Academic Listening Encounters prepares high intermediate ESL students for listening to lectures and taking notes in an English-speaking academic environment. The content focus of this book is human behavior, which includes such high interest topics as stress, intelligence, and friendship. Each chapter explores one of these topics using a variety of listening materials, including informal interviews and authentic classroom lectures. These materials allow students to practice crucial listening skills, such as summarizing what they have heard or listening for implied information; they also serve as stimuli for discussion and note-taking activities.