
Compare the notes you made from page 6 on the following aspects of the discussion:
How the host and Frank were introduced;
Frank's field of expertise;
Zen Hospice and hospice care generally;
The aims of the hospice.
Which part of the listening did you find easiest/most difficult to understand? Why?
Live session - critical discussion
Live session - critical discussion
The speaker claims that it’s impossible to remain angry at things other people do to us, such as driving too slowly, if we’re more mindful of the shortness of life. Do you agree with this?
The example he provides of this misspent energy is road rage. Can you think of other examples of similar strong emotional reactions you experience? In other words, what small things make you angry?
Is it possible to remain appreciative of all the things in life we take for granted?
We've looked at planned and spontaneous speech, as well as the differences between monologues and dialogues. Which of the following situations do you think would be most difficult to prepare for:
An informal chat in a coffee shop;
A job interview;
A presentation?
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