LISTENING

Practice Handbook

This is an official Test Practice Handbook for:

CONTENTS
Introduction to the CELBAN Practice Handbook . . . 3
About the CELBAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
About the CELBAN Practice Handbooks . . . . . 4
What’s in the CELBAN Listening Test? . . . . . . . . . 5
What’s in this CELBAN
Listening Practice Handbook? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How can I use this Practice Handbook? . . . . . . . . 7
Tips & Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
PART I: Listening to Telephone Dialogues . . . . . . . 9
Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Task 1 – Booking a Follow-Up Appointment . . . . 11
Task 2 – Patient Injury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Task 3 – Patient Status Report . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Task 4 – Call for Advice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
PART II: Verbal Shift Reports and
Symptom Charts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Task 5A – Shift-to-Shift Report (Practice 1) . . . . 17
Task 5B – Shift-to-Shift Report (Practice 2) . . . . 18
Task 6 – Symptom Chart - Appendectomy . . . . 19
Task Scripts & Answer Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Task 1 – Audio Script & Answer Key . . . . . . . . 21
Task 1 – Answer Key & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Task 2 – Audio Script & Answer Key . . . . . . . 23
Task 2 – Answer Key & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Task 3 – Audio Script & Answer Key . . . . . . . 25
Task 3 – Answer Key & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Task 4 – Audio Script & Answer Key . . . . . . . .27
Task 4 – Answer Key & Notes . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Task 5 – Audio Scenario with
Shift-to-Shift Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Task 5A – Shift-To-Shift Answer Key . . . . . . . 30
Task 5B – Shift-To-Shift Answer Key . . . . . . . 30
Task 6 – Audio Scenario with
Symptom Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Task 6 – Symptom Chart Answer Key . . . . . . 32
Task 6 – Symptom Chart
Appendectomy Completed . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Listening Self-Assessment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Self-Assessment Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

USE OF CELBAN LOGOS AND BRANDING: The CELBAN logo and branding is the property of the Centre for the Canadian Language Benchmarks and their use is protected
by copyright. Touchstone Institute is the licensed national CELBAN administrator and uses CELBAN branding with permission.
These CELBAN practice materials are intended to provide opportunities to complete tasks similar to those in the Official CELBAN. We recommend using outcomes from these
practice materials to develop ongoing strategies for improvement by identifying strengths and areas to improve.
These CELBAN practice materials do not replicate the Official CELBAN. Results achieved using these practice materials do not guarantee similar results on the
Official CELBAN. Tasks in these CELBAN practice materials are not intended to be used as guidance on clinical practice.

© 2018 Touchstone Institute These resources were created by Touchstone Institute

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Introduction to the CELBAN
Practice Handbook
About the CELBAN
Using the CELBAN Practice Handbooks can help you prepare for the Canadian English Language Benchmark Assessment
for Nurses (CELBAN). CELBAN is a high-stakes, English language proficiency exam for internationally educated nurses
(IENs) that is recognized by Canadian nursing regulators. CELBAN tasks are informed by an analysis of the language
demands of the nursing profession in Canada and replicate authentic communication tasks in which nurses routinely
engage. CELBAN focusses on the English language skills needed to perform high frequency nursing duties and does not
assess candidates’ professional nursing competencies.
CELBAN assesses language abilities in four skill areas: Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing. Test scores are rooted in
the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB), the national standard used to describe, measure and recognize adult English
as a Second Language (ESL) ability in Canada. The CLB are a descriptive scale of communicative abilities, expressed as
12 benchmarks or reference points within three stages of ability: basic, intermediate, and advanced. CELBAN scores focus
primarily on the range of benchmarks from CLB 6-10.
The minimum CELBAN scores required for nursing registration are set by Canadian Nursing Regulators, and are as follows:

SKILL SCORE REQUIRED BY ALL NURSING REGULATORS

Reading CLB 8
Listening CLB 10
Speaking CLB 8
Writing CLB 7

The CELBAN Test consists of two parts:

• A Speaking assessment conducted as a 20-30 minute interview.
• Listening, Writing and Reading assessments conducted as a three hour group test.
The Speaking and Writing tests are productive tasks. This means that test takers must “produce” their own language
responses either by speaking or writing to demonstrate their proficiency. For the CELBAN, test takers will speak directly to
the assessors or complete writing tasks which are evaluated by trained assessors.
Listening and Reading are receptive skills. This means that test takers must demonstrate their understanding of what they
hear in the listening tasks and what they read in the reading tasks by completing multiple choice questions.

What is Unique about CELBAN?

By preparing for CELBAN, you have the opportunity to focus on language skills that are fundamental to good nursing
practice. The CELBAN Practice Handbooks provide you with authentic material designed to contribute to your cumulative
body of knowledge and experience required for integration into the Canadian health care workplace. At the same time, you
will gain a clear understanding of what to expect from the CELBAN.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The content in this Practice Handbook is not intended to provide direction on clinical practice. For
information about the entry to practice requirements for all nursing occupations, please contact your provincial regulatory body.

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About the CELBAN Practice Handbooks
The CELBAN Practice Handbooks provide an opportunity to engage with relevant nursing material while practising
skills that you need to demonstrate on the CELBAN and communicate in nursing in general.

Who are these Practice Handbooks for?

The Practice Handbooks are for internationally educated nurses (IENs) who are preparing for the CELBAN
independently or with a peer group outside of formal and structured learning. They were not designed for use in
CELBAN Preparation Programs.

