Listening: Listening in Various Contexts & for Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 3: Understanding Detailed Instructions in Technical or Academic Contexts

B2 Listening in Context: Understanding Technical & Academic Instructions

Welcome! In this lesson, we will focus on understanding detailed instructions in technical and academic contexts¹. This involves following a complex, multi-step procedure² where every detail is important.

1. How to Listen for Detailed Instructions

When listening to technical or academic instructions, you cannot just listen for the gist. Every detail matters. The best strategy is to take notes, focusing on the sequence and the specific nouns and verbs in each step. Pay close attention to sequence words like "First," "Next," and "Finally."

2. Practice 1: Technical Instructions

Let's practice with a common technical task: setting up a new Wi-Fi router. As you listen, take notes on the main steps in the sequence.

Instructions:
"First, unplug your old modem from the power source and wait for sixty seconds. Next, connect the new router to the modem using the blue ethernet cable. Then, plug both the modem and the new router into the power source. Finally, wait for the indicator lights on the front of the router to turn solid green, which indicates it has successfully connected to the internet."

Use your notes to answer these questions:

1. What is the very first action you must take?
2. What is the blue ethernet cable used for?
3. How do you know the connection is successful?

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Answers: 1. Unplug the old modem and wait for 60 seconds. 2. To connect the new router to the modem. 3. The indicator lights on the router turn solid green.

3. Practice 2: Academic Instructions

Now, let's listen to instructions from a university professor about submitting an essay online. Listen carefully to the specific requirements.

"Please listen carefully to the instructions for submitting your final essay. All submissions must be in PDF format. The filename must be your student ID number followed by your last name, for example, '12345-Sok'. You need to upload your file to the university's online portal before the deadline³, which is 5 PM this Friday. Please be aware that late submissions will be penalized⁴."

Use your notes to answer these questions:

1. What is the required file format?
2. What is the correct format for the filename?
3. What is the deadline for the submission?

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Answers: 1. PDF format. 2. Student ID number followed by last name (e.g., 12345-Sok). 3. 5 PM this Friday.

Final Quiz: Follow the Procedure

Listen to these instructions for a simple science experiment. Then, answer the questions based on the details you hear.

Instructions: (Listen to the audio)

1. How much salt do you need to add?
2. To which glass do you add the salt?
3. What is the final action in the experiment?

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Answers: 1. Two spoons. 2. To only one of the glasses. 3. Carefully place one egg in each glass.

Homework Task

1. Follow a Tutorial: Find a "how-to" video on YouTube for a piece of software you use (e.g., "how to use a new feature in Google Docs"). Listen carefully to the instructions. Can you follow along and complete the task?

2. Write Instructions: Think of a process you know well (e.g., how to make your favorite coffee, how to get from your home to a local landmark). Write down a series of 3-4 clear, step-by-step instructions for someone else to follow.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Technical/Academic Context (phrase) - Khmer: បរិបទបច្ចេកទេស/សិក្សា - Situations related to technology and equipment (technical) or related to school, college, and study (academic). ↩
2. Procedure (noun) - Khmer: នីតិវិធី - A series of actions conducted in a certain, specific order to accomplish something. ↩
3. Deadline (noun) - Khmer: ពេល​កំណត់ - The latest time or date by which something must be completed. ↩
4. To Penalize (verb) - Khmer: ដើម្បីដាក់ទណ្ឌកម្ម - To give someone a punishment or disadvantage for breaking a rule. ↩