Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
In the B2 course you learnt the basics: key words only, symbols such as → and ↑, numbered lists and space on the page. At C1 the talks are faster and denser, so the real bottleneck is decision-making. For every sentence you hear, you have about a second to decide: write it, compress it, or let it go?
Three questions make that decision quicker:
One more habit separates C1 note-takers from B2 ones: lag by one idea. Lecturers usually set up a point before they make it, so listen to the end of the idea, then write it in your own short form while the next idea is being set up.
| Keep (write something) | Drop (or a one-word tag) |
|---|---|
| The claim or main point | The run-up to it: What's interesting here is that… |
| Numbers, with what they measure and when | Rephrasings: put another way…, in other words… |
| Relationships: cause (→), contrast (≠), condition (if) | Long examples: keep a one-word tag (e.g. menus) |
| Qualifiers: some, may, usually, in cities | Digressions and jokes |
| The lecturer's evaluation: + / − / ? | Articles, auxiliaries, most adjectives |
| New terms the lecturer defines | Anything you already have on the page |
Standard symbols (→ ↑ ↓ ≈ ≠ ∴ = therefore, w/ = with, w/o = without, b/c = because) are only the start. Fast note-takers also:
The rule is consistency: your shorthand must mean the same thing every time, or you will not be able to read it after the talk.
Read what the lecturer says. Choose the note that is short AND keeps the meaning.
Food deserts (FDs) = area where fresh, affordable, healthy food hard to buy
3 responses
Caution (lect.)
Next: online grocery delivery
Take your own notes as you listen. Then complete the notes below. Write ONE WORD ONLY for each answer.
Use your notes to put the parts of the lecture in the order the lecturer presents them.
Listen once and take notes. Then answer from your notes, without playing the talk again.
Here are notes that different learners took on the zebra talk. For each point, choose the note that records it accurately.
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“Experienced note-takers develop their own shorthand for words they hear often.”
“Good notes show the structure of a talk at a glance.”
“Jot down the word you heard and check it later.”
“The estate became a food desert when its only supermarket closed.”
“Many rural areas qualify as food deserts because the distances are so great.”
“The most robust finding is that occupied time feels shorter.”
“Ten minutes with nothing to do can really drag.”
“These principles rarely work in isolation.”
“Perceived fairness can matter more than the actual waiting time.”
“The explanations are not mutually exclusive: several may be true.”
“The stripes were once thought to work as camouflage in tall grass.”
“Studies of the cooling effect have produced mixed results.”