Benefits of Using the CELBAN Practice Handbooks

Using the Practice Handbook will help you:
• increase your familiarity with the structure and format of the CELBAN Test
• practice your English communication skills by completing the tasks and checking your answers
• learn tips and strategies to support your language learning
• identify strengths in your language and communication skills
• identify language and communication skills that need additional practice
• evaluate your progress by using self-assessment checklists

What you will find in the Practice Handbooks

The Practice Handbooks include the following language tasks:
• Reading: 3 reading passages with multiple choice questions; 1 fill in the blanks exercise
• Listening: 4 dialogues with multiple choice questions; 2 audio scenarios to complete charts
• Writing: 4 tasks to write a narrative report about an incident; 4 tasks to write a letter to the editor;
1 task for general writing skills
• Speaking: 4 conversations/discussions with a partner; 3 role plays where you act like you are in
a nursing situation
There are many English Language Training programs in Canada that are referenced to the Canadian Language
Benchmarks (CLB), as the CELBAN is. If you need to improve your communication skills, you may access some
of these courses. For more information about the CLBs, refer to the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks
website: www.language.ca.

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What’s in the CELBAN
Listening Test?
The CELBAN Listening test is administered as part of the three hour group test, which includes listening, reading
and writing. In the Listening test, you complete what we call receptive tasks. This means that you, as a test taker,
must understand and process what you hear in the audio and video recordings and complete multiple choice
questions. Your correct answers will be scored. It’s important to answer every question as blank responses will be
marked as incorrect. If you do not know the answer, it’s ok to guess. In the CELBAN we do not subtract points for
incorrect answers.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO DO: HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED:

Watch/listen to video and audio conversations:
• Answer a series of multiple choice questions
• Complete a Symptom Chart
Listen to a shift report:
• Complete a chart based on what you hear
Watch/listen to a video conversation:
• Complete a chart by filling in the information
Your listening comprehension skills will be evaluated
through your ability to:
1. Understand the purpose of the dialogue
2. Identify specific factual details
3. Recognize the mood and attitude of the speakers
4. Understand advice or suggestions
5. Identify a patient’s condition, concern or problem

In both the CELBAN and this Practice Handbook, the listening tasks that have been selected deal with health related
topics that are familiar to nurses.

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What’s in this CELBAN
Listening Practice Handbook?
This Practice Handbook includes two types of listening tasks as follows:

­Telephone Dialogues
• between a medical office assistant and a patient
• between a nurse and a family member

In Person Dialogues
• between a nurse and a physician
• between a nurse and a patient
All of the dialogues are accompanied by a set of multiple choice questions for each.
These materials are similar to what you will see on the CELBAN, but they are not exactly the same. You will use the
materials to practice listening and answering the questions, and you will have answer keys and abilities checklists to
help you reflect and learn.

You will be practising the following listening skills:

1. Determine if a statement is true or not
2. Determine the order in which actions or events occurred
3. Identify a patient’s condition, concern or problem
4. Identify specific factual details
5. Recognize the mood and attitude of the speakers
6. Understand the purpose of the dialogue
7. Understand when someone is giving advice or suggestions

Through this practice, you should focus on achieving the following:

• Identify purpose, intentions, attitudes, emotions, and motivations in speech
• Integrate several pieces of detailed information to comprehend a situation and the events leading up to it
• Use context and logic to make accurate guesses about the meaning of unknown words and increase your
understanding of what you hear
• Notice function words to understand the structure of the speech and make connections between ideas
Because the listening dialogues are related to nursing practice in some way, you will also be able to rely on your
nursing listening strategies. As a nurse, you have been trained to listen for key information, comprehend and clarify,
and use the information. The CELBAN checks how accurately you are able to do this in English.

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How can I use this
Practice Handbook?
As you work through these CELBAN practice activities, consider some additional test preparation strategies:

Use it as a tool in a peer study group or with a partner

We recommend studying with a partner in addition to self-directed studying. First, complete the tasks individually
and then compare your answers, sharing your rationale for choosing the answers that you did. Understanding
what others notice and how they interpret questions will keep your mind open to finding the correct answer in
new ways.

Use the self-assessment checklists to evaluate your preparedness to take the CELBAN
After you have done all of the listening practice tasks and marked your answers, complete the self-assessment
exercise at the end of the handbook to help you identify areas of strength and areas that you would like to
practice more.

Time yourself
In the CELBAN, you will have some time before the audio is played to preview the questions so you know what
to listen for. You will also have some time after the audio is played to check your answers. It’s a good idea to time
yourself and record your time to see what it feels like to have the time before and after the audio.
In the practice task instructions, we use instructions that are almost the same as on the official CELBAN.
*Remember: The Listening tasks on the CELBAN are more varied in both content and length than the ones
presented in this practice handbook.

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Tips & Strategies
These are the language and communication abilities and strategies that you should focus on as you prepare
for the CELBAN.

Interact with others to recognize their mood and attitude

Communicating with others involves identifying attitudes, emotions, motivations and intentions. To do this
successfully, you need to understand the complex grammar and vocabulary that people use, as well as signals
in speech that indicate their feelings and motives. Notice the volume, speed and intonation that people use when
speaking as well as the words and length of sentences. Consider the situation in which the conversation is taking
place and try to pick up on the speaker’s tone to understand mood, attitude and intention. This will help when
you have to identify a patient’s condition or concern.

Comprehend directions and instructions

In order to understand complex multistep directions and instructions, you will need to integrate several pieces of
detailed information. Look for how the speech is organized and try to recognize words that indicate a shift in the
information that you hear. Pauses and short words such as “OK then…” or “So…” often indicate a shift in ideas.
Transitions such as “once you…” and, “then…”, “after she…” are commonly used to sequence actions and
steps. Also, listen for specific days and times that are mentioned. Even verb tenses provide clues about what
happened when. Try to integrate or put together several pieces of detailed information by noticing how they are
connected.

