Today’s picture: kiwi clock at Christchurch Tram Station

Part 1: Today's word

Insight is a clear understanding of a complicated issue. We say that someone has insight if they often show this kind of clear, deep understanding. One of the main purposes of a lecture is to give you an insight into a particular problem or theory. If you show a clear and original understanding of a problem in your writing, your lecturer may well comment you’ve produced insightful work.

Click here for interactive exercises on academic vocabulary and writing.

Part 2: Test

Here are FOUR sentences with the word of the day. But only THREE are correct. Which is the Odd One Out?

Her work provides a valuable insight into the minds of criminals.

Can you give me a quick insight into the subject, so I can look into it in more depth later?

The documentary focused on rather trivial issues in his private life and provided little insight into his artistic achievement.

Her profound insight into the culture informed both her critical writing and her popular fiction.

Part 3: Practice Questions:

Which lectures do you recall that provided you with a real insight into a problem or theory?

What’s the most insightful comment that you’ve ever received on your writing?

Part 4: The Phrasal Test – part 5

1) The new professor’s dynamic style w ______ d ______ very well with the new students.
2) Before I present my own views, I’d like to g _______ o ______ what other writers have said on the subject.
3) History shows that economies tend to g ______ t _______ cycles of boom and bust rather than steady long-term growth.
4) He felt his colleagues always l _______ d _______ o _______ him because he had never completed his doctorate.
5) The lecturer spoke so quickly that I only just managed to n ______ d ______ the main points of her presentation.
6) I wonder why it never o _______ t _______ anyone until the nineteenth century that simple hygiene could save lives.
7) Researchers have been unable to p _______ d _______ the exact cause of the explosion.
8) Sir William Jones p _______ o _______ that similarities between European and Indian languages could only be explained by the fact that they shared a common ancestor.

Part 5: Kiwi Quiz Question
Which New Zealand film director, who won an Oscar for ‘The Piano’, has launched her new film (about the poet John Keats) at the Cannes Film Festival?

Jane Campion
Dame Tiri de Kanawa
Dame Malvina Major
Sue Kedgeley

Part 6: Part 6: Today's online listening:

This is part 2 of a short series from the BBC on how to listen better in university lectures and classes

transcript for the listening

This is part 2 of a short series from the BBC on how to listen better in university lectures and classes

Vocabulary for the article:

daunting
autonomous
cast doubt on something

Questions for the article:

1) Which of these is NOT one of the reasons given for attending lectures?

you can get an overview of the main points
you get an insight into how your department views a subject
you’re able to meet other students on your course
you find out what’s in the exam

2) Which of these is described by Christine as the main challenge for students in lectures?

the echo of the building
the speaker’s accent
taking notes on the main points
difficult vocabulary

3) Which of these is a marker phrase used by lecturers to signal the structure of the lecture?

‘turning now to ...
‘Right’
‘You know what I mean’
‘have you got that?’

4) How does a lecturer signal that he/she’s starting a new topic?

falling intonation
rising pitch
stressing each syllable
a long pause

5) Which of these is NOT recommended as a listening strategy during lectures?

preparing in advance
focusing on purpose
paying attention to intonation
reducing your level of stress

Today’s musical suggestion: from Poland (composer) and China (pianist)

Chopin nocturne opus 27 performed by Lang Lang
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