Listening for Specific Information A1: Identifying Times and Dates
Welcome! In this lesson, we will continue to practice listening for specific information1. Our targets today are times1 and dates2. This is a very important skill for understanding your schedule4 or booking tours in Siem Reap.
1. How to Listen for Time
When you listen for a time, focus on the numbers. Also, listen for important keywords like "o'clock" (for the exact hour), "thirty" (for 30 minutes), "A.M." (for the morning), and "P.M." (for the afternoon and evening).
9:00 is spoken as "Nine o'clock" or "Nine A.M."
2:30 is spoken as "Two-thirty" or "Two-thirty P.M."
5:15 is spoken as "Five-fifteen."
2. Practice 1: Listening for a Time
Listen to this short announcement3 from a shop. Your only target is to find the time.
"Attention shoppers. The store will close today at 9 PM."
What time will the store close?
- A) 9 AM
- B) 8 PM
- C) 9 PM
Click to Show Answer
Answer: C) 9 PM.
3. How to Listen for Dates
When you listen for a date, focus on the month (like June, July) and the ordinal number (like first, second, third, twenty-fifth).
June 1st is spoken as "June first."
July 4th is spoken as "July fourth."
December 25th is spoken as "December twenty-fifth."
4. Practice 2: Listening for a Date
Listen to this announcement from a teacher. Your target is the date of the test.
"Good morning, students. The final English test will be on Friday, June 20th."
When is the English test?
- A) Friday, June 12th
- B) Friday, June 20th
- C) Thursday, June 20th
Click to Show Answer
Answer: B) Friday, June 20th.
Final Quiz: Extract the Time and Date
Listen to two announcements and extract the specific information.
-
Announcement 1: (Listen to the audio)
Question: What is the meeting time?
-
Announcement 2: (Listen to the audio)
Question: What is the date of the special event?
Click to Show Answers
Answers: 1. 10:30 AM. | 2. Monday, July 1st.
Homework Task
1. Check Your Phone: Look at the time and date on your phone right now. Say them out loud in a full English sentence. For example: "Today is June 11th. The time is 2:21 PM."
2. Find a Schedule: Find a real schedule online for a local business in Siem Reap (like a cinema, bus, or museum). Read the opening and closing times aloud.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Time (noun) - Khmer: ពេលវេលា - A specific point in the day, measured in hours and minutes (e.g., 10:00 AM). ↩
- Date (noun) - Khmer: កាលបរិច្ឆេទ - A specific day, identified by its month and number (e.g., June 11th). ↩
- Announcement (noun) - Khmer: សេចក្តីប្រកាស - A formal public statement giving people information. ↩
- Schedule (noun) - Khmer: កាលវិភាគ - A plan of what will happen and when. ↩