Author Reflection | Listening Comprehension Practice

by | Oct 1, 2025 | Listening Comprehension, Literature And Us

Listening for Reflection and Emotion

Today’s listening practice is a personal monologue. This style tests your ability to follow a story and understand the speaker’s feelings. Here are some tips to guide you:

  • Track the Timeline: The author will likely move between the past (writing the book), the present (the nomination), and the future. Listen for time-related words like “Years ago,” “When I first started,” “Now,” and “Looking ahead” to keep the story straight.
  • Identify Feelings: Go beyond the words. The speaker will use descriptive language to express their emotions. Listen for adjectives that describe feelings: “surreal,” “daunting,” “grateful.” What is their emotional journey?
  • Understand the “Why”: The most important part of a reflection is understanding why something is meaningful. Don’t just hear that the nomination is important; listen for why it’s important to this specific author. What does it represent to them?

Let’s listen in.

Anticipating the Topic: An Author’s Reflection

You will hear an author giving a short, personal speech after being nominated (or “shortlisted”) for a prestigious literary award. The book in question is called The Salt-Stained Map. Expect to hear about the author’s inspiration for the book, the challenges of writing it, and their complex feelings about this new recognition.

Key Vocabulary and Phrases

These words and phrases from the author’s reflection will help you grasp the deeper meaning of their story.

Shortlisted: Selected for a final stage of consideration in a competition or for a job.

How we used it: “To find my name, and the title of my novel, The Salt-Stained Map, shortlisted for the Atherton Prize is… well, ‘surreal’ is the only word that comes close.”

Surreal: Having the qualities of a dream; bizarre or strange.

How we used it: “…’surreal’ is the only word that comes close.”

Genesis: The origin or mode of formation of something.

How we used it: “And it feels like a good moment to reflect on the genesis of this book, because it wasn’t an easy one to write.”

Solitary: Done or existing alone.

How we used it: “Writing is, by its nature, a deeply solitary act.”

Daunting: Seeming difficult to deal with in anticipation; intimidating.

How we used it: “And the silence of that empty page was often daunting.”

Meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.

How we used it: “It was born from a box of old letters I found in my grandmother’s attic, letters written by my great-grandfather… The research was meticulous, almost obsessive.”

Cathartic: Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.

How we used it: “Writing his story, giving him a voice, became a deeply personal and cathartic experience.”

Resonate: To evoke or suggest images, memories, and emotions. To be relatable.

How we used it: “…to know that this very personal story has managed to resonate with readers, and now with the esteemed judges of this prize, is the most profound form of validation.”

Validation: Recognition or affirmation that a person or their feelings or opinions are valid or worthwhile.

How we used it: “…is the most profound form of validation.”

Imposter syndrome: The persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.

How we used it: “There’s a good dose of imposter syndrome, of course—that little voice that asks, ‘Are you sure they meant you?'”

Whirlwind: A situation in which a lot of things happen very quickly.

How we used it: “This whole experience, since the longlist was announced, has been a whirlwind.”

Homage: Special honor or respect shown publicly.

How we used it: “This book was always an homage to them, to the quiet, forgotten histories that live in all our families.”

Listening Audio

Author’s Reflection | Listening Comprehension Practice

Listening Transcript: Please do not read the transcript before you listen and answer the questions.

Listening Quiz

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