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Tamy Chapman, Dana Saito-Stehberger, and Brad Gilpin

This course will help non-native English speakers improve their listening and note-taking skills for the purpose of listening to academic lectures. You will learn techniques for improving your understanding and skills for taking more effective notes, and you will get lots of practice in using these. If you're planning to attend college classes in English, then this class is for you.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand and follow a lecture

2. Take better lecture notes

3. Discuss courses with classmates and professors

Read more

This course will help non-native English speakers improve their listening and note-taking skills for the purpose of listening to academic lectures. You will learn techniques for improving your understanding and skills for taking more effective notes, and you will get lots of practice in using these. If you're planning to attend college classes in English, then this class is for you.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Understand and follow a lecture

2. Take better lecture notes

3. Discuss courses with classmates and professors

4. Give an effective academic presentation

Please note that the free version of this class gives you access to all of the instructional videos and handouts. The peer feedback and quizzes are only available in the paid version.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome
This is the first course in the Learn English: Advanced Speaking and Listening specialization. It is aimed at learners whose native language is not English. This course will help you improve your academic listening and speaking skills. For example, you will learn how to understand and follow a lecture, how to take better lecture notes, how to discuss courses with classmates and professors, and how to give an effective academic presentation.
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What is Academic Listening and Why is It Important?
This week, you will begin thinking about academic listening. You will learn what makes it difficult and how you can get better at listening and note taking. You'll also learn some tips to make it easier.
Identifying Topic and Purpose
Now, you will learn about strategies to make you a better listener. You'll learn about what things to pay the most attention to and what things might not be so important in a lecture. You'll also learn that listening well to a lecture starts before the class and continues after the class.
Identifying Main Ideas and Details
Last week, you learned about listening to the beginning of a class lecture. This week, you will learn about listening to the middle of the lecture. You'll learn about idenifying main ideas and details and how to organize them well in your notes.
Identifying Stance and Speaker Attitude
You've been learning about how to listen and take notes about various parts of a lecture. In this final week, you'll learn about some other strategies to help you listen and take notes more effectively in lectures.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Teaches strategies to improve listening skills, a core benefit for learners
Enhances note-taking skills, valuable for academic pursuits
Provides techniques for comprehension and improved academic outcomes
Course explicitly designed for non-native English speakers
Explicitly targets learners planning to attend English-based college classes
Requires prerequisites, which may extend learning time

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Reviews summary

Academic listening proficient course

Learners say a course on Academic Listening and Note-Taking is largely positive, especially helping students grasp note-taking skills and preparing them for the TOEFL exam.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Academic Listening and Note-Taking with these activities:
Review Academic Vocabulary
Reviewing essential academic vocabulary will enable you to develop a stronger foundation for understanding lectures.
Browse courses on Active Listening
Show steps
  • Identify relevant vocabulary from course materials.
  • Use online resources, such as dictionaries, to define and understand the terms.
  • Create flashcards or notes to help memorize the vocabulary.
Connect with Academic Support Services
Reach out to academic support services, such as writing centers or tutoring, to provide personalized guidance and support.
Show steps
  • Identify academic support services available at your institution.
  • Attend workshops or schedule appointments with tutors or mentors.
  • Discuss your learning goals and areas where you need support.
Online Listening Quizzes
Take online listening quizzes to assess your understanding of lectures and identify areas for improvement.
Browse courses on Assessment
Show steps
  • Find online listening quizzes or resources.
  • Listen to the audio clips and answer the comprehension questions.
  • Review your results and identify any areas where you need more practice.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Note-Taking Techniques
Practice various note-taking techniques to improve your ability to capture and retain important information during lectures.
Browse courses on Academic Skills
Show steps
  • Find online tutorials or resources on different note-taking methods.
  • Experiment with different methods to discover what works best for you.
  • Apply these techniques while listening to sample lectures.
  • Seek feedback from instructors or peers to refine your note-taking.
Peer Discussion Groups
Engage in peer discussion groups to exchange insights, clarify concepts, and reinforce learning.
Browse courses on Collaboration
Show steps
  • Form a study group with classmates.
  • Choose a topic or lecture to discuss.
  • Take turns presenting your understanding and insights.
  • Discuss different perspectives and ask clarifying questions.
Active Listening Exercises
Engage in active listening exercises to enhance your ability to focus, follow, and understand lectures.
Browse courses on Active Listening
Show steps
  • Identify a lecture or video.
  • Listen attentively, taking notes as you would in a real lecture.
  • After listening, summarize the main points and key details.
  • Discuss your summary with a peer or instructor for feedback.
Create a Study Guide
Compile a comprehensive study guide that summarizes the key concepts, definitions, and examples covered in the course.
Browse courses on Study Skills
Show steps
  • Review your lecture notes and course materials.
  • Identify the main topics and subtopics.
  • Summarize the key points for each topic.
  • Organize the information logically.
  • Add examples, illustrations, or diagrams to enhance understanding.

