Gist, detail, fact and opinion
Not everything you hear is a fact — spotting opinion words helps you understand what a speaker really thinks.
Part of your national curriculum
- Listening: Detect and understand the main points and gist of spoken passages, discerning between fact and opinion
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Detect and understand the main points and gist of spoken passages, discerning between fact and opinion
Key learning points
- • Signalling opinion
- • Signalling fact
- • Getting the gist
This lesson at a glance
- 25 minutes
- 16 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 16
Visual introductionPicture this
Gist, detail, fact and opinion
Not everything you hear is a fact — spotting opinion words helps you understand what a speaker really thinks.
In a nutshell
Detect and understand the main points and gist of spoken passages, discerning between fact and opinion
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 16
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Signalling opinion
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 16
Learn
Signalling opinion
Phrases like 'je pense que' (I think that), 'à mon avis' (in my opinion) and 'je trouve que' (I find that) introduce a personal view, not a fact. 'Je pense que le film est nul' is an opinion, not a statement of truth.
Reset break
Part 4 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 16
Learn
Signalling fact
Facts are usually stated plainly: 'Le film dure deux heures' (The film lasts two hours) is a fact that could be checked, unlike an opinion about whether it was good.
Quick check
Part 6 of 16
Quick check
Part 7 of 16
Reset break
Part 8 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 16
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Getting the gist
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 16
Learn
Getting the gist
For gist, ignore individual facts and opinions and ask: what is this passage broadly about? A review might be broadly positive or negative overall, even if it contains one or two mixed comments.
Quick check
Part 11 of 16
Reset break
Part 12 of 16
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 16
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 16
Game · Recall cards
Which statement is an opinion rather than a fact?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 15 of 16
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Gist, detail, fact and opinion
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. Which statement is an opinion rather than a fact?
2. Which phrase introduces an opinion?
3. 'Je trouve que c'est intéressant' expresses...
4. Getting the 'gist' of a passage means...
Lesson round-up
Part 16 of 16
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
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Ask LunaPart 1 of 16 · Watch & discover
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Detect and understand the main points and gist of spoken passages, discerning between fact and opinion