Listening Journal 8

LISTENING JOURNAL 8.1

Website	Audio Name	Level / Other Information
VOA Learning English	Don’t Waste Time ‘Barking up the Wrong Tree’ https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/don-t-waste-time-barking-up-the-wrong-tree-/5398064.html	Advanced

 

Summary : What was the listening selection about?

For people, barking up the wrong tree means following a mistaken plan of action. If I bark up the wrong tree, I am doing something that will not get the result I want. I am wrong about the reason for something or possibly the way to get something. For example, at a party I notice that my co-worker Jonas is interested in a good friend of mine named Ursula. But Ursula is happily married, which is bad news for Jonas. So, I say to him, “Jonas, I know you want to ask Ursula out on a date. But you are barking up the wrong tree! She is very happily married.”

 

Vocabulary : What words did you learn?

role – n. a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation festival – n. a time of celebration marked by special observances symbol – n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality shade – n. an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own prey – n. an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

 

Activities : what did you do? What scores did you get?

When I listen to the audio, i still get confused for what the speaker said because there are so many new vocabulary in this audio. Then, i listened to the audio twice and i got understand. This audio is good enough, although there are some new vocabulary for me. I thought it was good to increase my vocabulary and i know how to pronounce it well.

 

Self-Assessment

Question	Yes	No	Maybe
The speed was OK	V
The vocabulary was OK	V
The pronunciation was OK	V
This helped my listening skills	V
I think my listening skills are improving			V
I need to improve:
Listening to main ideas
Listening to details
Listenng to numbers
Listening to fast speech
Listening to connected speech
Listening for a long time	V
Listening to other accent
My vocabulary
My pronunciation

 

 

LISTENING JOURNAL 8.2

Website	Audio Name	Level / Other Information
VOA Learning English	How Fast Is ‘Two Shakes of a Lamb’s Tail’? https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-fast-is-two-shakes-of-a-lamb-s-tail-/5386845.html?withmediaplayer=1	Advanced

 

Summary : What was the listening selection about?

Being cute like a lamb may be fun. But it has its drawbacks. Cute things are often not taken seriously. And this cute factor is the main reason Americans rarely use “two shakes of a lamb’s tail” in a serious situation. For example, if I see a person get hit by a car, I would not say, “Hold on! Help will be here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail!” That would not make the injured person lying in the middle of the street feel reassured. In an emergency like that, I would say something like, “Help is on the way!”

Vocabulary : What words did you learn?

cute – adj. attractive in looks or action. tail – n. the rear part of an animal or a usually slender flexible growth that extends from this part drawback – n. something that causes problems​ factor – n. something that helps produce or influence a result : one of the things that cause something to happen reassured – v. to make (someone) feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful

 

Activities : what did you do? What scores did you get?

When I listen to the audio, i still get confused for what the speaker said because there are so many new vocabulary in this audio. Then, i listened to the audio twice and i got understand. This audio is good enough, although there are some new vocabulary for me. I thought it was good to increase my vocabulary and i know how to pronounce it well.

 

Self-Assessment

Question	Yes	No	Maybe
The speed was OK	V
The vocabulary was OK	V
The pronunciation was OK	V
This helped my listening skills	V
I think my listening skills are improving			V
I need to improve:
Listening to main ideas
Listening to details
Listenng to numbers
Listening to fast speech
Listening to connected speech
Listening for a long time	V
Listening to other accent
My vocabulary
My pronunciation

 

 

LISTENING JOURNAL 8.3

Website	Audio Name	Level / Other Information
VOA Learning English	Is It Good to Be an ‘Eager Beaver?’ https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/is-it-good-to-be-an-eager-beaver-/5248422.html	Advanced

 

Summary : What was the listening selection about?

By definition, an eager beaver is a person who seems full of energy and a good attitude. These people are willing to do what others expect and often do things as quickly as they can. And they are enthusiastic! A great word that means the same thing (a synonym) is go-getter. A person who is a real go-getter gets the job done! For an example of how to use the term eager beaver, try to imagine a mathematics class. The teacher tells students that they must solve 100 math problems before coming to school the next day. Most of the students are unhappy about having so much homework! But not all. A few students do not mind the work at all. They are eager beavers. They love to do math problems and cannot wait to get started. In fact, they do more than 100 math problems! Eager beavers often go above and beyond.

 

Vocabulary : What words did you learn?

attitude – n. the way you think and feel about someone or something enthusiastic – adj. feeling or showing strong excitement about something go-getter – n. a person who works very hard and who wants very much to succeed above and beyond expression : to do more than is expected industry – n. a group of businesses that provide a particular product or service branch – n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk architect – n. a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction

 

Activities : what did you do? What scores did you get?