Understand intention and purpose

Consider the purpose of the communication. Is it to provide advice or make suggestions? Is it to influence or
persuade others? Modal verbs and expressions such as “Have you thought about…” are commonly used to
advise others. When trying to persuade, people will give examples and explain consequences. You need to listen
to the specific facts, and be able to separate these facts from feelings. To do this, use logic and critically evaluate
what you hear. You can listen for words that signal feelings, contrasting information, opposing views, and
examples. Beware of irrelevant or distracting information that doesn’t follow the line of thought of the speaker.

Guess the meaning of unknown words from the context

Sometimes, there will be words that you may not be familiar with. When this happens, try to use clues in the
context, that is, the words and sentences that are around the word. Based on what you hear and how the word
is used, you can identify if the type of word is a noun, adjective or adverb. The speaker’s tone and attitude may
also give clues about the word.

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Part I:
Listening to
Telephone Dialogues

When the CELBAN test developers created the test, they looked at the listening
skills that nurses are required to use on a daily basis. These abilities include
understanding the purpose of the dialogue, identifying specific factual details
and recognizing the mood and attitude of the speakers. They are crucial for
understanding others in a nursing environment.

In the official CELBAN there are several telephone dialogues related to nursing
practice. In Part I of this Practice Handbook you will find four audio conversations
similar to those you will hear in the CELBAN.

These conversations assess your ability to successfully interact with others,

understand instructions, intentions and information. While you will need to listen
for specific details to complete these tasks, you will also need to demonstrate
higher level listening skills.

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Instructions
Prior to listening to each conversation, read through the questions that you will have to answer so they are in your
mind while you listen. On the CELBAN, you will have time to read through the questions first as well. When you are
ready, play the recorded conversation. As you listen, indicate your answer to each question by circling the correct
answer. There is only one correct answer for each question. Listen to the audio recording only once. Review your
answers carefully and make your best guess for any questions that you were unable to answer since we do not
subtract points for incorrect answers. Then, use the answer key to check your answers. We have included the audio
scripts for you to read as part of your self-marking and review process.

Use the following process for each practice task:

1. Review the multiple choice questions before you listen to the audio. Pay attention to what each question is
asking for. Underline key terms to help you focus.

2. Scan the answer choices during this preview time to evaluate similarities and differences in the choices
provided and identify more or less likely answer choices.

3. Listen to the audio recording and circle the correct answers as you listen. You can use the side of the page to
take notes (key words) as you listen.

4. Check your answers without referring to the answer key:

a. Does it answer the question or complete the sentence in the stem?

b. Does it seem like a logical statement given the dialogue you heard?

5. Check your answers against the Answer Key.

6. Review the Answer Key Notes to analyse your response.

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Task 1 – Booking a Follow-Up Appointment
Comprehension Questions: Telephone Dialogue between Medical Office
Assistant and Patient

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions below.

1. Who is making the phone call? 5. What time is James’ bloodwork

a. James Douglas appointment?
b. Dr. Sherwin a. 11:30
c. a medical office assistant at b. 12:30
Riverview Central Clinic c. 2:15
d. a medical office assistant at d. 4:00
Sherbrooke Street Clinic

6. How long does James have to fast for his

2. What is the purpose of the phone call? bloodwork?
a. to follow up on bloodwork results a. for 8 hours
b. to set up an appointment b. for 12 hours
c. to postpone an appointment c. as long as he can
d. to cancel an appointment d. he doesn’t have to fast

3. What will happen on Monday? 7. Which of the following is James allowed

a. James will get his bloodwork done. to drink during his fast?
b. Dr. Sherwin will discuss the bloodwork a. water
results with James. b. juice
c. James will quickly pick up his c. tea
bloodwork results.
d. coffee
d. James will get a full physical check done.

8. What can be inferred about James?

4. Where will James get the
a. He will be late for his appointments.
bloodwork done?
b. He won’t be able to fast.
a. Riverview Central Clinic
c. He works till 4:00pm.
b. the clinic on Sherbrooke Street
d. He likes drinking coffee.
c. another clinic nearer to his work place
d. none of the above

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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Task 2 – Patient Injury
Comprehension Questions: Telephone Dialogue between Nurse
and Family Member

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions below.

1. The purpose of the phone call is to 5. What injury has possibly occurred?
a. arrange an x-ray. a. fractured knee
b. inform the family. b. bruised elbow
c. get permission. c. fractured shoulder
d. give instructions. d. elbow laceration

2. Where did the nurse find the patient? 6. What can be inferred about the patient?
a. beside her bed a. She regularly has falls.
b. in the washroom b. She does what the nurses tell her to do.
c. at the hallway door c. Her balance may be affected by
d. near the washroom the drugs.
d. She is suffering from depression.

3. What time of day did the nurse find

the patient? 7. When will the husband come to
a. early morning visit his wife?

b. afternoon a. in the morning

c. evening b. immediately

d. middle of the night c. at lunchtime

d. after work

4. What is a possible contributing factor?

a. The patient was in a lot of pain.
b. It was dark in the room.
c. The patient was taking sedatives.
d. The patient has a fractured knee.

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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Task 3 – Patient Status Report
Comprehension Questions: Dialogue between a Nurse and a Physician

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions below.

1. The purpose of the call is 5. What will the nurse do next?

a. to inform the doctor. a. push fluids and give a Bolus
b. to ask for advice. b. wait an hour and start fluids
c. to report an emergency. c. recheck blood pressure and
d. to explain a treatment. call the doctor
d. give fluids and recheck blood pressure

2. The patient’s problem is

a. lethargy. 6. The doctor advises the nurse to

b. urine output. a. hold the morning medication dose.

c. low blood pressure. b. suspend the evening dose of medication.

d. fluid intake. c. call if the patient’s reading improves.

d. contact him if the reading doesn’t go up.

