Before and while listening: what to do
By the end of this lesson you can prepare before listening and you know what to do the first and the second time you listen.
5 min · Level A2+
The time before listening is precious. Read the context line and the questions and ask yourself: where are they? Who is speaking? What do they need? Then underline what kind of answer you are looking for: a day, a place, a reason, an object.
If you hear the text twice: the first time get the general idea and answer the easy questions; the second time check the answers you are unsure of.
Don't stop on a word you don't understand: the information is often repeated or comes in other words. For true/false the reading rule applies: true = the information is there; false = it is different or not there.
In CILS B1 Cittadinanza every text is played twice, and the recording also includes time to answer.
In PLIDA B1 every text is played twice. In two parts the options are pictures: look at them carefully before listening.
For CERT.IT B1 the official website states two listenings for tasks 1 and 2. For the messages in task 3, be ready to listen only once: in our practice tests you hear them once.
On the page
Contesto: «Fatima telefona a un idraulico». Forse la caldaia non funziona.
Context: «Fatima phones a plumber». Maybe the boiler isn't working.
Contesto: «Un annuncio alla stazione». Forse c'è un ritardo o un cambio di binario.
Context: «An announcement at the station». Maybe there is a delay or a platform change.
Domanda: «Perché Ion arriva tardi?». Devo sentire un motivo.
Question: «Why is Ion arriving late?». I need to hear a reason.
Si sente: «Il corso è gratis». La risposta giusta dice: «Non si paga niente».
You hear: «The course is free». The right answer says: «You don't pay anything».
Si sente: «Il treno parte dal binario tre... ripeto, binario tre».
You hear: «The train leaves from platform three... I repeat, platform three».
Common mistakes
✗ Leggo le opzioni mentre ascolto.→ Leggo domande e opzioni prima di ascoltare.
While you listen you don't have time to read three sentences. Use the time before listening to read and underline.
✗ Al secondo ascolto cambio la risposta perché non sono sicuro.→ Cambio la risposta solo se al secondo ascolto sento una cosa diversa.
Changing without a reason often turns a right answer into a wrong one. Change only if you heard a clear piece of information.
✗ Non ho capito una parola: mi fermo e ci penso.→ Non ho capito una parola: continuo ad ascoltare.
While you think about the word, the text goes on and you miss the answer. You don't need to understand every word to answer.
✗ Ho sentito «pranzo», quindi scelgo l'opzione con «pranzo».→ Scelgo l'opzione che dice quello che ho capito.
Wrong options use words you hear in the text, but with another meaning: Il pranzo? No, il pranzo è a scuola.
Check yourself
Che tipo di informazione devi cercare quando ascolti?
Che cosa deve portare Lucas domani?
Oggi l'ufficio postale chiude alle 12.30.
Che tipo di informazione cerchi quando ascolti?
In one line
Before listening, read the context and the questions and imagine the situation; the first time get the general idea, the second time check. Don't stop on words you don't understand.
civicoach practice booklet · not an official document