4.1.1 Selective Listening

• Selective listening for relevant information
• Filtering out irrelevant detail
• Listening with a purpose set in advance
• Listening in noisy or difficult conditions

• listen selectively for information relevant to a purpose
• distinguish relevant from irrelevant detail
• set a listening purpose before listening
• apply strategies for listening in difficult conditions

“How do you find the one thing you need in a stream of talk?”

The titles are open to everyone. Reading a lesson needs an account — sign in or create one.

1. Listening with a purpose
   40 min · 2 practice tasks · quiz
   Deciding in advance what you need, so you notice it when it arrives.
2. Listening in difficult conditions
   40 min · 2 practice tasks · quiz
   Noise, unfamiliar accents and fast speech, and what to do about each.
3. Listening on a journey
   40 min · 1 practice tasks · quiz
   Setting a purpose, filtering noise, and coming away with the one fact you must not miss.