Lesson Plans for IELTS Listening

General Objectives:

a. Understand main ideas and specific factual information

b. Recognize the opinions, attitudes and purpose of a speaker

c. Follow the development of an argument

References: Barron’s IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and Barron’s

IELTS Practice Exams by Dr. Lin Lougheed, Ed.D.

Target 1 – Making Assumptions

A. Context Setting

Introduce to the learner the importance of making assumptions in the exam. Point

out that as they listen to a conversation, operative assumptions are made by

focusing carefully on the speakers and the topic. Enumerate the fundamental Wh and

How questions (Who? What? When? Where? Why? And How?) and tell the learner to

use this strategy as framework in making effective assumptions.

B. Skill Development

Draw the learner’s attention to some sample questions that can be used to make

assumptions about the speakers and the topic (refer to page 19 of Barron’s IELTS).

Discuss the questions to the learner.

Guided Practice: The learner will have 20 seconds to look over the questions in

Section – 1 Questions 1 – 10 (page 20 of Barron’s IELTS). Use that time to make

assumptions about the listening passage. Read the questions first. Then discuss the

exercise on Assumptions (page 21 of Barron’s IELTS). With the teacher’s assistance,

do the exercises. Finally, listen to the conversation and test the learner’s

assumptions.

Individual Practice: The learner will be given 20 seconds to browse the questions in

Section 2 – Questions 11 – 20 and to make assumptions about the listening passage.

Do the exercises on Assumptions (page 23 of Barron’s IELTS). Finally, listen to the

conversation and check the learner’s assumptions.

C. Exam Practice

Resource: Refer to pages 8-9 Listening Section Practice Tests of Barron’s Practice

Exams

Purpose: To assess the learner’s readiness for the actual exam and to check how

he/she integrates the skill learned.

Procedures: Scan the questions for 20 seconds. Then, make an assumption by finding

the answer to Who? What? When? Where? and Why?. Now listen to the conversation.

Check the learner’s listening accuracy based on the assumptions made. Entertain

any questions and clarifications.

Target 2 – Understanding Numbers

A. Context Setting

Activity: Number Dictation - In order to assess the learner’s accuracy in this skill, let

the learner listen to different phone numbers and ask him/her to write them down.

Highlight the importance of understanding numbers in IELTS Listening and in real life.

Tell them that understanding numbers is an easy skill to practice, but difficult to

perfect.

B. Skill Development

Play CD Track 3 to discuss the example given on page 24 (refer to Barron’s IELTS).

Use this to discuss numbers that sound alike. Easily confused numbers are indicated

on page 24 as well. Make sure that the learner will distinguish the differences

between these numbers.

Guided Practice: Do Questions 1 – 5 pages 24-25. Ask the learner to listen for the

numbers and answer the questions by writing the number in the blank or choosing

the correct letter. Discuss the answers.

Individual Practice: Do Questions 6 – 10 (page 25 of Barron’s IELTS). Instruct the

learner that he/she will listen to the indicated telephone numbers on page 25.

Remind the learner that he/she needs to pay attention to the way three different

speakers say the numbers. Afterwards, answer the succeeding activity.

C. Exam Practice

Resource: Refer to pages 8 Listening Section Questions 5-8 of Barron’s Practice

Exams

Purpose: To assess the learner’s readiness for the actual exam and to check how

he/she integrates the skill learned.

Procedures: Ask the learner to complete the information given in the section. Instruct

the learner that he/she will write no more than one number for each answer. Discuss

the answers by referring to the transcript.

Target 3 – Understanding the Alphabet