Listening strategy
Dos escuchas, dos objetivos
First listening
Who is speaking? What do they want to study?
Idea general. No escribas.
Second listening
Interest, skill, value, aim.
Now you do write the four pieces.
Saber 11 has no listening section, but every scholarship interview does. We practise in a formal register.
Audio 1 · admission speech
Applicant 1 · Biomedical Engineering
A
Applicant
Good morning, members of the committee. My name is Sebastián Rojas and I am seventeen years old.
A
Applicant
I am interested in the intersection of medicine and technology. I excel at physics and I am capable of leading a team under pressure.
A
Applicant
I value innovation that reaches the people who need it most. Therefore, my aim is to become a biomedical engineer.
A
Applicant
In five years, I will be designing low-cost prosthetics for rural Colombia. Thank you for your consideration.
Registro formal: members of the committee, therefore, thank you for your consideration.
Audio 1 · pregunta 1
What is Sebastián's aim?
ATo become a doctor
BTo study physics
CTo become a biomedical engineer
DTo lead a team
Audio 1 · pregunta 2
What does he value?
AMoney
BInnovation that reaches people in need
CSpeed
DFame
Audio 2 · admission speech
Applicant 2 · Psychology
A
Applicant
Distinguished committee, my name is Mariana Osorio.
A
Applicant
Although my grades in mathematics are average, my strengths lie in interpersonal intelligence: I am good at listening and I excel at understanding people.
A
Applicant
I value empathy above everything. Consequently, my aim is to study psychology and work in adolescent mental health.
A
Applicant
In five years, I will be completing my internship in a public school in Cali, because that is where I am needed.
Notice: although acknowledges a weakness and turns it into a strength. Intellectual maturity.
Audio 2 · pregunta 1
Why does Mariana mention her maths grades?
ATo acknowledge a weakness before her strengths
BBecause she loves maths
CBecause she wants to study engineering
DBy mistake
Audio 2 · pregunta 2
Where will she be in five years?
AIn a hospital in Bogotá
BIn a university abroad
CIn a private clinic
DIn a public school in Cali
Audio 3 · admission speech
Applicant 3 · Environmental Engineering
A
Applicant
Good afternoon. I am Julián Mena, from Buenaventura.
A
Applicant
I grew up next to the Pacific Ocean, so I am interested in water and I value the environment. I am skilled at chemistry.
A
Applicant
My aim is to become an environmental engineer. Nevertheless, my real mission is bigger: clean water for every community on the Pacific coast.
A
Applicant
In five years, I will be working on my first water project. Thank you.
Tres discursos, tres estructuras iguales: interest → skill → value → aim → 2031.
Audio 3 · pregunta 1
What is Julián's real mission?
ATo study chemistry
BClean water for the Pacific coast
CTo move to Cali
DTo work in a lab
Audio 3 · pregunta 2
Which connector introduces a contrast in his speech?
Aso
Btherefore
Cnevertheless
Dbecause
Analysis · the three speeches
One structure, three people
| Piece | Sebastián | Mariana | Julián |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest | medicine + technology | people | water |
| Skill | physics, leading | listening, understanding | chemistry |
| Value | innovation for the poor | empathy | the environment |
| Aim | biomedical engineer | psychologist | environmental engineer |
| 2031 | low-cost prosthetics | internship in a public school | first water project |
| Connector | therefore | although, consequently | so, nevertheless |
Five pieces and one connector. That is your Vision Statement.
Phrases for your Vision Statement
Registro formal, sesenta segundos
Open
Good morning, members of the committee.
My name is… and I am seventeen.
I am interested in…
To support
I excel at… and I am capable of…
I value… above everything.
Although…, my strengths lie in…
Close
Therefore, my aim is to…
In five years, I will be…
Thank you for your consideration.
Pronunciation · formal register
Tune your ear
com-MIT-tee: /kəˈmɪti/.
«strengths» /streŋkθs/. «lie in» = are found in.
THERE-fore: /ˈðeəfɔːr/. Pause after it.
ne-ver-the-LESS: acento al final.
CON-se-quent-ly: stress at the beginning.
con-si-de-RA-tion. Formal closing.
