FOCUS ON THE MESSAGE, NOT THE PERSON DELIVERING THE MESSAGE. YOU WO...

3. Focus on the message, not the person delivering the message. You won’t see the speaker(s) face to face,

but if you are taking the computer-based exam, you will see pictures of people on the computer screen

at the beginning of each listening passage. These images are designed to help orient you to the conver-

sation by giving you a sense of who is talking and the setting in which the conversation or lecture takes

place. For example, at the beginning of a lecture, you might see a picture of a professor in a classroom.

But these pictures can be distracting. Remember to focus on listening, not looking. Concentrate on the

conversation, not the picture.

If you are taking the paper-based exam, find something in the room upon which to concentrate

during the reading of each passage—preferably something simple, such as a blank chalkboard, rather

than a person in the room. If you focus on a person, you may find yourself thinking about the person’s

appearance instead of listening to the conversation on the tape. If you find yourself too distracted,

simply close your eyes during the reading of each passage.