B1 Listening for Gist: Identifying the Overall Mood or Atmosphere
Welcome! In this lesson, we will practice listening for the mood or atmosphere1 of a spoken text. This means understanding the overall feeling the speaker is trying to create.
1. How to Listen for Mood
To identify the mood, listen for clues in the speaker's voice and words:
- Pace2: Is the speaker talking fast (exciting, urgent) or slow (calm, serious)?
- Pitch: Is the voice higher (exciting) or lower (serious)?
- Key Vocabulary: Are the words positive ("amazing," "wonderful") or negative ("terrible," "problem")?
2. Practice Text 1: An Exciting3 Atmosphere
Listen to this description of a festival. Notice the fast pace and higher pitch of the voice.
"Wow, you should have been there! The music was so loud and everyone was dancing. There were fireworks in the sky, exploding in beautiful colors. I have never seen anything so amazing!"
What is the mood of this description?
- A) Calm and relaxing
- B) Sad and disappointing
- C) Exciting and energetic
Click to Show Answer
Answer: C). The speaker is talking quickly. The keywords "wow!", "loud," "dancing," "fireworks," and "amazing" all create an exciting mood.
3. Practice Text 2: A Peaceful4 Atmosphere
Now listen to this description of a morning by the river. Notice the slow pace and lower pitch of the voice.
"I woke up very early this morning, just before the sun. I sat by the river and watched the water move slowly. The only sound was the gentle birdsong. It was very peaceful."
What is the mood of this description?
- A) Calm and peaceful
- B) Loud and busy
- C) Urgent and worried
Click to Show Answer
Answer: A). The speaker is talking slowly. The keywords "early morning," "slowly," "gentle," and "peaceful" create a calm mood.
Final Quiz: What's the Mood?
Listen to two more short texts and identify the speaker's mood based on the speed and pitch of the voice.
-
"Quick! We have to leave now! The bus is coming in two minutes and we can't be late. Grab your bag, let's go!"
What is the mood? (a) Calm, (b) Urgent, (c) Sad
-
"Before we begin the tour of this ancient temple, I must ask you to be silent and show respect. This is a sacred place for our people."
What is the mood? (a) Funny, (b) Exciting, (c) Serious
Click to Show Answers
Answers: 1-b, 2-c
Homework Task
1. Mood in Music: Choose a song you like. What is the mood? Is it happy, sad, energetic, or relaxing? What about the speed and pitch of the music creates that mood?
2. Movie Scene Mood: Watch a scene from a movie and listen to the actors' voices. Can you describe the mood? How do the actors use their voices (fast, slow, loud, quiet) to create that feeling?
Vocabulary Glossary
- Mood / Atmosphere (noun) - Khmer: បរិយាកាស - The overall feeling or emotion that a speaker, place, or situation creates. ↩
- Pace (noun) - Khmer: ល្បឿន - The speed at which someone speaks or does something. ↩
- Exciting (adjective) - Khmer: រំភើប - Making you feel very happy, interested, and enthusiastic. ↩
- Peaceful (adjective) - Khmer: សន្តិភាព - Quiet, calm, and without any worry or stress. ↩