Intro ID Sheet Pitch Perfect Listening
Lesson 1: Biographical Identification
What is an Elevator Pitch?
In a professional setting, an "Elevator Pitch" is a very short introduction (30-60 seconds). Today, we will listen to three scholars introduce themselves. Listen carefully for their **name**, **country**, **field of study**, and **job**.
Pitch 1
Case Study: Scholar A
Full Name
Country of Origin
Field of Study
Current Role (Job)
Pitch 2
Case Study: Scholar B
Full Name
Country of Origin
Field of Study
Current Role (Job)
Pitch 3
Case Study: Scholar C
Full Name
Country of Origin
Field of Study
Current Role (Job)
Quick Reflection
Which pitch was the easiest to understand? Why? (Think about speed, volume, and word choice).
Pitch Master Slides Pitch Perfect
Mastering the Elevator Pitch
SOCIAL NETWORK SCHOLAR // LESSON 01
Who is the Biologist?
?
Speaker A
"Hi, I'm Sarah..."
?
Speaker B
"Hello, I'm David..."
?
Speaker C
"Hey, my name's Lin..."
Listen carefully. We will identify their Country , Field , and Role .
The "Elevator Pitch"
Fast
30 to 60 seconds long.
Focused
Who you are and what you do.
Networking
Used at conferences and meetings.
What do we listen for?
Core Detail
Identity
Professional Detail
Expertise
Field of Study
Current Job/Degree
💡 Pro-tip: Beginners often listen for Keywords rather than full sentences.
Ready to Listen?
Get your Intro ID Sheet ready.
Listen 1: Gist
Listen 2: Details
Pitch Facilitator Guide Pitch Perfect Listening
Teacher Facilitation Guide
LESSON 1
Lesson Objective
Students will accurately identify four key biographical data points from short, professional spoken introductions: name, country, field of study, and job role.
Duration
60 Minutes
Level
ESL Beginner / Graduate
Suggested Pacing
10 min **Hook:** Play the three pitches (Scripts 1-3) quickly. Poll the class: "Who is the biologist?"
15 min **Concept:** Use Slides to define "Elevator Pitch" and high-frequency keywords.
20 min **Activity:** Distribute Intro ID Sheets. Read Scripts 1-3 again (twice each). Students fill in details.
15 min **Review & Reflection:** Check answers using the Key. Discuss comprehension difficulties.
Listening Scripts
Read these at a natural, slightly brisk professional speed. Do not over-enunciate unless the class is struggling significantly.
Pitch 1: Sarah (The Biologist)
"Hello everyone! My name is Sarah Miller. I’m originally from Canada. I’m currently a PhD candidate in Marine Biology, and my main role is a Research Assistant at the Ocean Institute. It's great to meet you all!"
Pitch 2: David (The Engineer)
"Hi there! I'm David Chen. I come from China. My field is Civil Engineering, specifically structural design. Right now, I work as a Senior Project Manager for a firm in Shanghai. Happy to be here!"
Pitch 3: Lin (The Historian)
"Hey everyone, my name is Lin Wu. I'm from Taiwan. I study Modern History, focusing on the 20th century. My job is a Teaching Fellow at the university. I'm looking forward to connecting!"
Intro ID Key Answer Key: Intro ID Sheet
Lesson 1: Biographical Identification
Teacher Reference
1
Pitch 1: Sarah Miller
Full Name
Sarah Miller
Country
Canada
Field of Study
Marine Biology
Job Role
Research Assistant
2
Pitch 2: David Chen
Full Name
David Chen
Country
China
Field of Study
Civil Engineering
Job Role
Senior Project Manager
3
Pitch 3: Lin Wu
Full Name
Lin Wu
Country
Taiwan
Field of Study
Modern History
Job Role
Teaching Fellow
Post-Activity Discussion Points
• Did anyone miss David's country because it was short? (China)
• Sarah's job role is two words (Research Assistant). Was that harder to catch?
• How does the structure "I'm originally from..." help listeners prepare for the country?
Cafe Transaction Slides Order Up!
Cafe Transactions & Polite Requests
The Fast Barista
Cafe environments are **loud** and **fast**. Baristas often speak quickly.
"Heywhatcangetcha? Needroomforcream?"
Today's Goal:
Listen for specific **options** (Milk? Sugar? Size?)
Respond with **polite requests**.
Cafe Keywords
Preferences
Whole/Skim
Room for...
