XII-1: Theories of Motivation
Warm-up and Vocabulary
Strategy Focus: The ‘Big Picture’ Listening Method
On the TOEFL, the very first question after a lecture is almost always a “gist” question. These questions ask about the lecture’s main topic or primary purpose. Mastering this skill is crucial because it sets the foundation for understanding the entire lecture.
How to Identify the Gist:
The main idea is usually stated in the introduction of the lecture. You must pay close attention to the first 30-45 seconds.
1. Listen for “Purpose” Language: The professor will often state their goal directly.
- “Today, we’re going to talk about…”
- “This morning, I want to discuss two main theories of…”
- “The main focus of our lecture today will be…”
- “What I want to do today is compare and contrast…”
2. Listen for a “Thesis” Statement: The professor will state the main point they are going to explain or argue.
- “So, the fundamental difference between these two is…”
- “It’s widely believed that X is the cause, but today we’ll see that Y is actually more significant.”
3. Distinguish Main Idea from Details: The main idea is the umbrella that covers all the other points. The details are the examples, statistics, and specific facts that support the main idea.
Example Question Stems for Gist:
- What is the main topic of the lecture?
- What is the lecture mainly about?
- What is the professor’s main purpose in the lecture?
- Why does the professor mention…? (When asking about the overall purpose)
By focusing on the introduction and listening for these signal phrases, you can confidently identify the main idea and purpose before the professor even gets to the details.
Skill Practice
Instructions: You will now listen to a 2-minute excerpt from a psychology lecture. Listen carefully for the main idea and purpose. You will listen only once. After the audio, you will have 2 minutes to answer two questions.