ecpe teacher's guide - Hellenic American Union

ecpe teacher’s guide
Part II sample item:
Man: How do you manage to work so much in one day?
A. I don’t waste time.
B. There’s no time left.
C. I need more time.
Part III (15 items)
In the final part of the listening section, candidates listen to 3 extended texts of approximately twothree
minutes in length each. The listening texts are factual in nature, of general interest and in
semi-formal language. The format resembles that of a radio program: an announcer or interviewer
introducing a topic and providing some background on it, then turning the topic over to be
addressed by two “experts” or “journalists” who take turns providing more information or giving their
opinions. After each talk, candidates are asked five questions about what was heard. Candidates
may take notes as they listen.
The kinds of questions asked in Part III of the listening section require candidates to be able to:
• determine the main points, specific details or gist of the text
• understand the speakers’ opinions
• make inferences based on the information given
• understand cause and effect relationships in the text.
Part III sample items:
After hearing a radio or TV presentation on body image, candidades might be asked questions such as
the following:
1. Who is more likely to suffer from body image disorders?
a. men
b. women
c. both men and women
2. What does the speaker say about men who suffer from muscle dysmorphia?
a. They used to be thin.
b. They are already very muscular.
c. They risk developing anorexia.
Rationale
The listening section of the ECPE tests a range of abilities at an advanced level, which involve a
variety of listening skills and sub-skills. In Part I, the items are designed to test candidates’ ability to
comprehend implied or directly expressed meaning in a conversational context. In Part II, candidates
must demonstrate an understanding of appropriate responses to a question or statement. In Part III,
what is tested is candidates’ ability to understand the main points of a lecture or a more extended
text, such as one that might be encountered on radio or television.
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