Decaf
To go
Politeness
Could I have...
May I get...
Please
Thank you
Can I have a... [Drink] + [Option]?
Listen for the Question
"Anything else?"
Translation: Do you want more food or drink?
"For here or to go?"
Translation: Will you stay or leave?
"What size?"
Translation: Small, Medium, or Large?
Simulation Time
I will be the Barista. You are the Graduate Student needing coffee. Listen carefully to my questions and complete your Order Up Worksheet .
Waiter
Customer
Order Up Worksheet Order Up!
Transactional Listening Task
CUSTOMER:
DATE:
Part 1: Categorizing Options
Listen to the Barista explain the options. Place the keywords in the correct category.
Milk / Dairy
Sweeteners
Sizes
Part 2: Check the Order
You will hear three orders. Check the boxes for what the customer wants.
Order #101
Drink
Latte
Americano
Milk
Whole
Skim
Size
Small
Large
Location
For here
To go
Order #102
Drink
Tea
Mocha
Sugar
1 Packet
No Sugar
Temp
Hot
Iced
Location
For here
To go
Part 3: Make it Polite
You hear: "What do you want?" - Write a polite request to order a **Large Iced Coffee with Soy Milk**.
Cafe Roleplay Cards Cafe Role-Play Cards
Cut along the dotted lines. Use in pairs or groups.
Customer A
The Morning Rush
Your Order:
1 Medium Latte
Skim Milk
To Go
Note: Be polite! Use "Could I have..."
Barista A
The Busy Barista
Your Script:
• Speak quickly.
• "Next! What can I get for you?"
• "Whole milk or skim?"
• "Stay or to go?"
Customer B
The Afternoon Tea
Your Order:
1 Large Iced Tea
1 Sugar Packet
For Here
Note: Be polite! Use "May I get..."
Barista B
The Helpful Barista
Your Script:
• Speak clearly but at a normal speed.
• "Welcome. How can I help you?"
• "Sweetener or no?"
• "Anything else today?"
Cafe Simulation Guide Cafe Simulation Guide
Teacher Facilitation & Scripts
LESSON 2
Lesson Objective
Students will practice transactional listening in high-pressure (fast) and normal social environments. They will categorize common cafe vocabulary and accurately check order details based on spoken prompts.
Cafe Simulation
Social Functions
How to Run the Simulation
Step 1: Use the "Fast Barista" hook. Speak as quickly as possible using the scripts below. Students should just try to "catch" the gist.
Step 2: Hand out the "Order Up Worksheet". Read the Part 1 vocabulary words slowly for categorization.
Step 3: Read the two orders for Part 2. Read each twice: once fast, once at normal speed.
Step 4: Distribute "Role-play Cards" for student-to-student practice.
Barista Scripts
Vocabulary Categorization (Part 1)
"Here are our options today: We have **Whole**, **Skim**, and **Oat milk**. For sweeteners, we have **Sugar**, **Splenda**, and **Honey**. Sizes are **Small**, **Medium**, and **Large**."
Order 101 (Part 2)
"Welcome. What can I get ya? Okay, a **Latte**. You want **Whole milk** or skim? Whole, got it. What size? **Small**? Okay. Is that **To go**? Perfect."
Order 102 (Part 2)
"Hey! You want the usual? A **Mocha**? Cool. **Iced** or hot today? Iced, nice. You want a **Packet of sugar** in that? No? Okay. **For here**? You got it."
Key Goal: Students should stop worrying about every word and focus on the **nouns** (milk types, sizes).
Clear the Air Slides Clear the Air
Clarification & Repair Strategies
What did they say?
"I think the [mumble] is [mumble] on Tuesday [mumble]."
Sometimes, even advanced listeners miss words. The secret isn't hearing **everything**; it's knowing how to **ask**.
Don't just nod.
Repair the signal.
The Repair Toolkit
1
Repetition
"Could you say that again?"
• Slow down
• Repeat word-for-word
2
Rephrasing
"Can you say that differently?"
• Use simpler words
• Give an example
3
Confirmation
"Did you say Tuesday?"
• Check one specific word
• Verify the time/place
Polite Scholar Phrases
Asking for Repetition
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last part."
Asking for Clarification
"Could you explain what [Word] means?"
Checking Meaning
"So, you mean we should [Action]?"
Listen & Repair
I will read three dialogues. In each one, part of the information is unclear . Use your Repair Toolkit Worksheet to ask the right question.
