Listening Skills: Listening for time-order signal words and expressions

Speakers often need to use signal words and expressions when they present information in time order, especially when they tell a story and give directions or instructions. When listeners pay attention to the words and expressions that signal sequence or order of events, it helps them understand how different facts or details about a certain topic are related. There are some commonly-used words and expressions used to signal time order, such as:

first, second, third, then, next, later, finally, meanwhile, first of all, when, while, before, after, until, soon after, right after, as soon as, at the beginning, in the end;

Other expressions such as: two years ago, from that time on, at the age of 16, not long after that, a few minutes before we left home, etc.

Now please read the following sentences and find out the time-order signal words and expressions.

1) At the beginning, they worked hard on designing a new model. But in the end, they had to give it up as it was not practical.

2) I usually get up at seven o’clock. As soon as I get up, I take a shower. After I wash up, I make myself a cup of coffee. While I’m drinking coffee, I watch news on TV. Then I eat breakfast. Right after I finish breakfast, I take the subway to work. Before nine o’clock, I’m definitely in my office.

So when you hear these time-order signal words and expressions, you get to know the order of these events.

3) To get to the post office, first, go straight from here for two blocks. Next, turn right on Freedom Street. Then walk for another block, and you’ll see the post office on your left.

In the following, you will listen to a man talk about his frightening experience, in which some time-order signal words are used. Listen and answer the questions.