Rubric · this is how your talk should sound
Four things, five points each
| Criterion | 5 · Top | 3 · Basic | 1 · Low |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | All the required parts, clear and in order. | One part is missing. | Only one idea. |
| Grammar | aim is to, interested in, excel at, will be + -ing, and one formal connector. | One or two slips. | Does not use the structures. |
| Vocabulary | Three or more academic words from this week. | One or two. | Only basic words. |
| Register and fluency | Formal, no reading, natural pauses. | Informal or reads part of it. | Reads everything or does not reach halfway. |
Preparation · 3 minutes
Build your Vision Statement from your card
1
Formal greeting + interest.
2
Habilidad + valor + therefore + aim.
3
2031 with will be + formal closing.
Sixty seconds. No reading. One compulsory connector: therefore, consequently, although or nevertheless.
Speaking Challenge 1 · My Life Mission in 60 Seconds
My 5-Year Vision Statement
Speaker: standing, as if before a committee. Greeting, interest, skill, value, aim, 2031, closing.
Listener: you are the committee. Note one star, one wish, and one question.
The committee asks
One question after each speech
1
Why does this career fit your strengths?
Why does it fit your strengths?
4
What is your biggest weakness, and how do you manage it?
Weakness and how you handle it.
2
How will you contribute to society?
How will you contribute?
5
Why should we choose you?
Why should we choose you?
3
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
And in ten years?
6
What would you do if you were not admitted?
What if you are not admitted?
Answer with a full sentence and a connector. If you don't understand: Could you rephrase the question, please?
Peer feedback
Two stars and a wish
Stars · what went well
Your register was formal and clear.
You used 'therefore' correctly.
Your 2031 vision was concrete.
Wishes · what to improve
Remember: aim is TO + verb.
Add one value: what matters to you?
Slow down on the connector.
Level up · reading · What Admission Committees Actually Listen For
Former members of scholarship committees agree on a surprising point: they rarely remember a candidate's grades, but they always remember whether the candidate had a coherent narrative. A coherent narrative links an interest to a skill, the skill to a value, and the value to a concrete aim. Candidates who list achievements without connections sound impressive for thirty seconds and forgettable after five minutes. Committees also reward intellectual honesty: a candidate who acknowledges a weakness — «although my writing is slower than my analysis» — and explains how she compensates for it appears more mature than one who claims to be perfect. Consequently, the best speeches are not the most ambitious; they are the most connected.
Level up · reading · 1 of 2
What do committees remember most, according to the text?
AGrades
BThe number of achievements
CWhether the speech was coherent
DThe candidate's accent
Level up · reading · 2 of 2
Why is acknowledging a weakness rewarded?
ABecause committees like weak candidates
BBecause it shows maturity and honesty
CBecause everyone does it
DBecause it makes the speech longer
Match
Match the word with its meaning
coherent
acknowledge
compensate for
forgettable
ambitious
concrete
logically connected
easy to forget
balance a weakness
with big goals
admit that something is true
specific, not vague
Fill in the gap
Complete each sentence
Therefore
Although
excel at
aim
Nevertheless
Consequently
my writing is slow, my analysis is precise.
I have volunteered for two years; , I understand patients.
My grades in biology are high. , I am applying to medicine.
The programme is demanding. , I am confident I can succeed.
My is to work in public health.
I organising teams under pressure.
Order the sentence
Put the sentence in order
is
analysis
my
slow
Although
rigorous
is
my
writing
Video focus · look and speak
Which of these words would you use in an admission speech? Say why in one sentence.
Video focus · situation
Two friends · stress and rest
D
Dani
You look exhausted. Is work that bad?
S
Sofi
Honestly, yes. I was telling myself I'm not good enough. But I'm learning to be kinder to myself.
D
Dani
That's a healthy change. You've grown so much this year.
S
Sofi
Thank you, that means a lot to me. I gave myself permission to rest this weekend, and I'm proud of how far I've come.
Now change the details and say it with a partner.
Find the mistake
Spot the error
I am proud of how far I come.
I gave me permission to rest.
I am learning to be more kind to myself.
Fill in the gap
Complete with the video's key phrases
means
permission
learning
appreciate
kinder
proud
I am learning to be to myself.
I am of how far I've come.
I gave myself to rest.
Thank you, I really that.
I'm from my mistakes.
Thank you, that a lot to me.
After learning
What you did today
Sixty seconds before a committee, in a formal register, with a thesis and a connector. That is performance goal II of the term, and exactly what a scholarship interview demands.
Next class: multiple intelligences applied to choosing a university. Bring your cognitive balance from Workshop 1.1.