Don't be shy—Interrupt me!
Repair Toolkit Worksheet Repair Toolkit
Clarification Strategies
STUDENT NAME:
Repeat
"Could you say that again, please?"
Rephrase
"Could you say that differently?"
Confirm
"Did you mean [Word]?"
Activity: Listening for Gaps
The teacher will read a sentence with a **missing word** or **mumbled info**. Identify what is missing and write a question to "repair" the conversation.
1
Scenario: Meeting Time
You hear: "The meeting is at [mumble] in Room 402."
Your Repair Question:
2
Scenario: Technical Word
You hear: "We need to analyze the [long, complex word] before we start."
Your Repair Question:
3
Scenario: Rapid Speech
You hear: "Ithinkweshouldgotothelibrarynow." (Very fast)
Your Repair Question:
Repair Tip
It is okay to interrupt politely. Most scholars prefer to be interrupted for 10 seconds than to have a 10-minute conversation where you are lost!
Repair Strategy Guide Repair Strategy Guide
Teacher Facilitation & Scripts
LESSON 3
Teaching Focus
• **Confidence Building:** Normalize the act of not understanding.
• **Functional Language:** Move beyond "What?" to more specific clarification requests.
• **Active Monitoring:** Help students recognize the exact moment a "signal" is lost.
The "Mumble Drill"
Step 1: Use the hook audio clip (or read it yourself). Challenge students to guess the missing word. They will likely fail—this is the point.
Step 2: Use the slides to teach the three types of repair: Repetition, Rephrasing, and Confirmation.
Step 3: Perform the "Repair Drill" using the scripts below. Read each script once with the "error". Wait for a student to raise their hand or call out a repair phrase before reading it correctly.
Drill Scripts
Scenario 1: Missing Time
[The Error]: "The group meeting is at... *mumble* ... in the student lounge."
[The Correct Info]: "The group meeting is at **4:30 PM** in the student lounge."
Scenario 2: Technical Jargon
[The Error]: "We need to review the **methodology** before the presentation." (Say "methodology" very quickly or mumble it).
[The Correct Info]: "We need to review the **methodology**—the way we did the research—before the presentation."
Scenario 3: Rapid Speech
[The Error]: "Hey-did-you-get-the-email-about-the-grant?" (Say this as one single word).
[The Correct Info]: "Hey. Did you get. The email. About the grant?"
Success Metric
Students are successful if they use a full phrase (e.g., "I'm sorry, could you say that again?") rather than just saying "What?".
Leisure Listen Slides Common Ground
Listening for Interests & Hobbies
Finding the Connection
Small talk isn't about deep secrets. It's about finding **one thing** you both like.
"Oh, you like hiking? Me too! Have you been to..."
Travel
Reading
Outdoors
Cooking
Listen for the "Hook"
Weekend Talk
"So, do anything fun this weekend?"
Listen for: Past tense activities.
Spare Time
"What do you do for fun?"
Listen for: Habits and hobbies.
Travel/Origin
"Have you traveled much lately?"
Listen for: Countries and cities.
Family/Home
"Are you from around here?"
Listen for: Neighborhoods or states.
The "Keyword" Strategy
You hear a long sentence:
"I usually try to get out to the mountains and do some hiking if the weather is nice."
Catch the Nouns
React to the Feeling
Hobby Bingo!
I will describe four people and their lives. Listen carefully for their hobbies. Mark the square when you hear a person who matches that hobby!
First to get 4 in a row wins!
Hobby Bingo Sheet Hobby Bingo!
Common Ground Listening
SCHOLAR:
"Listen to the teacher describe 4 different people. When you hear a person mention a hobby, mark that square. Can you find 4 in a row?"
Traveling
Reading
Cooking
Hiking
Photography
Listening to Music
FREE SPACE
Cycling
Learning Languages
Watching Movies
Painting
Exercise
Video Games
Meeting Friends
Shopping
Volunteering
How to play:
Cross out the hobbies as you hear them. If you hear someone say they "stay at home" but they don't say *what* they do, keep listening for the specific hobby!
Hobby Strategy Guide Hobby Strategy Guide
Teacher Facilitation & Bingo Scripts
LESSON 4
Focus Skill
Listening for "Gist" and identifying categorization keywords in semi-natural dialogues.
Social Goal
Identifying "Common Ground" to sustain small talk in networking environments.
