A Different First Impression

Your listening route

One conversation, three purposes

01

Understand the main idea

How does Sam’s impression change?

02

Collect the evidence

What do they observe? What does Maya know?

03

Notice the language

Listen for might, must, can’t and feelings.

Vocabulary preview

Open only what you need

impression

An idea you form about someone or something.

concentrating

Giving your attention to a task.

confused

Not understanding clearly: a person’s feeling.

confusing

Difficult to understand: something that causes the feeling.

tiring

Making someone feel tired.

satire

Humor or exaggeration used to comment on a situation.

break the ice

Help people feel comfortable and start talking.

Before listening

What might a quiet volunteer be doing?

Make a prediction, then listen. Predictions are not graded.

Professional audio

Sam and Maya at the community center

General American English

Sam + MayaTwo volunteers preparing a community food collection

Speed

Ready at 0.75×. Listen for the clues.

First listen · Main idea

Why does Sam change his first impression?

Second listen · Evidence

Find what Alex is doing and why Maya feels tired.

Third listen · Language

Notice deductions, feelings and the poster’s joke.

Listening self-check: 0 of 3 passes marked.

Listening check

Choose the answer supported by the conversation

1. What event are Sam and Maya preparing for?

Question 1: choose one answerA. A student film festivalB. A community food collectionC. A job interview

2. What is Alex doing when Sam first notices him?

Question 2: choose one answerA. Sitting alone with a notebookB. Carrying boxes through the doorC. Talking to a group of guests

3. What is Sam’s first impression of Alex?

Question 3: choose one answerA. He seems very experiencedB. He seems excited to meet everyoneC. He looks bored and uninterested

4. What alternative explanation does Maya suggest?

Question 4: choose one answerA. Alex might be concentratingB. Alex must be angry with SamC. Alex cannot understand the instructions

5. What does Maya explain about Alex’s notebook?

Question 5: choose one answerA. He is writing a complaint about the eventB. He is drawing a poster for the doorC. He is checking the guest list and learning names

6. Why does Sam think Maya must be tired?

Question 6: choose one answerA. She says she did not sleep last nightB. She has been working since six that morningC. She has just finished a long journey

7. Why did Maya feel confused at first?

Question 7: choose one answerA. The instructions were confusingB. She could not find Alex’s notebookC. The guests had arrived at the wrong place

8. Why is the poster satire rather than a real report?

Question 8: choose one answerA. It gives the wrong time for the eventB. It tells volunteers to stop workingC. It imagines coffee cups asking for a holiday

9. What does “break the ice” mean in this conversation?

Question 9: choose one answerA. Make the drinks colderB. Help start a friendly conversationC. Finish moving the heavy boxes

10. What does Sam plan to do next?

Question 10: choose one answerA. Invite Alex to help with the boxes and hear his storyB. Tell Alex to leave the eventC. Ignore Alex until the food collection ends

Language noticing

How the speakers explain their ideas

A possibility

Why this language?

Might leaves room for other explanations. Being quiet does not prove boredom.

A strong deduction

Why this language?

Sam gives evidence: Maya has worked since six. Must expresses a deduction here, not an obligation.

Feeling and cause

Why this language?

Confused describes Maya’s feeling. Confusing describes the instructions that caused it.

A strong negative deduction

Why this language?

Sam rules out a literal report about cups asking for a holiday. Maya confirms that it is satire.

A contrast

Why this language?

Although connects two contrasting ideas: a funny poster and tiring work.

A friendly action

Why this language?

The idiom means help people start a conversation and feel comfortable.

Speak from what you heard

Explain the change in 45 seconds

Describe Sam’s first impression, give the evidence that changed it and explain what you would say to Alex. Then listen to your partner’s idea and respond.

First impressionAt first, Sam thought…

EvidenceMaya explained that…

Your responseI would ask Alex…

Listen and respondThat’s possible, but…

Speaking timer00:45

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One conversation, three purposes

Understand the main idea

Collect the evidence

Notice the language

Open only what you need

What might a quiet volunteer be doing?

Sam and Maya at the community center

Sam and Maya · Transcript

First listen · Main idea

Second listen · Evidence

Third listen · Language

Choose the answer supported by the conversation

1. What event are Sam and Maya preparing for?

2. What is Alex doing when Sam first notices him?

3. What is Sam’s first impression of Alex?

4. What alternative explanation does Maya suggest?

5. What does Maya explain about Alex’s notebook?

6. Why does Sam think Maya must be tired?

7. Why did Maya feel confused at first?

8. Why is the poster satire rather than a real report?

9. What does “break the ice” mean in this conversation?

10. What does Sam plan to do next?

How the speakers explain their ideas

A possibility

A strong deduction

Feeling and cause

A strong negative deduction

A contrast

A friendly action

Explain the change in 45 seconds

Use the clues in a new situation