English Listening Tips

A lot of English learners have trouble understanding what native speakers are saying. One reason that real English is difficult to understand is that the English in classrooms and textbooks is very different from how people really speak. When pronouncing words incorrectly, you will find many difficulties in listening comprehension. However, the words and sentences you have listened are familiar to you. Understand how native English speakers speak is the golden key to listen English better. If you only learn English in a classroom, you probably only hear very careful pronunciation. You won’t be prepared when someone asks you something that sounds like “W’joominehand’nmethabagoveda?” (“Would you mind handing me that bag over there?”)

So how can you get better at understanding spoken English? Here are some tips to improve the quality of your listening skill.

English Listening Tips

1. Interactive listening is best

In other words, it’s better to talk with someone than just to listen to a recorded TV show, radio program, or podcast. When you talk to people live, you listen more carefully and you also think about how you’re going to respond.

2. Don’t just listen to the same kind of English all the time

Don’t just listen to the news, or only watch TV comedies. Expose yourself to a variety of different kinds of situations and topics.

3. Identify reliable sources and listen to English every day

You should choose your suitable reliable listening sources and practice listening everyday. There are good reliable sources online like BBC,CNN,VOA etc. Moreover, all you need is to spend fifteen minutes per day developing your listening skills, which helps you familiarize with English pronunciation.

3. Live and work in a completely English speaking environment

4. Do some kind of sports, hobbies, or other activities with a group of English speakers

5. Talk one-on-one with an English speaking tutor a few times a week

6. Watch movies, TV shows and videos in English (with English caption or without subtitles)

7. Listen to English podcasts on a topic that’s interesting to you

Posted by Leila Cynthia Dewi