Listen and Repeat
Repeat sentences accurately by listening for meaning, chunks and rhythm rather than single words.
In this lesson you will
- Hold a sentence in memory by meaning and chunks
- Copy stress and rhythm
- Recover smoothly if you miss a word
Learn
You hear a sentence — often from a campus or everyday situation — and repeat it exactly. Sentences get longer and more complex.
Listen for meaning, not single words. It is easier to remember the library opens at eight on weekdays as an idea than as nine separate words.
Think in chunks: the library / opens at eight / on weekdays. Repeat with the same pauses and stress: content words are strong, small words are weak (at, on, the).
If you miss something, keep the grammar natural and continue — a complete, fluent sentence is better than stopping.
Practise by shadowing: play a sentence and say it at the same time, then alone.
Examples
- the LIBrary / OPens at EIGHT / on WEEKdays
- please reTURN your BOOKS / to the FRONT DESK
- group STUdy rooms / can be BOOKED / ONline
Vocabulary
chunk
a group of words said together
rhythm
the pattern of strong and weak beats
shadowing
speaking along with a recording
stress
saying a syllable or word more strongly
accurately
correctly and exactly
Practice
What is easiest to remember?
Speaking
Listen and repeat: “Group study rooms can be booked online.” Then: “The swimming pool is closed for cleaning on Monday mornings.”
Model answer
Group study rooms can be booked online. The swimming pool is closed for cleaning on Monday mornings.
Lesson quiz
Copying rhythm helps accuracy.
Review
Key points
- Remember meaning and chunks.
- Copy stress and rhythm.
- Keep going if you miss a word.
- Practise with shadowing.
What you learned
- ✓ I can repeat longer sentences.
- ✓ I use chunks and rhythm.
- ✓ I recover smoothly.