5.1 Listening – Listening to Ceremonious Speeches on YouTube and Jotting Down Phrases

 

Listening – Listening to Ceremonious Speeches on YouTube and Jotting Down Phrases

Paper: PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH

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Introduction

Listening is a critical skill in professional English, enabling learners to comprehend, interpret, and respond effectively. Ceremonious speeches, such as inaugural addresses, award acceptance speeches, or formal event speeches, are ideal for developing listening skills because they use formal language, rhetorical devices, and professional vocabulary.

Listening to speeches on platforms like YouTube allows learners to hear natural pronunciation, intonation, and emphasis while improving their ability to jot down key points and phrases. According to English for Science & Technology (Cambridge University Press, 2021), active listening enhances comprehension, note-taking ability, and professional communication skills.

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Importance of Listening to Ceremonious Speeches

Listening to formal speeches is beneficial because it:

• Enhances vocabulary and understanding of formal expressions

• Improves listening comprehension and focus

• Helps learners identify key phrases and ideas

• Demonstrates intonation, stress, and pauses in professional speech

• Prepares learners for meetings, presentations, and interviews

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How to Listen Effectively and Jot Down Phrases

Step 1: Select a Speech

• Choose a ceremonious or formal speech on YouTube (e.g., TED Talks, graduation addresses, corporate events).

Step 2: First Listening

• Listen to the speech without taking notes to understand the general context and flow.

Step 3: Second Listening

• Focus on key points, expressions, and formal phrases.

• Pause if needed to catch important phrases.

Step 4: Jotting Down Phrases

• Write down idiomatic expressions, formal connectors, and impactful phrases.

• Example phrases:

  • “It is an honor to be here today.”

  • “On behalf of the organization, I extend my heartfelt gratitude.”

  • “We strive for excellence and innovation in every endeavor.”

  • “This milestone marks a significant achievement in our journey.”

Step 5: Review and Practice

• Review the phrases and practice using them in your own writing or speaking.

• Create your own sentences with the new phrases to reinforce learning.

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Tips for Effective Note-Taking

1. Use abbreviations and symbols for faster jotting.

2. Focus on verbs, nouns, and key adjectives.

3. Highlight repeated or emphasized phrases.

4. Summarize ideas in bullet points instead of writing everything verbatim.

5. Review your notes and categorize phrases for formal introductions, conclusions, or acknowledgments.

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Benefits of Jotting Down Phrases

• Builds a personal library of formal expressions for professional use.

• Improves writing skills by incorporating formal phrases in reports or emails.

• Enhances speaking skills for presentations, meetings, and interviews.

• Strengthens listening comprehension and ability to follow complex speeches.

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Conclusion

Listening to ceremonious speeches on YouTube and jotting down phrases is a practical method to improve professional English skills. It develops listening, note-taking, vocabulary, and formal expression usage. Regular practice enables learners to communicate more effectively in academic, corporate, and professional settings, making them confident and articulate speakers.

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References

1. Veena Selvam et al. (2021). English for Science & Technology. Cambridge University Press.

2. Raman, Meenakshi & Sharma, Sangeeta (2019). Professional English. Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

3. Chellammal, V. (2003). Learning to Communicate. Allied Publishing House, New Delhi.

4. Using English (2017). Orient Blackswan, Chennai.

5. OER – Authentic Open Educational Resources