Career center

Learners who complete Academic Listening and Note-Taking will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Professor
This course, Academic Listening and Note-Taking, is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their ability to understand and take notes during academic lectures. As a Professor, you will need to be able to deliver lectures effectively, making this course a valuable resource for developing your skills in this area. By learning techniques for improving your understanding and skills for taking more effective notes, you can become a more effective communicator and educator.
Teacher
This course, Academic Listening and Note-Taking, is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their ability to understand and take notes during academic lectures. As a Teacher, you will need to be able to listen to and understand your students' questions and responses, and to take notes on their progress. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective communicator and educator.
Educational Consultant
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As an Educational Consultant, you will need to be able to understand and interpret educational materials, and to communicate effectively with students, parents, and other educators. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective consultant and advocate for your clients.
Speech-Language Pathologist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Speech-Language Pathologist, you will need to be able to assess and treat individuals with speech and language disorders, and to develop and implement effective treatment plans. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective clinician and advocate for your clients.
Audiologist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As an Audiologist, you will need to be able to assess and treat individuals with hearing loss and other auditory disorders, and to develop and implement effective treatment plans. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective clinician and advocate for your clients.
Archivist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As an Archivist, you will need to be able to understand and interpret archival materials, and to communicate effectively with researchers and other stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective archivist and advocate for your collections.
Librarian
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Librarian, you will need to be able to understand and interpret library materials, and to communicate effectively with patrons. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective librarian and advocate for your patrons.
Journalist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Journalist, you will need to be able to understand and interpret news events, and to communicate effectively with sources and the public. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective journalist and advocate for your readers.
Museum curator
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Museum Curator, you will need to be able to understand and interpret museum collections, and to communicate effectively with visitors and other stakeholders. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective curator and advocate for your collections.
Engineer
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As an Engineer, you will need to be able to understand and interpret technical information, and to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective engineer and advocate for your clients.
Doctor
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Doctor, you will need to be able to understand and interpret medical information, and to communicate effectively with patients and other healthcare professionals. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective doctor and advocate for your patients.
Computer Scientist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Computer Scientist, you will need to be able to understand and interpret technical information, and to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective computer scientist and advocate for your clients.
Lawyer
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Lawyer, you will need to be able to understand and interpret legal documents, and to communicate effectively with clients and other legal professionals. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective lawyer and advocate for your clients.
Data Scientist
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Data Scientist, you will need to be able to understand and interpret data, and to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective data scientist and advocate for your clients.
Financial Analyst
The Academic Listening and Note-Taking course is designed to help non-native English speakers improve their academic listening and note-taking skills. As a Financial Analyst, you will need to be able to understand and interpret financial information, and to communicate effectively with colleagues and clients. This course can help you develop the skills you need to be an effective financial analyst and advocate for your clients.

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Academic Listening and Note-Taking.
Is designed to help students develop the skills they need to listen effectively in academic settings. It covers a wide range of topics, including understanding lectures, taking notes, and participating in discussions.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the theory and practice of listening in the language classroom. It covers a wide range of topics, including the different types of listening, the factors that affect listening comprehension, and the strategies that can be used to improve listening skills.
Provides a step-by-step guide to taking effective notes. It covers a variety of topics, including the different types of notes, the strategies that can be used to take notes, and the ways that notes can be used to improve learning.
Provides a practical guide to improving listening skills. It covers a wide range of topics, including the different types of listening, the factors that affect listening comprehension, and the strategies that can be used to improve listening skills.
Provides a practical guide to developing greater empathy, richer relationships, and greater success in all aspects of life through the power of effective listening.
Provides a practical guide to improving listening skills in all areas of life, from personal relationships to professional settings.
Provides a practical guide to improving listening skills in all areas of life, from personal relationships to professional settings.
Provides a framework for personal and professional success, including the importance of effective listening.
Provides a framework for understanding the importance of mindset and how it can impact success, including the importance of effective listening.
Provides a framework for understanding the importance of emotional intelligence and how it can impact success, including the importance of effective listening.
Provides a framework for understanding the importance of introversion and how it can impact success, including the importance of effective listening.

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