Bingo Activity Instructions
1. Preparation: Hand out the Hobby Bingo Sheet . Review the icons and keywords with the class to ensure they recognize the vocabulary.
2. Reading: Read the four character scripts below. You can read them out of order or multiple times. Students should mark their boards as they listen.
3. Challenge: Encourage students to listen for the hobby even if the speaker uses a synonym (e.g., "going abroad" for traveling).
Character Scripts
Character 1: Marcus (The Adventurer)
"I'm a very active person. Every weekend, I like to get out of the city and head to the forest for some **hiking**. I'm also really into **cycling**; I bike about 20 miles every Saturday. If I have a longer vacation, I love **traveling** to new countries, especially in South America."
Keywords: Hiking, Cycling, Traveling
Character 2: Elena (The Artist)
"I'm more of a stay-at-home person. I love **reading** historical novels when I have a quiet evening. I also enjoy **painting**—mostly landscapes and flowers. Occasionally, I'll spend my Friday night **watching movies** with my cat."
Keywords: Reading, Painting, Watching Movies
Character 3: Kenji (The Social Scholar)
"I spend most of my time in the lab, so in my free time, I prioritize **meeting friends** for dinner. I love trying new food and **cooking** at home for my roommates. I also find that **exercise** helps me de-stress, so I go to the gym three times a week."
Keywords: Meeting Friends, Cooking, Exercise
Character 4: Sophia (The Techie)
"I’m always on my computer. I spend a lot of time **playing video games** online with my brother. I'm also **learning languages**—I'm currently studying Japanese. On the weekends, I like to go into town for some **shopping** and maybe some **photography** if the light is good."
Keywords: Video Games, Learning Languages, Shopping, Photography
Total Bingo Squares Covered: 13 / 15 (plus Free Space)
Mixer Master Slides The Mixer
Culminating Project Simulation
GLOBAL SCHOLARS SUMMIT 2026
Your Mission
The classroom is now a Networking Mixer at an international academic conference. You have 20 minutes to:
1
Find a Partner
Listen for someone with a similar research interest or hobby.
2
Collect Data
Accurately fill out your **Networking Card** for at least 3 peers.
Listen Through the Noise
Lean In
Move closer to hear better. It is normal at conferences!
Filter
Focus on keywords (names, nouns) and ignore background talk.
Repair
Use your repair kit: "Sorry, I missed your name?"
Making the Connection
After the mixer, you will introduce one peer to another based on what you heard.
Template
"Hello [Name A]. I want you to meet [Name B]. She is a [Role] from [Country]. She also likes [Hobby]!"
Mixer Starts Now
Stand up, find a new person, and start listening.
20:00
Networking Card Sheet Networking Card
Global Scholars Summit 2026
PROJECT MATERIAL
My Name
My Field
My Hobby
Contacts Collected
Name
Country
Field / Role
Hobby / Interest
Name
Country
Field / Role
Hobby / Interest
Name
Country
Field / Role
Hobby / Interest
Find a Potential Collaborator
Based on your cards, pick one person you could work with on a research project. Why? (Think about their field or hobby).
Mixer Coordination Guide Mixer Coordination Guide
Culminating Project Facilitation
Project Guide
Final Assessment Goal
This project assesses the student's ability to synthesize all listening skills from the sequence: identifying biographical details, handling transactions (the 'cafe' part of the mixer), using repair strategies, and listening for common interests in a noisy environment.
Classroom Setup
The Environment
Play low-volume background noise (e.g., "coffee shop ambience" or "conference chatter") to simulate a real networking environment.
Physical Space
Clear a space in the middle of the room. Students must be standing and moving to different partners every 5 minutes.
Pacing Guide (90 Minutes)
15 min **Warm-up:** Use Slides to review Repair Strategies and "Leaning In" techniques. Students fill in their own info on the **Networking Card**.
30 min **The Mixer:** Students mingle. They must find at least 3 people they didn't know well. Teacher acts as "Conference Organizer", moving through the room and checking for use of repair phrases.
25 min **Peer Introductions:** Students sit in small groups. Each person must introduce one peer they met to the rest of the group using the provided template.
20 min **Reflection & Wrap-up:** Discussion: "What was the hardest part to hear?" "How did you use your repair toolkit?" Collect Networking Cards for assessment.
Student Success Criteria
Correctly identified Name, Country, and Field for 3+ peers.
Used at least one repair strategy (Repetition, Rephrasing, or Confirmation).
Performed a clear and polite peer introduction.