Listening: Listening for Gist B1 - Lesson 2: Following the Plot of a Simple Story or Narrative

B1 Listening for Gist: Following the Plot of a Simple Story

Welcome to Lesson 2! In this lesson, we will practice following the plot¹ of a simple narrative². The plot is the series of events in a story—what happens in the beginning, the middle, and the end.

1. The Structure of a Simple Story

Understanding the plot means you can follow the story's timeline. As you listen, try to identify the main events and the order in which they happen. Most simple stories have three parts:

• The Beginning: Introduces the characters and the situation.
• The Middle: Describes the main events, actions, or a problem.
• The End: Shows the result or conclusion of the story.

2. Practice Story: "Dara's Busy Day"

Let's practice with a short story about a chef⁴ in Siem Reap. Listen to the story and think about the sequence³ of events.

"Yesterday was a busy day for Dara, a chef in Siem Reap. In the morning, he went to the market to buy fresh vegetables and fish. After that, he went to his restaurant to prepare for lunch. The restaurant was very busy with many tourists. Finally, after a long day of cooking, he closed the restaurant at 10 PM and went home, feeling tired but happy."

Which of these sentences best describes the plot of the story?

• A) Dara went to the market after he closed his restaurant.
• B) Dara cooked for many tourists, went home, and then went to the market.
• C) Dara bought ingredients, worked a busy day at his restaurant, and finally went home late.

Click to Show Answer

Answer: C). This option shows the correct sequence of events from the beginning to the end of his day.

3. Understanding the Plot with Questions

Another way to follow a plot is to answer questions about the sequence. Let's think about the story of Dara again.

1. What did Dara do first, in the morning?
2. What happened in the middle of the story, at the restaurant?
3. What was the final event of his day?

Click to Show Answers

Answers: 1. He went to the market to buy ingredients. 2. The restaurant was very busy with tourists. 3. He closed the restaurant and went home.

Final Quiz: Follow the Plot

Listen to this short narrative about a tourist's trip. Then, put the events in the correct order (1, 2, 3).

Narrative: (Listen to the audio)

Put these events in the correct order:

1. ( ..... ) He took a cooking class.
2. ( ..... ) He bought souvenirs.
3. ( ..... ) He visited Angkor Wat.

Click to Show Answers

Correct Order: (2) He took a cooking class, (3) He bought souvenirs, (1) He visited Angkor Wat.

Homework Task

1. Your Day's Plot: Think about your day so far. What are the three main events that have happened? Write them down in the correct order using sequence words. For example: "First, I woke up and had breakfast. Next, I went to work. Then, I ate lunch."

2. Summarize a Movie Plot: Watch the trailer for a movie in English on YouTube. Based on the short clips, what do you think the plot of the movie is? What happens first, in the middle, and at the end?

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Plot (noun) - Khmer: ដំណើររឿង - The sequence of main events in a story. ↩
2. Narrative (noun) - Khmer: ការនិទានរឿង - Another word for a story that has connected events. ↩
3. Sequence (noun) - Khmer: លំដាប់ - The order in which related events or actions happen. ↩
4. Chef (noun) - Khmer: ចុងភៅ - A professional cook, especially the main cook in a hotel or restaurant. ↩