3. The patient’s reading is

a. 70/46. 7. The physician seems

b. 80/55. a. impatient.

c. 90/55. b. supportive.

d. 80/46. c. enthusiastic.
d. worried.

4. The following statement is true.

a. The patient’s output was 90 CCs.
b. The patient is dehydrated.
c. The patient has IV access.
d. The patient’s name is Dianne.

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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Task 4 – Call for Advice
Comprehension Questions: Dialogue between a Nurse and a Physician

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions below.

1. Where does the patient call? 7. How long did labour last with the
a. Mother and Baby Unit patient’s first pregnancy?

b. ER and Delivery a. 13 hours

c. Labour and Delivery b. 18 hours

d. Birthing Centre c. 22 hours

d. 28 hours

2. The purpose of the call is

a. to verify the department for admission. 8. The following statement is true.

b. to determine if the baby is in distress. a. The contractions are irregular.

c. to determine if the patient is in labour. b. The patient is GBS positive.

d. to verify the procedure for admission. c. Some leaking has occurred.

d. The water has broken.

3. The contractions are

a. 7 minutes apart. 9. The patient is now

b. 6 minutes apart. a. lying in bed.

c. 5 minutes apart. b. sitting on the couch.

d. 4 minutes apart. c. sitting by the table.

d. walking around.

4. The patient’s stage of pregnancy is

a. near due date. 10. The nurse advises the patient to

b. past due date. a. arrange for a ride to the hospital.

c. late 2nd trimester. b. go to the hospital immediately.

d. early 3rd trimester. c. call back in 2 or 3 hours.

d. take it easy.
5. How does the patient describe the
movement of the baby? 11. The patient seems
a. quite infrequent a. calm.
b. pretty regular b. worried.
c. very inactive c. confused.
d. quite active d. depressed.

6. The patient’s first babies were delivered

a. on the due date.
b. vaginally.
c. by a midwife.
d. by C-section.

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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Part II:
Verbal Shift Reports
and Symptom Charts

In the CELBAN there are short audio clips which contain nursing reports. These
reports are what we call “monologues” and are made by an individual as if
leaving a voice recording for the next shift. This type of task is testing for your
ability to comprehend detailed information spoken at a normal rate of speech.
In some cases it requires that you distinguish between similar sounds such as
“dirty” and “thirsty”, “thirty” and “thirteen”, “wet” and “vet”.

Another type of listening task in the CELBAN is a longer dialogue between

a nurse and a patient where they discuss changing symptoms. These
conversations tend to be both technical and colloquial, and there is a lot of
back-and-forth between the speakers as information is clarified.

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Instructions
The Listening Tasks section of this Practice Handbook includes an example of a verbal report and an example of the
nurse-patient dialogue with a symptom chart. These tasks assess your ability to comprehend information provided
either directly, as in the case of the report, and more indirectly, as is the case with the nurse-patient dialogue. While
you will need to listen for specific details to complete these tasks, you will also need to demonstrate higher level
listening skills.
As in Part I, you should carefully review the task, in this case the charts, and read through the headings to make sure
you understand the chart format. On the CELBAN, you will have time to review the charts before the audio is played.
The instructions provided in this practice handbook are very similar to those in the official CELBAN, including timing.

Follow this process for each practice task:

1. R
 eview the charts (including the multiple choice questions) before you listen to the audio. Pay attention to what
each question is asking for. Underline key terms to help you focus.

2. Scan the answer choices during this preview time to evaluate similarities and differences in the choices provided
and identify more or less likely answer choices.

3. L
 isten to the report and dialogue and circle the correct answers as you listen.

4. C
 heck your answers without referring to the answer key:

a. Does it answer the question or complete the sentence in the stem?

b. Does it seem like a logical statement given the dialogue you heard?

5. Check your answers against the answer key.

6. Review the Answer Key Notes to analyse your response.

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 Task 5A – Shift-to-Shift Report (Practice 1)

As you listen to the shift-to-shift report, circle the best choice for each room and patient.

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions on the chart before the audio begins.

ROOM PATIENT PATIENT STATUS

1.
313-A Mr. Chan a. home health care team visited
b. discharge meeting planned
c. new prescriptions to take home

2.
313-B Ms. Esperanza a. difficulty eating
b. sleep disturbed
c. yelling at the staff

3.
330-A Mr. Kim a. out for dinner
b. daughter visited
c. received guests

4.
335-B Mrs. LeBois a. request social work visit
b. seek psychiatric services
c. book translator

5.
338 Mrs. Gretzky a. pain managed
b. mood unstable
c. doing well

6.
344 Mrs. Singh a. receiving physio
b. bedridden
c. ready for discharge

7.
352 Mr. Silva a. attended physio
b. socialized
c. remained in bed

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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 Task 5B – Shift-to-Shift Report (Practice 2)

Now, listen to the shift-to-shift report again, and circle the best choice for each room and patient. This time, you will
need to listen for different details.

You will now have 45 seconds to review the questions on the chart before the audio begins.

ROOM PATIENT PATIENT STATUS

1.
313-A Mr. Chan a. much improved
b. still in some pain
c. resisting discharge

2.
313-B Ms. Esperanza a. Digoxin started
b. Digoxin dosage increased
c. oxygen given

3.
330-A Mr. Kim a. tired
b. unhappy
c. uncooperative

4.
335-B Mrs. LeBois a. critical
b. no improvement
c. confused

5.
338 Mrs. Gretzky a. doctor visited
b. moved to ICU
c. watch carefully

6.
344 Mrs. Singh a. sullen
b. uncooperative
c. cheerful

7.
352 Mr. Silva a. medical condition improved
b. mood improved
c. appetite increased

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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 Task 6 – Symptom Chart - Appendectomy

As you listen to the dialogue audio, check the box that best describes the symptom. Are the symptoms more severe,
less severe, the same, or gone?

