Listening: Listening for Inference, Attitude, & Opinion B1 - Lesson 3: Distinguishing Simple Facts from Opinions in Short Talks

B1 Listening for Inference: Distinguishing Facts from Opinions

Welcome! In this lesson, we will practice a very important critical thinking skill: distinguishing³ between a fact¹ and an opinion². A fact can be proven true, while an opinion is what someone thinks or feels.

1. Signal Words for Facts vs. Opinions

To tell the difference, listen for the type of language used. The language can give you clues.

Facts are Objective⁴

They often include:

• Numbers, dates, statistics
• Historical information
• Scientific statements

Opinions are Subjective

They often include:

• Adjectives that judge (e.g., beautiful, boring, delicious)
• Phrases like "I think...", "I believe...", "In my opinion..."
• Words like "should," "must," or "best."

2. Practice Talk 1: Describing a Place

Listen to this short description of Angkor Wat. Try to separate the facts from the opinions.

"Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia. It was built in the 12th century. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful temple in the world. I think everyone should visit it at sunrise, because the view is absolutely breathtaking."

Which of these statements from the talk is an OPINION?

• A) Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia.
• B) It was built in the 12th century.
• C) It is the most beautiful temple in the world.

Click to Show Answer

Answer: C). The phrase "most beautiful" is a personal feeling, an opinion. The other two statements are historical facts that can be proven.

3. Practice Talk 2: Describing Food

Now, let's listen to someone talk about a popular Khmer dish: Fish Amok. Can you identify the facts and opinions?

"Fish Amok is a traditional Cambodian dish. It is made with fresh fish, coconut milk, and a special spice paste called kroeung. Many restaurants in Siem Reap serve it. I believe it is the most delicious food in Cambodia, and you should definitely try it."

Which of these statements from the talk is a FACT?

• A) It is the most delicious food in Cambodia.
• B) You should definitely try it.
• C) It is made with fish and coconut milk.

Click to Show Answer

Answer: C). This statement lists the ingredients, which is a provable fact. The other two statements are the speaker's personal opinion and advice.

Final Quiz: Fact or Opinion?

Listen to the short talk about a new phone. Then, categorize the sentences below as either Fact or Opinion.

Talk: (Listen to the audio)

1. The phone has a six-inch screen. (Fact or Opinion?)
2. The blue one is the nicest. (Fact or Opinion?)
3. In my opinion, it's too expensive. (Fact or Opinion?)

Click to Show Answers

Answers: 1. Fact, 2. Opinion (uses "nicest"), 3. Opinion (uses "In my opinion").

Homework Task

1. Analyze a Review: Find a review online (in English) of a hotel in Siem Reap or a movie you have seen. Find one sentence that is a fact (e.g., "The hotel has a pool.") and one sentence that is an opinion (e.g., "The rooms were very comfortable.").

2. State a Fact and an Opinion: Choose a topic (e.g., your favorite food, your city). Write two sentences about it. Make the first sentence a fact, and the second sentence an opinion.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Fact (noun) - Khmer: ការពិត - A piece of information that is known to be true and can be proven. ↩
2. Opinion (noun) - Khmer: មតិ - A belief, judgment, or feeling about something that cannot be proven right or wrong. ↩
3. To Distinguish (verb) - Khmer: បែងចែក - To recognize or understand the difference between two or more things. ↩
4. Objective (adjective) - Khmer: សត្យានុម័ត - Based on facts rather than personal feelings or opinions. ↩