Listening Skills Guide Show Would you like toimprove your English listening skills? Good listening doesnt just come naturally (unless you were born listening to English). We need to make a special effort to work on our listening skills. In thislistening skills guideyoull learn about:
You can also look below at the listening glossary for any words about listening that you dont understand, or try our Listening Terms Quiz. Listening is the first of the four language skills. It is called a "receptive" skill because when we listen we receive language coming in:
Differences between hearing and listeningHearingis simply the physical act of sound waves entering our ears and being transported to our brain. This is apassiveprocess that requires no effort. No meaning is attached. If your ears work and you are in a place where sound is being transmitted, you will hear it.Listeningis anactiveskill. It requires effort, and you can choose not to do it. Listeners take sounds and attach meanings to them. If they comprehend what a speaker has said, they can interpret and respond to the message. This is calledactive listening. What to listen toIf you have Internet and a device (computer, tablet, phone) with sound, you will never run out of English listening material. Here are some suggestions for finding appropriate materials. If the listening level is too high and you dont understand anything, find something easier. Podcasts:Podcasts offer regularly updated episodes of listening bites. These shows may be short or long. They may be formal or informal. They are often organized around a certain topic. Podcasts are typically free. You can find many that are specifically made for language learners. You dont need an iPod to listen to podcasts. You can often listen to podcasts online. If you have a mobile device or MP3 player you can also subscribe to podcasts and listen to them on the go.EnglishClub has a podcastthat you can subscribe to. Online listening labs and sites:Many websites likeEnglishCluboffer free listening activities. Some are organized by topic or level. You can also search EnglishClubslinksto find sites that offer free audio. Or use the search terms free audio practice or free English listening. News:Many English news sites offer audio or video clips to go with news stories. If the English is too difficult for you, find a site that offers news in easy English, such asEnglishClubs monthly newsor other sites that specialize in news reports for English learners. Music:Listening to music lyrics is a great way to practise your active listening. At times you will have to replay one line over and over until you can understand what the singer is saying. Many lyrics are available online so you can read along as you listen. You can also search for music videos that have subtitles. Videos/Film/TV:Find a topic you are interested in and start watching videos. You can watch English cartoons, how-to videos, documentaries or movies. Why not watch one each day? Some videos offer captions. You could also buy a TV series on DVD so that you can control when to pause, stop, and replay certain scenes. Dictations:Improve yourspelling, writing and typing skills as you practise listening. Dictations can also help you learn new vocabulary in context. EnglishClub offersdictationsfor different levels. You could also practise dictations with a partner. Choose readings at an appropriate level and practise reading slowly with proper pronunciation. Conversations:If you are in an English-speaking country, instead of texting in your own language on the bus or train, fold your hands in your lap and listen to the conversations around you. You can also sit in a coffee shop or restaurant and practise listening to strangers around you. This is called eavesdropping. Stare out a window or pretend to read a book so that others dont feel uncomfortable. This is the one time not to make eye contact. Lectures:Many online schools offer free lectures on a variety of topics. You can also listen toTED Talks. 10 Tips to be a good listener
Listening strategiesHere are some strategies for improving your listening skills:
Listen to natural speech:Listening to your teacher, your classmates and even the audio recordings from your textbook is not enough. You also need to listen to real people speaking real English. You will notice the following: 1) Peoplelink wordstogether. For example: turn off -> tur-noff Listening barriers:Recognize why you dont understand what you hear. First figure out which barriers are affecting your listening. Next, reduce or eliminate the barriers that you have control over. Your listening barriers may include some of the following:
Listening testsMoststandardized testshave a listening component. You will score higher on the test if you cananticipate the types of questionsyou will encounter.You may or may not be allowed to take notes as you listen. This depends on the test and the teacher or moderator. Be sure to know theformatandtime restrictionsof the test before you take it. Question TypesSometimes listening questions are combined with speaking activities. You listen to a speaker and you respond with your voice. Sometimes they are combined with writing activities. You respond to what youve heard by answering questions in written form or by writing an essay. You may encounter some pre-listening questions, but most questions will come after you hear a conversation, speech or other recording.Listening questions are often multiple choice. Here are some specific types of questions you may come across: Question response: You hear one statement or question and you have to choose the next line from a second speaker or respond with your own voice. Main idea: Describe the gist or main idea behind a lecture, conversation, speech, etc. Detail: Answer who, what, where, when, how, why questions about what you heard. Inference: Draw your own conclusions about what you heard. About the speakers: Respond to questions about the speaker based on what he or she talks about. Pictures: Listen to statements about a photograph. Determine which one best describes the image. Oral response: Listen to a recording and respond to a related question with your voice. Written response: Listen to a recording and write a short or long written response based on a related question. Pre-listening
Post-listening
Listening termsA glossary of words and terms that we use to talk about listeningaccent(noun): how words and syllables are pronounced based on the regional or social background of a speaker |