Level C2 (approx. band 8.5-9) · Academic and General Training Academic speech at full speed is a different animal from everyday chat. A lecturer packs dense noun phrases into long sentences, signals structure in passing, hedges every claim and corrects herself mid-flow. In a seminar, three people talk over each other, concede points and change their minds. In this episode: • Signposting at speed • Hedging and stance • Seminar moves • Density, numbers and self-correction • Listening lab • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key points: • Signposts are a map; when you hear one, check which question you are on. • Separate the view being reported from the speaker's own view, which usually follows a contrast word. • In a seminar, the last agreed idea is usually the answer, not the first one mentioned. • Hold the head noun, catch the number, and always take the correction. IELTS Complete Course: a self-study podcast from A1 to C2 for Academic and General Training. Listen, pause and answer, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair. Independent course, not affiliated with the IELTS test owners.