Listening: Listening for Gist & Detail B2 - Lesson 3: Identifying a Speaker's Viewpoint and Justifications

Listening for Viewpoints and Reasons

CEFR Level B2

Lesson Goals

In this lesson, you will practice identifying a speaker's viewpoint (their opinion) and the specific justifications (reasons) they provide to support it in a variety of short talks.

Listening for "What" and "Why"

At the B2 level, it's not enough to just understand the topic of a conversation. You need to understand the speaker's personal opinion and the logic behind it. This involves listening for two things:

• The Viewpoint: What is the speaker's main belief or opinion?
• The Justifications: What reasons, evidence, or examples do they give to support their viewpoint?

Listen for signal phrases that introduce these ideas. For example: In my view..., I'm convinced that..., The main reason is..., For one thing..., Furthermore...

Key Tip: Listen for the 'Why'

A good speaker doesn't just state their opinion; they try to convince you. Their justifications are the tools they use to persuade you.

As you listen, actively ask yourself, "Why do they believe this?" The answers to this question are the justifications. This is a critical skill for understanding debates, reviews, and arguments in English.

Practice Activities

Listen to the talks in the audio player. For each one, identify the speaker's main viewpoint and their justifications. Take notes as you listen.

1. Topic: Technology

   "In my view, smartphones have become too distracting in our social lives. I believe this for two main reasons. Firstly, when you are out with friends, people often spend more time looking at their phones than talking to each other, which I think is quite rude. Secondly, the constant notifications create a sense of anxiety, making it difficult to relax and be present in the moment."
   • What is the speaker's viewpoint?
   • What is their first justification?
   • What is their second justification?
   Show Answers

   Viewpoint: Smartphones are too distracting in social lives.

   Justification 1: People look at their phones instead of talking to each other.

   Justification 2: Constant notifications create anxiety.

2. Topic: Travel

   "I am convinced that solo travel is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. My primary justification for this is that it forces you to become more independent and self-reliant. You have to navigate new places and solve problems all on your own. Furthermore, I feel that you meet more people when you travel alone, because you are more open to starting conversations than if you were in a group."
   • What is the speaker's viewpoint?
   • What are their two justifications?
   Show Answers

   Viewpoint: Solo travel is a very rewarding experience.

   Justification 1: It makes you more independent and self-reliant.

   Justification 2: You meet more people when you travel alone.

3. Topic: City Life

   "Although many people love the excitement, I personally believe that living in a big city is too stressful. The main reason is the constant noise and traffic, which makes it difficult to find peace and quiet. Another justification is the high cost of living; everything from rent to food is significantly more expensive."
   • What is the speaker's viewpoint?
   • What is their first justification?
   • What is their second justification?
   Show Answers

   Viewpoint: Living in a big city is too stressful.

   Justification 1: There is constant noise and traffic.

   Justification 2: The high cost of living.

Vocabulary

• Viewpoint (noun) [ទស្សនៈ]

  A person's particular opinion or way of thinking about something.

• Justification (noun) [ការបញ្ជាក់]

  A good and acceptable reason or explanation for something.

• Distracting (adjective) [រំខាន]

  Preventing someone from concentrating on something.

• Rewarding (adjective) [ដែលផ្តល់ផល]

  Providing satisfaction; making you feel good that you have done it.

Your Mission

Apply your B2 listening skills with these real-world tasks.

1. Analyze an Argument: Find a video online where someone is giving a strong opinion (e.g., a movie review, a tech product review, or a short debate). Identify their main viewpoint and list at least two justifications they use to support it.
2. State and Justify: Choose a topic relevant to your life (e.g., "Online learning is more effective than classroom learning," or "Siem Reap needs more green spaces"). State your viewpoint clearly in English and provide two strong justifications. Practice saying it out loud to a friend or record yourself.