B. Foundations of Language · Reading Longer Words and Sentences

Listening to Learn: Clarifying Questions and Listening Strategies

B1.1 B1.2 A1About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can listen carefully in small groups, big groups and everyday talk.
I can ask a clarifying question when something is not clear.
I can use listening strategies before, during and after I listen.
I can notice when a message is hard to understand and choose a good way to respond.
I can understand messages from a speaker's face, hands and body, not only from words.

Words to know

clarify
To make something clear. A clarifying question helps you understand something the speaker already said.

formal
A more serious or careful way of talking and listening, like during a class presentation or an assembly.

informal
A relaxed, everyday way of talking and listening, like chatting with a friend at recess.

signal words
Words that tell the listener what is coming, like first, next, because, for example and the most important thing.

summarize
To tell the most important ideas in a few words.

non-verbal
Without words. Faces, gestures and body language are non-verbal messages.

Remember from Grade 2

In Grade 2 you learned to show you are interested, restate what you heard in your own words, and ask relevant questions that stay on topic.

In Grade 3, you will listen to learn. You will ask clarifying questions, use listening strategies like a pro, and know what to do when a message is hard to understand.

Listening is everywhere

Think about all the times you listen in one day:

Informal: chatting with your family at breakfast, playing a game with a friend.
Formal: listening to the principal at an assembly, hearing a guest speaker, listening to a presentation.
Small group: working with 3 or 4 classmates on a project.
Large group: listening with the whole class at the carpet.

In every one of these, good listeners do the same three jobs: pay attention, understand, and respond.

Where	Formal or informal?	Small or large group?
Talking with a friend at recess	Informal	Small (2 people)
A firefighter visits your class	Formal	Large (whole class)
Planning a project with 3 classmates	A bit of both	Small
A school assembly in the gym	Formal	Large (whole school)

Different listening situations

Clarifying questions

A clarifying question asks the speaker to make something clearer. It is about something the speaker already said that you did not fully understand.

Here are some clarifying question starters:

"What do you mean by ___?"
"Did you say ___ or ___?"
"Can you give me an example of ___?"
"Can you say the part about ___ again?"
"What does the word ___ mean?"

A clarifying question is different from a question that asks for new information. "What do you mean by sap?" is clarifying. "Do you like pancakes?" is not.

Worked example

Let's ask a clarifying question

Your aunt says: "In early spring, we tap the maple trees. We collect the sap and boil it for a long time. It takes about 40 litres of sap to make 1 litre of syrup!"

You are not sure what tap means here. What could you ask?

First, notice the confusing part. You know tap as a gentle knock, but that doesn't seem to fit with trees and sap.
Use a starter: "What do you mean by tap the trees?"
Listen to the answer. Your aunt explains: "We make a small hole in the trunk and put in a spout so the sap can drip out."
Restate to check: "Oh! So tap means making a little hole so the sap can come out?"

**"What do you mean by tap the trees?"** It asks about something she already said, so it is a clarifying question.

Listening strategies: before, during and after

A strategy is a smart trick that helps you do something well. Good listeners use strategies at three times.

When	Strategies	What you might think
Before	Think about the topic. What do I already know? What do I want to find out? Why am I listening?	"This talk is about owls. I know owls hunt at night. I wonder what they eat."
During	Make a picture in your mind. Listen for signal words. Connect to things you know. Watch the speaker's face and hands. Notice the parts you don't understand.	"She said first, so a list of steps is coming."
After	Summarize the big ideas. Ask clarifying questions. Share what you think. Use what you learned.	"The big idea was that owls have special feathers for flying quietly."

Listening strategies

Signal words are like road signs

First, next, then, finally: steps or an order is coming.
Because, so: a reason or a result.
For example: an example is coming.
But, however: something different is coming.
The most important thing: listen extra carefully!

Signal words are like road signs for listeners. Each one warns you what kind of idea is coming next.

Listening to faces, hands and bodies

People also send messages without words. These are non-verbal messages.

A speaker who holds up three fingers may be telling you there are three parts.
A speaker who leans in and whispers may be telling a secret or an exciting part.
A friend who frowns and crosses their arms may be upset, even if they say "I'm fine."

Watch and listen. Together, the words and the body tell you the whole message.

Bodies send messages too. Watch and listen: the words and the body together tell you the whole message.

When a message is hard to understand

Sometimes you can't understand a message. That happens to everyone! Good listeners notice and then choose a good response.

The problem	A good response
The speaker talks too fast or too quietly.	"Could you please slow down?" or "Could you please speak a bit louder?"
There is a word you don't know.	"What does ___ mean?"
You missed a part because of a noise.	"Sorry, I missed the part about ___. Could you say it again?"
The ideas seem mixed up.	Restate and check: "Do you mean that ___?"
You are in a big group and can't interrupt.	Jot a note or remember your question, and ask at the end.

