Listening for Speaker's Attitude Flashcards

Listen to a student talking to a friend. (Audio excerpt: 'Oh, great. Another group project. That's just what I needed this semester. I can't wait to try and coordinate five different people's schedules all over again.') What is the student's attitude toward the group project?

Answer: He is being sarcastic and is not happy about the project.

The student's tone and exaggeratedly positive phrases like 'Oh, great' and 'I can't wait' are used sarcastically. This contrast between the words and the likely negative feeling associated with coordinating difficult schedules indicates his displeasure.

Listen to a professor discussing a student's proposal. (Audio excerpt: 'Well, that's certainly... an ambitious proposal, Mark. The scope is quite broad for a single semester. Are you confident you can reasonably cover all these topics in ten weeks?') What is the professor's attitude?

Answer: Polite skepticism

The professor uses hesitant language ('Well...') and qualifiers like 'ambitious' and 'quite broad' to gently express doubt. The final question, 'Are you confident...?', places the burden of proof on the student, signaling the professor's skepticism about the feasibility of the project.

Listen to two students discussing a test. (Audio excerpt: 'I can't believe Professor Jensen put that question on the exam! He specifically said the last chapter wasn't going to be on it. I spent all my time on the other units!') Which of the following best describes the speaker's attitude?

Answer: Surprise and frustration

The speaker's high-energy tone, combined with the phrase 'I can't believe,' clearly shows surprise. The explanation that he feels mislead ('He specifically said...') and wasted his study time points directly to frustration.

Listen to a student talking about a lecture. (Audio excerpt: 'You should have been in Dr. Albright's lecture on astrophysics today! The way she explained black holes... it just finally clicked. It was absolutely fascinating!') What can be inferred about the student's feelings toward the lecture?

Answer: She was highly engaged and impressed.

The speaker's energetic tone, use of positive words like 'fascinating,' and the phrase 'it just finally clicked' all indicate a strong positive reaction. She is expressing enthusiasm and a newfound understanding of a complex topic.

Listen to a student at the campus housing office. (Audio excerpt: 'So... let me see if I have this right. I need to submit this form, pay the deposit, and get my advisor's signature... but I can't do any of that until my registration for next semester is confirmed?') What does the student's tone imply?

Answer: Confusion

The student speaks slowly and uses a rising intonation at the end of his sentence, which is a common way to express uncertainty or ask for confirmation. By repeating the steps as he understands them and ending with a question, he is signaling that he is confused and seeking clarification.

Listen to a professor ending a lecture. (Audio excerpt: 'And that, in essence, is the primary theory. Now, I should mention, there are a few... well, a few dissenting opinions in the field that offer alternative models. But for the purposes of next week's exam, you should focus on the main theory we've just covered.') What is the professor's attitude toward the dissenting opinions?

Answer: She is dismissing them as irrelevant for the current scope of the class.

The professor mentions the dissenting opinions but uses hesitant phrasing ('a few... well, a few') before immediately redirecting the students' focus back to the main theory for the exam. This action dismisses the alternative models as being outside the scope of what is currently important for the students to know.