You will now have 45 seconds to review the chart before the audio begins.

SYMPTOM A. MORE SEVERE B. LESS SEVERE C. THE SAME D. GONE

1. Fatigue
2. Pain in the abdomen
3. Diarrhea
4. Constipation
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting
7. Fever

You will now have 45 seconds to review your answers.

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Task Scripts
& Answer Keys

The answer keys and audio scripts for each task are included on the following
pages. Check your answers against the answer keys, use the “Notes” section
to better understand the correct answer, and reference the audio scripts when
needed to clarify the information.

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Task 1 – Audio Script & Answer Key
Task 1 Audio Script
Scenario: Medical office assistant speaking with a patient to book a follow-up appointment
Length: Approximately 1 minute, 45 seconds
Medical office assistant: Hello. Is Mr. Douglas
there please?
Patient: James Douglas? That’s me.
Medical office assistant: Hello Mr. Douglas.
This is the Riverview Central Clinic. I’m the
medical office assistant in Dr. Sherwin’s office.
Patient: Yes, it’s for a follow up appointment,
right?
Medical office assistant: Yes, that’s right. Mr.
Douglas, are you able to come to the clinic in the
next two weeks?
Patient: Sure, let me just check my calendar.
How about next Monday - as long as it’s in the
morning.
Medical office assistant: Okay. We have an
opening at 11:30. Would that work?
Patient: Sure. I have a really busy day. How long
will all of this take?
Medical office assistant: It will probably take
about half an hour. I’ll schedule you in so it
shouldn’t be a problem to get you in and out.
Patient: Okay. That works. As long as it’s half an
hour.
Medical office assistant: That’s great. If you
get the bloodwork done this week, Dr. Sherwin
will have the results and can discuss them with
you when you come in for your appointment on
Monday. We should be able to get you in and
out quickly.
Patient: Do you know if I can go to the clinic on
Sherbrooke Street to do the bloodwork?
Medical office assistant: Yes. You can. We
also have a lab in our office, so you can make an
appointment here for the tests if you prefer.
Patient: Mmm. Your office is closer to work –
can I do it this week? How long will it take?
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
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Medical office assistant: To do the blood, it
only takes about five minutes.
Patient: Okay. How about tomorrow?
Medical office assistant: Let me check. We
have openings at 12:30, 2:15, and 4:00.
Patient: I can leave work a little early and come
in at 4:00.
Medical office assistant: Okay, sounds good.
The test will check your blood glucose levels
and total cholesterol levels, so you’ll need to fast
before the test.
Patient: Oh, okay. I’ve done the fast before, but
I forget how long I have to do it.
Medical office assistant: Don’t eat or drink
anything except water for 12 hours before you
go to the laboratory to have your blood taken.
So if your test is at 4 pm, don’t eat anything
after 4 am the morning before, and don’t eat
breakfast or lunch. You can drink water, but no
juice, no tea, no coffee.
Patient: Wow. I can’t work all day without eating
or without coffee. Maybe I can get it done during
my lunch break. Can I come at 12:30?
Medical office assistant: Okay. I’ll put you
down for 12:30.
Patient: It’s still going to be hard to work without
my morning coffee but I’ll survive.
Medical office assistant: Do you have any
other questions?
Patient: No. Thanks. I think I’ve got it. See you
tomorrow.
Medical office assistant: All right then. See you
tomorrow. Bye.
Patient: Bye.
21
 Task 1 Answer Key & Notes
QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER NOTES
1. Who is making the
phone call?
2. What is the purpose of the
phone call?
3. What will happen on
Monday?
4. Where will James get the
bloodwork done?
5. What time is James’
bloodwork appointment?
6. How long does James have
to fast for his bloodwork?
7. Which of the following is
James allowed to drink
during his fast?
8. What can be inferred
about James?
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
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a medical office assistant
c. 
at Riverview Central Clinic
b. to set up an appointment
Dr. Sherwin will discuss
b. 
the bloodwork results
with James.
a. Riverview Central Clinic
b. 12:30
b. for 12 hours
a. water
d. He likes drinking coffee.
From the description of the task, you
know that this will be a conversation
between medical assistant and a patient.
So, looking at the answer options
beforehand, you likely realized that you
only need to identify the clinic to answer
this question.
Factual information – this is another easy
one because you can infer (it’s obvious)
from the task name, which you read
before listening. In the CELBAN, pay
attention to these types of context cues
as they can help you.
Key sentence: If you get the bloodwork
done this week, Dr. Sherwin will have the
results and can discuss them with you
when you come in for your appointment
on Monday.
Be careful – you have to listen attentively
to realize that the medical assistant sets
up the appointment at her clinic, not the
one originally suggested.
Another tricky one! He initially says 4:00
but then changes it to 12:30 because of
the need to fast for 12 hours.
Key sentence: Don’t eat or drink anything
except water for 12 hours before you
go to the laboratory to have your blood
taken.
The sentence above also has the answer
to this question.
You know this when he states it will be
hard to work without his coffee.
22
Task 2 – Audio Script & Answer Key
Task 2 Audio Script

Scenario: Nurse speaking with a family member on the phone

Length: Approximately 1 minute, 4 seconds

Husband: Hello? Nurse: We have notified her doctor and left a note
Nurse: Hello this is Marina Harcourt, the nurse regarding the fall and the x-ray in her chart. The
from Ward 8G at Sunnyville Hospital. Is this Mr. x-ray request is just a precaution, it is unlikely she
Berskin? has a fracture.

