Listening: Listening in Various Contexts & for Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 1: Understanding Standard Media Broadcasts (news, documentaries)

B2 Listening in Context: Understanding Standard Media Broadcasts

Welcome to a new B2 series! In this lesson, we will focus on understanding a specific context: standard media broadcasts¹, such as TV news and documentaries. This requires understanding formal² language and a structured presentation of information.

1. Features of a News Broadcast

News reports have a specific structure. They usually start with the most important information first (the headline and key facts), followed by more details. The language is objective and factual.

2. Practice News Report: "New International Airport Terminal"

Let's practice with a simulated news report. Listen for the key facts (the '5 Ws': Who, What, Where, When, Why).

"Good evening. Officials from the Ministry of Transport announced today that the new terminal at the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport will officially open on July 1st. The new terminal, which cost approximately $50 million to construct, is expected to double the airport's passenger capacity. This development is part of a broader government plan to boost tourism and economic growth in the region."

Use your notes to answer the following:

1. What will open?
2. When will it open?
3. How much did it cost?
4. Why was it built?

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Answers: 1. The new terminal. 2. July 1st. 3. Approximately $50 million. 4. To boost tourism and economic growth.

3. Features of a Documentary

A documentary³ also presents facts, but often in a storytelling format. It uses more descriptive language to explain a topic in depth. The pace is often slightly more relaxed than a news report.

4. Practice Documentary Excerpt: "The Tonlé Sap"

Now, listen to a short excerpt from a documentary about the Tonlé Sap lake. Listen for the main idea and key descriptive details.

"The Tonlé Sap, Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake, is a place of incredible biodiversity. Its most remarkable feature is the seasonal reversing flow of the Tonlé Sap River, which connects it to the Mekong. During the rainy season, from June to October, water from the swollen Mekong pushes into the lake, expanding its size by up to five times. This massive inundation⁴ creates a vast and vital breeding ground for hundreds of species of fish."

Use your notes to answer the following:

1. What is the main topic of the excerpt?
2. What is the lake's most remarkable feature?
3. What happens during the rainy season?

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Answers: 1. The Tonlé Sap lake's biodiversity and its unique reversing river flow. 2. The seasonal reversing flow of the river. 3. The lake expands up to five times, creating a breeding ground for fish.

Final Quiz: News or Documentary?

Read the short text below. Based on the style and language, is it more likely from a news report or a documentary?

Text to Analyze: "Archaeologists working near Banteay Srei temple have uncovered a previously unknown statue believed to be over a thousand years old. The discovery was made just yesterday, and officials have already secured the site. Further announcements are expected next week."

This sounds like...

• (a) A news report (reporting a recent, specific event).
• (b) A documentary (giving a deep, general explanation of a topic).

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Answer: (a) A news report. The language focuses on a single, recent event ("uncovered," "discovery was made just yesterday," "announcements are expected next week"), which is characteristic of a news story.

Homework Task

1. Watch the News in English: Watch a 5-minute news broadcast from an international source like BBC, CNN, or Al Jazeera on YouTube. Choose one story and try to identify the '5 Ws' (Who, What, Where, When, Why).

2. Watch a Documentary Clip: Find a short documentary clip on a topic you enjoy (e.g., nature, history, science). Watch it and write down three new interesting facts you learned.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Media Broadcast (noun) - Khmer: ការផ្សាយតាមប្រព័ន្ធផ្សព្វផ្សាយ - A program, such as news or a documentary, that is transmitted for the public on television or radio. ↩
2. Formal (language) (adjective) - Khmer: ជាផ្លូវការ - A style of language used in serious, official, or professional situations. ↩
3. Documentary (noun) - Khmer: ឯកសារ - A film or program that presents facts and information about a person, event, or topic. ↩
4. Inundation (noun) - Khmer: ការជន់លិច - The covering of an area with a large amount of water; a flood. ↩