Speakers sometimes change their mind while they talk, and the question asks for where they end up. If you write down the first idea and stop listening, you will choose the old view.
This lesson shows how to track the change. It belongs to the listening for viewpoint module.
How do you track a change of mind step by step?
- Note the first view in two or three words.
- Listen for the turning signal. Phrases such as but then, I used to think, on second thought and it turned out mark the change.
- Note the reason. A change usually comes with a reason: a price, a fact or someone’s advice.
- Note the final decision. Look for so I am going to, in the end or now I.
- Check the question. Does it ask about the first view, the reason or the final view? Choose accordingly.
Worked example
Speaker: I was sure the bus was the cheaper option to college, so I bought a monthly bus pass. Then I added up the costs properly. With my student card, the train pass is cheaper, and it is faster too. So from next month, I am switching to the train.
Question 1: How will the speaker travel to college from next month?
Question 2: Why did the speaker change?
- First view: bus is cheaper (I was sure).
- Turning signal: “Then I added up the costs properly.”
- Reason: the train pass with a student card is cheaper and faster.
- Final decision: “I am switching to the train.”
Answer 1: by train. Answer 2: the train pass is cheaper with a student card, and it is faster.
A useful note for this recording is: “bus → train, cheaper + faster”. The arrow shows direction, and the two words give the reason.
The mistake to watch for
A common slip is to answer with the first view because it was stated with confidence.
Mistaken answer: “The speaker travels by bus because it is cheaper.”
The student heard “I was sure the bus was the cheaper option” and wrote it down. The word was and the next sentence show that the view changed.
The correction is to treat a confident opening with caution. Tense is a clue: was sure, used to think and at first belong to the past view. Wait for the present-tense decision before choosing.
Check yourself
1. “At first I wanted to study medicine, but after the hospital visit day, I am leaning toward nursing.” What does the speaker now prefer?
Show answer
Nursing. The first wish was medicine. But after the hospital visit day is the turning signal, and “leaning toward nursing” is the current view.
2. “I planned to cook for the party. Then my aunt offered to bring food, so I will only make dessert.” What will the speaker do?
Show answer
Make dessert only. The plan to cook everything was replaced after the aunt’s offer.
3. “I thought the film would be boring, and the first ten minutes were. After that, I could not stop watching.” What is the speaker’s final opinion?
Show answer
Positive. The speaker started with low expectations and the early part was slow, but the final view is that the film became gripping. A careless listener might answer “boring” from the first clause.
Where this leads next
Changes of mind are often shown by tone as well as words. Continue to connect intonation with context rather than stereotype. The summary selection and paraphrase studio can help you turn a change of view into one clear sentence.
If you keep picking the first idea, a teacher can check your notes in online one-to-one English as a Second Language tuition and show you how to record the change.