Husband: Yes it is.
Nurse: Hi Mr. Berskin, I’m calling to let you know
that your wife had a fall this morning. She’s okay
now though.
Husband: Oh, that’s terrible - can you tell me what
happened?
Husband: Okay. Please tell my wife that I’ll come
by to see her on my way home from work today
around 6pm.
Nurse: Okay, no problem. In the future we’ll need
to make sure she uses that walker.
Family Member: Yes, thanks.

Nurse: Well when the day nurse was doing rounds Nurse: You’re welcome. Bye for now.
she found her in her room just near her bed. It Family Member: Okay, bye.
was about 3pm. We figured she was going from  
her bed to the washroom, lost her balance or
she may have tripped on her IV pole. She said
she was quite dizzy when she got up. That may
have been caused by her chemo treatment or her
painkillers. She often wakes with hallucinations.
She wasn’t using her walker and now her knees
are quite bruised and she is in a lot of pain. There
doesn’t seem to be any other injury and I think her
knees are fine but I’ve scheduled a knee x-ray for
tomorrow morning just in case there’s a fracture.
Husband: Okay. She really doesn’t like using the
walker. Is she able to walk now?
Nurse: We’re trying to keep her off her feet until
we get the x-ray, so she is using a bed pan and the
side rails are up. She has been told to stay in bed.
Husband: She fell at 3pm, why does she need
to wait ‘til tomorrow morning to have the x-ray?
Why not right after the fall? Is there anything else I
should know?

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 Task 2 Answer Key & Notes
QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER NOTES
1. The purpose of the phone
call is to
2. Where did the nurse find the
patient?
3. What time of day did the
nurse find the patient?
4. What is a possible
contributing factor?
5. What injury has possibly
occurred?
6. What can be inferred about
the patient?
7. When will the husband come
to visit his wife?
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
Touchstone Institute • November 2018
b. inform the family. Were you able to identify the purpose
of this conversation? The nurse used
the wording: ”I’m calling to let you know
that…” This gives the reason.
a. beside her bed Near her bed = beside her bed. Watch
for slight variations in wording.
b. afternoon Be careful! The fall happened in the
morning, but the patient was found in
the afternoon.
c. The patient was taking The nurse states “… may have been
sedatives. caused by her chemo treatment or
her painkillers.” Again, the wording of
the answer choices is a bit different.
Sedatives = painkillers
a. fractured knee Use deduction – the nurse says she
has scheduled a knee X-ray just in case
there’s a fracture.
c. Her balance may be Inferring requires you to put distinct
affected by the drugs. facts together. Here, dizziness may
have been caused by medication. Her
balance may have been a result of
dizziness.
d. after work There were many factual details in this
conversation and some were given all
at once. Be sure to mark answers in
your booklet as soon as you hear the
information.
24
Task 3 – Audio Script & Answer Key
Task 3 Audio Script

Scenario: Nurse speaking with a physician to give a patient status report.

Length: Approximately 1 minute, 4 seconds

Physician: Hello? Nurse: Okay. So push fluids, re-check in an

Nurse: Hello - Dr. Cagney please? hour and a Bolus if necessary — thanks.
And I’m assuming you want us to hold her
Physician: Speaking. PM dose of metoprolol?
Nurse: Hi Dr. Cagney. This is Dianne at Eastside Physician: Yes. Hold that please. I will reassess
Health Centre. I’m the nurse taking care of Ms. tomorrow morning, keep me posted if her blood
Sima Bart in Room 711 Bed 3A. I’m calling pressure does not improve.
about her blood pressure; it was really low - 80
on 46 a few minutes ago. I retook it twice and Nurse: Okay, thanks Dr. Cagney.
it remained about the same. I thought you Physician: No problem. Bye.
should know. Nurse: Bye.
Physician: Good. Thanks for contacting me. Is
she lethargic?
Nurse: Well, yes. In fact, she’s been asleep most
of the morning.
Physician: Okay. And what about her oral
intake?
Nurse: Well, she’s just had a few sips of water
throughout the morning – I’d say about 100 mL.
Physician: All right. And what was her output?
Nurse: Let’s see (checks notes). I just emptied
her Foley. It was 80 mL over 6 hours.
Physician: Okay. Well I think she’s most likely
dehydrated. Let’s try getting her to drink more
fluids, so push fluids over the next hour. And
does she have IV access?
Nurse: Ah not yet no.
Physician: All right. So recheck her blood
pressure in an hour after pushing some oral
fluids. Then if her systolic BP is less than 90, give
her a 250 bolus of normal saline IV and let it run
at 125 mL per hour.

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 Task 3 Answer Key & Notes

QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER NOTES

1. The purpose of the phone call a. to inform the doctor. Key sentence: “I thought you
is to should know.”

2. The patient’s problem is c. low blood pressure. Key sentence: “I’m calling about her
blood pressure; it was really low -
80 on 46”

3. The patient’s reading is d. 80/46 Key sentence: “I’m calling about

her blood pressure; it was really low
- 80 on 46”

4. The following statement is true. b. The patient is dehydrated. Try to rule out what you know is
false – watch for tricky questions
where numbers and names may
not be accurate.

5. What will the nurse do next? d. give fluids and re-check “Push fluids” is the term used in the
blood pressure. dialogue.

6. The doctor advises the nurse to b. suspend the evening dose Listen for synonyms: “hold” is the
of medication term used in the dialogue.

7. The physician seems b. supportive. Giving advice to the nurse shows

support.

