Выбор языка
RU
/
EN
25 мин
Listening
for details
AGENT
1 тема
3 задания
Миссия 11
25 min
Listening
for details
AGENT
1 topic
3 tasks
Mission 11
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS
Восприятие на слух a.k.a. «аудирование» — довольно комплексная штука, где общий смысл и отдельные слова прочно связаны друг с другом.

В контексте мы обычно знаем, чего ожидать, и сами додумываем, как интерпретировать услышанное, и поэтому часто не обращаем внимания на лишние детали. На практике это называется «примерно понял».
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS
Listening comprehension is rather a complex thing where the overall meaning and separate words are closely entwined.

In the context, we normally know what to expect and tell ourselves how to interpret what we heard thus disregarding the details. In practice, it’s called 'practically understood'.
А если примерно понял, с деталями можно не заморачиваться, правда? Неправда.

Без внимания к мелочам мечты о нормальном уровне останутся мечтами, поэтому чем раньше мы начнем воспринимать детали всерьёз, тем быстрее дела пойдут в гору.

Сегодня мы увидим, какое значение имеют детали для понимания контекста.
And if it’s 'practically understood' , why bother about the details, right? Not really.

Without attention to detail, dreams about a proper level will remain dreams. Therefore, the sooner we start taking details seriously, the faster things will advance.

Today, we’ll see how crucial details can be to understanding the context.
1.
Для разминки
Попробуйте понять, о чём речь в этом отрывке.
Большинство слов понятны:

  • If you were a _______, what _______ would you be?

Но без этого пропущенного слова всё, что мы услышали, не имеет никакого смысла.

Послушаем снова:

  • If you were a sh___p, what sh___p would you be?


Похоже на sheep, но серьёзно, sheep?!

Послушаем ещё несколько раз. Между [ʃ] и [p] явно дифтонг, который говорящий изуродовал, как мог. Перебираем все известные дифтонги, которые могли бы тут быть и останавливаемся, конечно, на [eɪ].


  • If you were a shape, what shape would you be? — Если бы ты был геометрической фигурой, какая бы это была фигура?

Не то чтобы это нам добавило контекста, но теперь услышанное имеет хотя бы какой-то смысл.

1.
As a warm-up
Try to understand what this piece is about.
Most of the words are clear:

  • If you were a _______, what _______ would you be?

However, without the missing bit, what we heard does not make much sense.


Let’s give it another try:

  • If you were a sh___p, what sh___p would you be?


Sounds a bit like sheep, but seriously, sheep?!

Let’s give it a few more listens. There’s clearly a diphthong between [ʃ] and [p], which the speaker distorted as badly as he could. We go through all the diphthongs we know and surely decide on [eɪ].


  • If you were a shape, what shape would you be? — Если бы ты был геометрической фигурой, какая бы это была фигура?

Not that it gave us more context but it makes at least a bit of sense now.

2.
Продолжаем разминку. Определите наиболее вероятный контекст, в котором прозвучала фраза.

1.
'What year' тут услышат даже самые маленькие. И даже самые маленькие хоть на десятое прослушивание, да услышат 'are you in'.

  • What year are you in?

Хм, «в каком ты году»? Логическая операция в одно действие — и можно понять, что речь об учёбе, а именно, о годе обучения. «На каком ты курсе?»

2.
Здесь всё до неприличия отчётливо.

  • Can I take your number?

Значение очевидно: «Можно ваш номер телефона?»
Контекст почти любой — от разговора случайных незнакомцев в курилке модного клуба до назначения деловой встречи.

3.
  • Are you doing anything to celebrate?

Снова всё понятно. Пацан к успеху шёл-шёл и пришёл. Сдал экзамен, взял ипотеку, погасил судимость, а может, женился или, наоборот, развёлся. Есть и другие поводы отметить, главный вопрос — как.

Теперь сами. Проверьте, насколько у вас получится определить контекст без подсказок.



2.
Read between the lines (even if there’s only one)
Let’s proceed with the warm-up. Try to determine the context of the phrase uttered.

1.
'What year' will be identified even by a complete beginner. And even complete beginners will be able to hear 'are you in', although it may take a few listens.

  • What year are you in?

Now it makes sense. Year of study at college or university.

2.
Here, everything is awkwardly clear.

  • Can I take your number?

It’s like "Can I have your number?" - in any kind of context, from a conversation between strangers in a night club to making a business appointment.

3.
  • Are you doing anything to celebrate?

Quite clear, again. Fake it till you make it. You've passed your driving test, taken out a mortgage, got out on bail or maybe got married or even divorced. What matters is how you celebrate it, not what you celebrate.

Over to you now. Let's see how you manage to determine the context with no prompts at all.



EXERCISES
It's all simple: a short recording followed by a question. If you get it right, you'll be awarded a badge by the Chief of the General Staff. If you get it wrong, we'll explain what's what.

Which is the most likely context?
Choose the option that fits best according to what you hear.


No.
Come on, there are rooms, not flats in a hotel.
Exactly!
The estate agent doesn't know there are roaches in the kitchen.
God, no!
'Rest' here means the remaining part, not relaxation.
True.
And they're now going to have it wrapped.
No.
Go be a rapper somewhere else.
Hmm...
Where did that even come from?
Nah,
but 'what-do-you' kinda sounds like 'watch'
Yep.
What do you want to do?
No.
'What-do-you' kinda sounds like 'watch', but don't let us trick you again.
No.
Please listen again.
Gotcha!
He hasn't done anything wrong to be apologising.
Yes,
his Huawei phone doesn't support Google Maps anymore.
No,
not for permission.
No.
There was nothing about 'where'.
Right!
Please note that in 'shall we' many people don't pronounce the 'L'.
Negative.
The Beatles are 'they', not 'he'.
No.
Someone's heard a serious hymn.
Yes,
and it's time for them to find out
Correct!
But he pretends he is interested.
No.
'Maybe some other time' means 'not today'.
No.
Not even close.
No.
Not quite so.
No.
Perhaps, later.
Yes,
before you can talk you're nothing but 'it'.
No.
Not necessarily.
Yes,
I do!
No,
we'll talk about that later.
No,
you don't normally 'do' a film.
Exactly!
How long have you been doing that?
No.
Highly unlikely.
No.
Nothing kinky.
Exactly!
And another hour in bed could do the job.
No.
No one I know can do that.
Yep.
So happy he couldn't live anywhere else now.
No.
That'd be overthinking. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.
No.
It's a conditional 'couldn't'.
No.
No indication of that.
Right.
Have a weekend away.
No.
We'd better ask her to clarify.
No,
it's a different kind of 'put off'.
No,
he only sounds apologetic.
Very much so.
He can't be Asian.
Uh-huh!
They must have got in late.
Not necessarily.
Perhaps, the speaker was happy to spend the night on her own.
No,
'get in' means 'arrive'.
Конец справки
Всё! Возвращайтесь в Телеграм, там вас ждут ваши союзники. Не стесняйтесь задавать любые вопросы в чате — со всем поможем и подскажем.
END OF THE GUIDE
That’s it! Go back to Telegram, your allies are waiting for you. Feel free to ask any questions in the chat — we will help you with everything and prompt you.