When I listen to the audio, i still get confused for what the speaker said because there are so many new vocabulary in this audio. Then, i listened to the audio twice and i got understand. This audio is good enough, although there are some new vocabulary for me. I thought it was good to increase my vocabulary and i know how to pronounce it well.

 

Self-Assessment

Question	Yes	No	Maybe
The speed was OK	V
The vocabulary was OK	V
The pronunciation was OK	V
This helped my listening skills	V
I think my listening skills are improving			V
I need to improve:
Listening to main ideas
Listening to details
Listenng to numbers
Listening to fast speech
Listening to connected speech
Listening for a long time	V
Listening to other accent
My vocabulary
My pronunciation

 

 

LISTENING JOURNAL 8.4

Website	Audio Name	Level / Other Information
VOA Learning English	Loose Lips Sink Ships https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/loose-lips-sink-ships/5109516.html	Advanced

 

Summary : What was the listening selection about?

This idiom began during World War II as a slogan used by the United States Office of War Information. It was part of a propaganda campaign. So, the slogan “loose lips sink ships” was printed on posters and hung in many public places, such as schools and churches. This idiom still may not make sense to you. So, let’s break it down. Something “loose” moves easily. So, loose lips move freely and release a lot of words -- most likely in a careless way. If you speak carelessly (that’s the “loose lips” part) about private or sensitive information, someone could hear and use it to damage or ruin something important (a “sinking ship” is pretty bad). The message: Be careful when you speak. Watch what you say. Beware of spies. And during war, you never know who is a spy. That is the nature of spying.

 

Vocabulary : What words did you learn?

idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own slogan – n. a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion propaganda – n. an organized spreading of ideas synonym – n. a word that has the same meaning as another word in the same language treason – n. the crime of trying to overthrow your country's government or of helping your country's enemies during war : treasonous – adj. cold comfort – n. quite limited sympathy, consolation, or encouragement reputation – n. the common opinion that people have about someone or something : the way in which people think of someone or something devious – adj. willing to lie and trick people in order to get what is wanted spill – v. to tell secret or hidden information

 

Activities : what did you do? What scores did you get?

When I listen to the audio, i still get confused for what the speaker said because there are so many new vocabulary in this audio. Then, i listened to the audio twice and i got understand. This audio is good enough, although there are some new vocabulary for me. I thought it was good to increase my vocabulary and i know how to pronounce it well.

 

Self-Assessment

Question	Yes	No	Maybe
The speed was OK	V
The vocabulary was OK	V
The pronunciation was OK	V
This helped my listening skills	V
I think my listening skills are improving			V
I need to improve:
Listening to main ideas
Listening to details
Listenng to numbers
Listening to fast speech
Listening to connected speech
Listening for a long time	V
Listening to other accent
My vocabulary
My pronunciation

 

 

LISTENING JOURNAL 8.5

Website	Audio Name	Level / Other Information
VOA Learning English	Don’t Count Your Chicken Before They Hatch https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/don-t-count-your-chickens-before-they-hatch/5118778.html	Advanced

 

Summary : What was the listening selection about?

this proverb means you should not depend on something that has yet to happen. It is unwise to make plans based on something that hasn’t happened. Another meaning of this proverb is this: Do not assume to have everything you want until you actually have it in your hands.

 

Vocabulary : What words did you learn?

folklore – n. traditional customs, beliefs, stories, and saying lay – v. to produce an egg hatch – v. to come out of an egg disappoint – adj. to fail to meet the expectation or hope of assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true interview – n. to participate in an interview for a position (such as a job) contract – n. a legal agreement between people, companies, etc. expensive – adj. costing a lot of money

 

Activities : what did you do? What scores did you get?

When I listen to the audio, i still get confused for what the speaker said because there are so many new vocabulary in this audio. Then, i listened to the audio twice and i got understand. This audio is good enough, although there are some new vocabulary for me. I thought it was good to increase my vocabulary and i know how to pronounce it well.

 

Self-Assessment

Question	Yes	No	Maybe
The speed was OK	V
The vocabulary was OK	V
The pronunciation was OK	V
This helped my listening skills	V
I think my listening skills are improving			V
I need to improve:
Listening to main ideas
Listening to details
Listenng to numbers
Listening to fast speech
Listening to connected speech
Listening for a long time	V
Listening to other accent
My vocabulary
My pronunciation