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Task 4 – Audio Script & Answer Key
Task 4 Audio Script
Scenario: Patient calling a nurse in the Labour and Delivery Unit
Length: Approximately 1 minute, 10 seconds
Nurse: Hello. This is the Labour and Delivery Unit. How
can I help you?
Patient: Hi. My name is Maggie Thompson. I think I’ve
gone into labour.
Nurse: Okay. First, I’ll just take a minute to get some
information from you and then we’ll talk about it. You
said your first name is Maggie. Is that spelled
M-A-G-G-I-E?
Patient: Yes, that’s right and my last name is
Thompson, T-H-O-M-P-S-O-N.
Nurse: Thanks. And how old are you?
Patient: I’m 27.
Nurse: All right. And who is your doctor?
Patient: She’s Dr. Monroe.
Nurse: Okay. And you said that you think you’ve started
labour?
Patient: Yes. I’ve been having contractions.
Nurse: And are you timing them?
Patient: Yes. They’re pretty regular — about 6 minutes
apart.
Nurse: 6 minutes apart, and how many weeks pregnant
are you?
Patient: It was 39 weeks two days ago.
Nurse: And do you feel the baby moving at all?
Patient: Yes. I can feel her kicking. I counted more than
10 kicks in the last hour.
Nurse: Has your water broken?
Patient: No, not yet.
Nurse: Okay, how about any bleeding?
Patient: No.
Nurse: And any leaking?
Patient: Yes, a little bit.
Nurse: Okay and you said that you’re having regular
contractions every 6 minutes?
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
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Patient: Yes. Oh…another one’s starting. Just give me
a minute.
Nurse: Okay, let me know when you’re ready to
keep going.
Patient: (Slight pause). Okay thanks (breathes out). I
think we can go on now.
Nurse: So are the contractions generally lasting about
15 seconds?
Patient: No, they’re longer — about 25 seconds long.
Nurse: Okay. So is this your first pregnancy?
Patient: No, it’s actually my second, but I had twins the
first time.
Nurse: Okay. And did your first pregnancy go to term?
Patient: Actually, they were born at the end of week 37.
Nurse: Did you have a vaginal delivery or a C-section?
Patient: It was a vaginal delivery.
Nurse: And how long were you in labour?
Patient: Oh, for about 18 hours.
Nurse: 18 hours. Okay. And another question, was your
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) test positive?
Patient: No, it was not.
Nurse: And right now are you lying in bed or walking?
Patient: Actually, I’ve been walking around the living
room.
Nurse: All right. Well, based on the information that
you’ve given me, I would advise you to stay at home a
little longer. Keep walking around and try to relax. When
the contractions are 2 to 3 minutes apart, and last 60 to
90 seconds call us again.
Patient: Okay, that’s helpful. Thanks.
Nurse: No problem. Take care.
Patient: Okay, bye.
Nurse: Bye
27
 Task 4 Answer Key & Notes
QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER NOTES
1. Where does the patient call?
2. The purpose of the call is
3. The contractions are
4. The patient’s stage of
pregnancy is
5. How does the patient describe
the movement of the baby?
6. The patient’s first babies were
delivered
7. How long did labour last with
the patient’s first pregnancy?
8. The following statement is true.
9. The patient is now
10. T
 he nurse advises the
patient to
11. The patient seems
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
Touchstone Institute • November 2018
c. Labour and Delivery
c. to determine if the patient
is in labour.
b. 6 minutes apart.
a. near due date.
d. quite active
b. vaginally.
b. 18 hours
c. Some leaking has
occurred.
d. walking around.
d. take it easy.
a. calm.
You heard the nurse state this when she
answered the phone.
The patient says “I think I’ve gone into
labour” so you have to infer that she is
calling for confirmation.
There were many numbers stated in this
conversation. To stay focused, keep your
eye on the questions you have to answer
so that you can circle the correct choice as
soon as you hear it.
This question may have more unfamiliar
terms than others. It is important to highlight
those and practice their pronunciation in
your mind during the preview time.
The baby is kicking more than 10 kicks in
one hour. This is active.
You can rule out answers that are “decoys”
such as by midwife. This was never
mentioned in the conversation.
An easy one! Circle the answer as you
hear it.
Taking notes will help you answer questions
that include factual statements made
throughout the listening text, such as test
results in this case.
Key Sentence: I’ve been walking around the
living room.
The nurse says to “stay at home” so you
can rule out two possible answers. 2-3
hours (possible answer) is not the same as
2-3 minutes between contractions (what the
nurse said). That leaves just one answer!
To identify her mood, notice that she
accepts the advice to stay at home and
doesn’t express anxiety or confusion by
asking more questions.
28
Task 5 – Audio Scenario with Shift-to-Shift Report

Audio Script (Monologue: one voice)

Scenario: A verbal shift-to-shift report by a nurse working in a long term care facility.

This is the evening shift report for Wednesday August 22nd.

Room 313-A: Mr. Chan may be discharged soon… day after tomorrow. The discharge planning meeting will
be held tomorrow morning. The details are in his chart. You’ll have to review it to prepare for the meeting. Mr.
Chan seems a little hesitant about going home. The reason for this is unclear. Can you speak with him? I know
you have a very good rapport.
Room 313-B, Okay Ms. Esperanza: her dosage of digoxin has changed, she’s now on 0.125 mg OD instead
of 0.25 mg OD. She seems to be feeling better since that change. Otherwise no problem, just the usual noise
complaints from her roommate. She seems to be experiencing nightmares again.
Now… Room 330-A: Mr. Kim has had a lot of visitors today and seemed really worn out. He’s happy though
and just asked us to get him to bed early, so we did.
Then Room 335-B Mrs. LeBois: Uhh (exhales) she’s stable but at times we aren’t sure that she understands
everything we explain. Her family isn’t here very often to translate if she is confused. Social worker left contact
so we can look into to getting an interpreter during the day shift.
Also Room 338 Mrs. Gretzky: you know she’s not doing very well at the moment. Dr. Watson was supposed
to be here before the shift change but we haven’t seen him yet. He does want to reassess her and perhaps
move her to the palliative ward. She’s in a lot of pain but her morphine is working for breakthrough pain
management. Keep a close eye on her, if necessary just page Dr. Watson again.
Okay Room 344 Mrs. Singh: they had her up for a while today doing some stretching, and down to physio
department for some treatment but it’s going very slowly. Her hip is really uncomfortable and so it was difficult
to get her down to physiotherapy. She complained and was somewhat defiant.
Room 352 Mr. Silva: is doing really well. He even played cards today. You’ll notice a big improvement since
yesterday. He’s cooperative and much more cheerful, no change in medical condition but his spirits are better.
Well (exhales) I think that’s all to report for now, hope you have a good night. Talk to you later.