Fix-up strategies for listening

Just for fun

Riddle: What has lots of ears but can't hear a single word?

A cornfield! Luckily, your ears can listen to learn.

Worked example

Let's summarize what we heard

Your teacher reads this out loud:

"Canada geese fly south in the fall because their food gets covered by snow. They fly in a V shape. The goose at the front works the hardest, so the geese take turns being the leader. In the spring, they fly back north to have their babies."

Summarize it in one or two sentences.

Think: what is this mostly about? Canada geese flying south and back.
Which signal words did you hear? because (a reason) and so (a result).
Pick the most important ideas: they fly south in fall to find food, fly in a V and take turns leading, and come back in spring.
Say it in your own words, short and clear.

"Canada geese fly south in the fall to find food and come back in the spring. They fly in a V and take turns being the leader."

Talking circles

Many First Nations communities use a talking circle to share ideas. People pass a talking piece, such as a feather or a stone. The person holding it speaks, and everyone else listens with respect and without interrupting. Your class may use a talking circle too. It is a great way to practise deep, patient listening.

Hands-on activity

Listening detective at home

You need: a grown-up, a short news story, recipe or story from a book, and paper and a pencil.

Before: The grown-up tells you the topic. Say one thing you already know and one thing you want to find out.
During: The grown-up reads it aloud once. Listen for signal words. Make a tally mark each time you hear first, next, then, because, so or for example.
The grown-up uses one word you probably don't know. Ask a clarifying question about it.
After: Summarize the big idea in 1 or 2 sentences.
Switch! You read something aloud and your grown-up is the listener.

Talk about it: "Which strategy helped you the most?"

Your turn

Is this a clarifying question? A speaker says "Beavers build lodges." You ask, "What do you mean by lodges?"

Is this a clarifying question? A speaker talks about beavers. You ask, "Can we go swimming later?"

Name one thing you can do before listening to a talk about the moon.

You hear the words "first" and "next". What do they tell you?

A guest speaker talks very quietly and you can't hear. What is a polite response?

Your friend says "I'm fine" but frowns and looks down. What might the non-verbal message be?

Is listening to a presentation at a school assembly formal or informal?

More practice: warm-up

What does clarify mean?

Finish the clarifying question starter: "What do you mean by ___?" Use the word migrate.

Name one signal word that tells you a reason is coming.

Is chatting with your cousin at dinner formal or informal?

What is one thing you can do after listening?

More practice: on your own

Write a clarifying question for this: "The library will be closed for inventory next week."

Summarize in one sentence: "Snowshoes spread out your weight. This keeps you from sinking into deep snow. People have used snowshoes in Canada for a very long time, long before cars and snowmobiles."

During a class talk, a truck goes by and you miss part of the message. You don't want to interrupt. What can you do?

Why is it helpful to think about what you already know before listening?

A speaker holds up two fingers and says, "There are two reasons." How does the gesture help you?

Challenge

Turn this into a clarifying question: you think the speaker said the field trip is on Tuesday, but you're not sure if they said Thursday.

Your group is planning a poster. Two people talk at once and you can't understand either one. What could you say to help the whole group listen better?

Listen to this message and decide what is most important: "Tomorrow is a pizza lunch, so you don't need to bring lunch. Remember to bring your library book. Oh, and it might rain, so bring a raincoat." Summarize it as three short reminders.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Which is a clarifying question?

Which strategy do you use before listening?

You hear "for example". What is coming next?

The speaker is talking too fast. What is the best response?

Which situation is formal?

Someone says "Great job!" while rolling their eyes. What should you pay attention to?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: In Grade 3, listening becomes a tool for learning (B1.1, B1.2). Children ask clarifying questions, use before / during / after strategies, notice when they don't understand and respond appropriately, and read non-verbal cues.

How to help at home:

Before a story, news item or recipe, ask: "What do you already know about this?"
After, ask your child to summarize in one or two sentences instead of retelling everything.
Use a word your child doesn't know on purpose, and praise them when they ask what it means.
Model it yourself: "Wait, did you say Tuesday or Thursday?"

Common difficulties:

Asking any question instead of a clarifying question. Ask: "Is your question about something I said?"
Retelling every detail instead of summarizing. Ask: "What were the two most important parts?"
Not saying anything when confused. Many children worry about looking silly. Praise every clarifying question.

Note: listening behaviours vary across cultures and for children with disabilities. Eye contact, for example, is not the only way to show attention.