Welcome to today’s English lesson focused on summarising skills! At a B2 level, being able to summarise effectively is crucial for clear communication, especially in spoken English. Whether you’re in a meeting, chatting with friends, or giving a presentation, summarising helps you get your point across concisely and confidently. This lesson will equip you with practical techniques to improve your summarising abilities and boost your English speaking skills.

What is Summarising and Why is it Important?

Summarising means taking a longer piece of information – like a conversation, a text, or a presentation – and expressing it in a shorter, clearer way. It’s about capturing the main points and leaving out unnecessary details. Think of it as giving someone the ‘highlights’ or the ‘main takeaway’.

Why is this so important, especially for English language learners at a B2 level? Because effective summarising:

• Shows you understand: When you summarise something, you demonstrate that you’ve understood the key information.
• Improves communication clarity: Summaries are easier to understand and remember than long, detailed explanations.
• Saves time: In conversations and meetings, summarising helps keep things concise and focused.
• Boosts confidence: Being able to summarise smoothly makes you sound more fluent and in control of your English.
• Is practical for many situations: From academic discussions to everyday chats, summarising techniques are invaluable.

So, let’s dive into how you can master this essential skill and make your English communication even better!

Key Techniques for Effective Summarising

Becoming good at summarising is like learning any other skill – it takes practice and knowing the right techniques. Here are some key steps to follow:

1. Identify the Main Idea

The first step is always to find the central point or the main message. What is the speaker or writer trying to say overall? Listen or read actively and ask yourself, “What is the most important thing here?”

Example: Imagine you hear someone say, “The weather forecast for tomorrow is predicting heavy rain in the morning, but it should clear up by the afternoon. Temperatures will be around 15 degrees Celsius, and there will be a moderate wind from the north.”

The main idea is: “Tomorrow will be rainy in the morning but clear in the afternoon, with moderate temperatures.”

2. Pick Out the Key Details

Once you have the main idea, identify the most important supporting details. These are the pieces of information that are necessary to understand the main point. Don’t get bogged down in minor details or examples that aren’t crucial.

Continuing the weather example:

Key Details:

• Heavy rain in the morning
• Clears up in the afternoon
• 15 degrees Celsius

The wind from the north is less crucial for a simple summary.

3. Remove Redundancy and Irrelevant Information

Often, people use extra words or repeat themselves. When summarising, cut out anything that is unnecessary or doesn’t add to the main understanding. Examples, repetitions, and minor details can usually be removed.

Example: “So, as I was saying, the project deadline is next Friday, the 27th of October. It’s really important we meet this deadline, absolutely crucial in fact, because if we don’t, well, there will be consequences. So, Friday the 27th, please remember that date.”

Summary: “The project deadline is next Friday, October 27th, and it’s crucial to meet it.”

4. Use Synonyms and Rephrasing

To make your summary concise, use synonyms (words with similar meanings) and rephrase sentences in a shorter way. This avoids simply copying phrases and shows you’ve truly understood the meaning.

Example: “The company reported a significant increase in profits this year due to successful new product launches and a strong marketing campaign that really resonated with customers.”

Summary using synonyms and rephrasing: “Company profits rose considerably this year thanks to successful new products and effective marketing.”

5. Structure Your Summary Logically

Organise your summary in a clear and logical way. Usually, following the same order as the original information works well. Start with the main point and then add the key supporting details.

Think about using linking words and phrases to connect your ideas smoothly. Examples include:

• In summary,
• To summarise,
• Basically,
• In short,
• The main point is,

Summarising in Speaking Situations

Now, let’s look at how you can apply these summarising techniques in real-life speaking situations:

In Conversations

When you’re chatting with someone, summarising can help you check your understanding and keep the conversation flowing smoothly.

Example Conversation:

Person A: “I had such a busy day! First, my train was delayed, then I had a really long meeting that went over time, and after that, I had to rush to pick up the kids from school. It was just one thing after another!”

You (summarising): “So, it sounds like you had a really hectic day with travel problems, a long meeting, and childcare – is that right?”

This shows Person A you were listening and understood the main points of their busy day.

In Meetings

Summarising is incredibly valuable in meetings. You can summarise what someone else has said to ensure everyone is on the same page, or you can summarise the key decisions at the end of a meeting.

Example in a Meeting:

Speaker: “So, we’ve discussed the marketing plan, and we’ve looked at the budget. We’ve agreed to focus on social media advertising and allocate 60% of the budget to that, with the remaining 40% for online ads. We also decided to launch the campaign in November.”

You (summarising): “To summarise, we’re focusing our marketing on social media with 60% of the budget, using 40% for online ads, and launching in November. Is that correct?”

In Presentations

At the end of a presentation, summarising the main points helps your audience remember the key takeaways. It reinforces your message and leaves a lasting impression.

Example in a Presentation:

You (at the end of your presentation): “So, in summary, we’ve seen that summarising skills are essential for clear communication. We’ve covered techniques like identifying main ideas, removing redundancy, and using synonyms. By practicing these methods, you can significantly improve your summarising ability and become a more confident English speaker.”

Let’s Practice!

Ready to put your summarising skills to the test? Read the following short texts and write a summary of each in one or two sentences. Focus on identifying the main idea and key details.

1. Text 1: “Scientists have discovered a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest. This frog is unique because of its bright blue skin and its unusual call, which sounds like birdsong. It is very small, only about 3cm long, and it lives high in the trees. Researchers believe it may be endangered due to deforestation.”
   Your Summary: _________________________
2. Text 2: “The government has announced new measures to tackle air pollution in cities. These include investing in public transport, encouraging the use of electric vehicles, and planting more trees in urban areas. The aim is to reduce pollution levels by 20% in the next five years and improve public health.”
   Your Summary: _________________________
3. Text 3: “Studies show that regular exercise has numerous benefits for both physical and mental health. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, help manage weight, improve mood, and boost energy levels. Experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.”
   Your Summary: _________________________

Suggested Answers:

1. Text 1 Summary: Scientists found a new blue frog species in the Amazon rainforest, characterised by its bird-like call and small size, but it may be endangered.
2. Text 2 Summary: The government is introducing new measures to reduce city air pollution by 20% in five years by investing in public transport, electric vehicles, and tree planting.
3. Text 3 Summary: Regular exercise is beneficial for physical and mental health, reducing disease risk, managing weight, improving mood, and boosting energy, with 30 minutes daily recommended.

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Conclusion

Mastering summarising skills is a fantastic way to enhance your B2 English level and become a more effective communicator. By using the techniques we’ve discussed and practicing regularly, you’ll find it easier to express yourself clearly and concisely in English. Keep practicing, and don’t forget to explore Lingofrnd.com for even more practice and support on your English learning journey!