Uses Of Signposting Language in IELTS Listening

Have you ever gotten lost in a new place?? If you did, how did you find your way around? Assume you don't have a map or any other kind of technology. To travel to your goal, what options do you have? Signs on the road are likely to catch your eye. It is possible for them to give you the distance to the location and whether or not you need to turn left or right to get there.

IELTS Listening exam candidates and students alike frequently get lost when listening to lecture sections of the test. They give up because they are unable to comprehend what is being said. However, this issue can be resolved. It's easy to use, and it can be used for both lectures and lengthier chats. Signposts are a wonderful source of information.

What Is The Purpose Of A Signpost? 

The terms and phrases that people employ to lead the listener through what they are saying are known as "signposting language."

Use it to explain what happened and what will happen next. As a result, it serves as a beacon for the listener to follow along with what candidates are communicating. Signals such as the introduction of a new topic or the speaker's clarification of a key term can serve as signposts.

Signposts in language help us follow along with what we're hearing, much like traffic lights on the road. Our comprehension of the speaker's message is aided by these words that connect concepts. Presentations and lectures, in particular, necessitate their use.

If a college professor says, "I'm going to talk about three elements that contribute to global warming...," candidates might hear terms like "first of all,`` ''moving on to," and "in summary" to signal the next portion of the discourse. Similar effects can be achieved with other words and phrases. This can be done in a variety of ways; for example, to explain (to express it another way), to provide instances (to exemplify this), and so on.

Various Types Of Signpost Words

Here are the various types of signpost words used for IELTS listening:

1. Introducing the Subject

At the beginning of the tape, these phrases give candidates an idea of what the major topic is.

• My main point is...
• I'm going to be addressing...
• How can I assist you? If I had my way, I would like/need... Is there anything I can do for you?

2. Theoretical flow

These assist candidates in identifying the primary ideas and the point at which one notion stops and the next begins.

• Firstly, Secondly…
• Three main points/targets/aspects etc.

3. Connected Ideas

These provide further proof to back up what was already said.

• Similarly
• Likewise
• Similarly, to that

4. Contrasting Ideas

If you hear a word in the tape and think it's the answer, this is a significant signpost. It becomes apparent, however, that this statement is not necessarily true when one of the following sentences is added.

• However
• Alternatively,
• Yet

There are also a number of other indicators, such as:

• A sentence's main words, for example, appear at the conclusion. I need this done before the end of the day or I'll be late.
• hypothetical inquiries such as "What does this mean for the environment?"

Importance Of Signposting Language

Your IELTS essay takes the reader on a journey through the ideas you're trying to convey. This voyage is aided by the paragraphs. As a guide for the reader, the use of signposts helps them understand what the author is saying. They foretell what will happen, serve as continual reminders of where they are in the process, and point out the next step in the journey that your essay will take.

candidates can use signposting at any point in the candidate's essay, from the opening to the conclusion. There should be a signposting element in each paragraph of IELTS writing. Using signposting to connect candidates' paragraphs is a good idea. In addition, it gives the impression that candidates are in charge of the latest and that candidates thoughts are well-ordered to the reader.

Examples of Signposting Language

This table outlines some of the most important IELTS vocabulary used in the lecture, as well as when different aspects of the speech are discussed.

The words candidates hear may be expressed slightly differently depending on how they are being said in other contexts.

The use of Signpost words and IELTS idioms allows candidates to anticipate the next thing that will be uttered. In the end, candidates begin to see the complete picture as candidates listen to them and begin to understand the speaker's point, whether it's comparing, contrasting, adding information, or simply sequencing. Even if candidates become disoriented during a lecture or discussion, listening for cues to reorient candiadatesrself will help candidates regain candidate bearings and get back on track.

If candidates rehearse listening to signposting language across candidates IELTS preparation, candidates will be less anxious on test day and get more questions correct.