Welcome to "Speaker Feelings and Attitude"!
Have you ever listened to a friend and known they were upset, even before they said "I'm sad"? Or could you tell a teacher was proud of you just by the way they said "Well done"? That is because listening is about more than just words—it is about understanding feelings (how someone feels) and attitude (what someone thinks or how they behave toward something).
In this chapter, we will learn how to "hear" the hidden clues in a conversation. This will help you understand people better in the classroom, with friends, and even in movies!
1. How do we "Hear" Feelings?
When we listen, we need to be like detectives. We look for three main clues:
- Tone of Voice (ระดับเสียง): Is the voice high and shaky (nervous)? Is it low and flat (bored)?
- Speed (ความเร็ว): People often speak faster when they are excited or angry. They might speak slowly when they are sad or confused.
- Key Words: Listen for specific words that describe emotions.
Common Feeling Words
The syllabus expects us to know these words to describe how people feel:
- Positive (+) feelings: Happy, excited, proud, impressed, relieved, glad.
- Negative (-) feelings: Sad, angry, worried, bored, disappointed, annoyed, afraid.
- Neutral or Surprise: Surprised, amazed, confused, curious.
Quick Review: If someone says, "I can't believe I won!" with a high, loud voice, they are likely feeling excited or surprised.
2. Understanding Attitude
Attitude is the speaker's opinion or position on a topic. Do they like it? Do they disagree? Are they being polite?
Identifying Opinions
To find the speaker's attitude, listen for these "Opinion Frames":
- I think... (ฉันคิดว่า...)
- I feel... (ฉันรู้สึกว่า...)
- I believe... (ฉันเชื่อว่า...)
- In my opinion... (ในความเห็นของฉัน...)
Agreeing and Disagreeing
How does the speaker react to an idea? Listen for these phrases:
- Agreement: "I agree," "You're right," "That's a great idea!"
- Disagreement: "I disagree," "I don't think so," "I'm not sure about that."
Did you know? In English culture, people often use "soft" language to be polite when they disagree. Instead of saying "You are wrong," they might say, "I'm afraid I don't agree."
3. Giving Reasons
In your exams (and in real life), it is not enough to just say "He is happy." You need to know why. We use the word because to link a feeling to a reason.
Example: "The speaker feels worried because he has a big exam tomorrow."
Example: "She is disappointed because the shop is closed."
4. Polite Expressions and Etiquette
The way we speak shows our attitude toward the person we are talking to. Here are common expressions you will hear in listening tasks:
- Complimenting (ชื่นชม): "Well done!", "Congratulations!", "That's very nice!"
- Apologising (ขออภัย): "I'm sorry, but...", "I'm afraid I can't."
- Offering Help: "Need some help?", "What can I do to help?"
- Interrupting Politely: "Excuse me...", "Sorry to interrupt, but..."
Key Takeaway: A speaker who says "I'm afraid I can't help you" is being polite but firm. Their attitude is helpful but they are unable to do the task.
5. Step-by-Step: How to Answer Listening Questions
Don't worry if listening seems tricky at first! Follow these steps:
- Read the question first: Are you looking for a feeling (e.g., sad) or an opinion (e.g., likes/dislikes)?
- Listen for the "Vibe": Before you worry about every word, listen to the sound of the voice. Is it "up" (happy/excited) or "down" (sad/tired)?
- Catch the keywords: Listen for "I love...", "I hate...", "I'm worried about...".
- Look for the 'Because': Try to find the reason for the feeling.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mistaking "Surprised" for "Angry": Sometimes a loud voice means someone is just very surprised, not mad! Listen for the words they use.
- Ignoring the "But": If a speaker says, "I like the color, but it is too expensive," their overall attitude is that they will not buy it.
- Only listening for words: Sometimes a speaker says "I'm fine," but their voice sounds very sad. In English tests, we usually follow the tone and the context of the story.
Quick Summary:
- Feelings = Emotions (Happy, Sad, Worried).
- Attitude = Opinions (Agree, Disagree, Polite, Impolite).
- Clues = Tone of voice, speed, and keywords like "I think" or "because."
Note: For more practice on understanding the main point of a conversation, check out the chapter on "Listening for Main Idea".