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 Task 5A – Shift-to-Shift Answer Key

QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER

1. b.

2. b.

3. c.

4. c.

5. a.

6. a.

7. b.

Task 5B – Shift-to-Shift Answer Key

QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER

1. c.

2. b.

3. a.

4. c.

5. c.

6. b.

7. b.

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Task 6 – Audio Scenario with Symptom Chart
Audio Script (Dialogue: two voices)
Scenario: Nurse speaking with an in-patient following an appendectomy
Nurse: Good morning Monica. My name is Leanne and I will
be your nurse today. I see here in the chart that you had an
appendectomy last night?
Patient: Yeah, that’s right, I came in yesterday morning with
nausea, a fever, and incredibly sharp pains on the lower right
side of my abdomen, and sure enough: it was my appendix!
Nurse: I see here that it ruptured, that’s definitely a concern.
Patient: Hearing that really scared me, for sure.
Nurse: You were in good hands with Dr. Salman, and we’ll
have to keep an eye out for infection. How are you feeling
this morning?
Patient: I’m really, really tired and sore… it’s hard to do
anything.
Nurse: Ok, feeling fatigue is normal after surgery. Do you feel
more fatigued than yesterday?
Patient: Yes, definitely, and a little groggy…
Nurse: Fatigue is normal after surgery, and the grogginess is
likely because of the pain medication. Tell me more about the
soreness…
Patient: My abdomen is really sore, not as bad as when I
first came in, of course. But where the incisions are there is
just some pain, not bad at all.
Nurse: Would you say the pain in your abdomen is worse
than when you came in yesterday?
Patient: Oh no, it’s not as bad as before the operation. But
I have this different new pain. It’s sharp, and it comes and
goes, it’s here in the diaphragm, area, and in my shoulder!
Like gas pain, you know?
Nurse: Well, that’s not surprising. Did the surgeon speak to
you about how you might feel after the laparoscopic surgery?
Patient: No, not really…
Nurse: Well, during surgery they insert CO2 gas into your
CELBAN Listening Practice Handbook
Touchstone Institute • November 2018
abdomen so they can see the organs as they conduct
the surgery. After surgery most of the gas is expelled, but
inevitably some stays inside. You will feel some pressure
from the gas against your diaphragm and even up to your
shoulders, but this will pass.
Patient: Oh, I get it! Thanks for explaining that.
Nurse: Now I’m going to go through a number of
symptoms on my checklist here, let me know if you feel
any of these, ok?
Patient: Ok
Nurse: Any pain around the incisions?
Patient: Like I said, just a dull pain. But not too bad.
Nurse: You complained of diarrhea at intake, is that still a
problem?
Patient: Yes, my stools are still loose.
Nurse: Ok. Do you feel constipated at all?
Patient: No. that feeling is gone altogether.
Nurse: Any nausea?
Patient: Oh, my goodness, yesterday the nausea was
intense, but today I feel much less nauseated.
Nurse: Well, breakfast will be delivered soon, let’s see how
that stays down. Any vomiting this morning?
Patient: Just a little bit. Not at all like the day before
yesterday when I couldn’t keep anything down.
Nurse: Ok. Now how did you sleep last night?
Patient: I didn’t get much sleep, but what I did get was
good. I find I can’t move around very much.
Nurse: Ok, let’s see how your temperature is. 36.5, that’s
good. No fever!
Patient: Good. I think I’ll doze off a bit now.
Nurse: Sure, rest up and I’ll check in on you later.
31
 Task 6 – Symptom Chart Answer Key

QUESTION CORRECT ANSWER

1. a.

2. b.

3. c.

4. d.

5. b.

6. b.

7. d.

Task 6 – Symptom Chart - Appendectomy Completed

SYMPTOM A. MORE SEVERE B. LESS SEVERE C. THE SAME D. GONE

1. Fatigue 3
2. Pain in the abdomen 3
3. Diarrhea 3
4. Constipation 3
5. Nausea 3
6. Vomiting 3
7. Fever 3

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Listening Self-Assessment
This concludes the practice for listening. Now that you have completed the tasks, checked your answers and
considered the notes provided, it’s time to reflect on your listening skills. Complete the following self-assessment to
determine which listening skills you still need to work on. Check the “yes” column, or the “need to work on” column
as you consider each skill. On the next page, there is some space for you to make notes on how you did if that is
helpful to you. Self-reflection can be a good learning strategy.

WHAT YOU WILL

LISTENING NEED
SKILLS TO DO:
- I WAS ABLE TO: HOW YOU WILL BEYES 3
EVALUATED:
NEED TO WORK ON

identify the purpose of the conversation

identify specific factual details in each dialogue

recognize the mood and attitude of the speakers

understand when someone is giving advice or suggestions

determine time / number / amount / quantity / frequency

identify a patient’s condition, concern or problem

determine the order in which actions or events occurred

determine if a statement is true or not

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Self-Assessment
Notes

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