How to Improve Listening Skills

"We were given two ears but only one mouth, because listening is twice as hard as talking."

Difficulties in listening Listening is not focused at high schools Lack of facilities and resources or utilize little of them: tapes, cassette players, computers, video clips, movies, internet, English speaking people, and clubs

Con’t Feel we are failing if we can't understand every word - this can create worry and stress Can only understand if people speak slowly and clearly Find it hard to keep up with all of the information coming their way Get very tired during long listening

So what to do? Listen to something you enjoy Listen for the main ideas Listen for specific information Identify stresses and reductions Get meaning from context

Con’t Most beginners get difficulty due to the lack of vocabularies, pronunciation and grammar. - Select a book with the CD suitable for your level. It helps practice the listening easily and you can anticipate the level of difficulty. - Listen to the CD without reading the text/ dialogue once or twice. When you find difficulty in grasping the meaning, listen again while scrutinizing the text/ dialogue. - Pay attention carefully to the pronunciation and intonation. If you want to improve your pronunciation, listen and repeat the dialogue/ text by pausing each sentence.

Con’t After listening to the text/ dialogue, do the exercise and check your answer with the answer-key or with your teacher. - If you watch TV, select the English program/ film. Listen to the dialogue carefully without reading the translation (text). - Listen to English songs and learn the words. If you like singing, memorize the words and sing them. - Practice the above tips everyday although only half an hour. By practicing the listening exercises many times, your listening will improve faster.

WHEN YOU LISTEN TO SOMEONE SPEAKING IN ENGLISH... Mentally put yourself in other person’s shoes Spend more time listening than talking Listen unconsciously to radio, television, movie. Ask questions Don’t translate – create barrier between speaker and listener Encourage the speaker, provide feedback and paraphrase to show you are listening Don't need to know a lot about a subject to have a conversation but a desire to learn, understand and make things interesting Take notes, analyze, paraphrase, summarize and ask for clarification

Con’t Judge content, not delivery, i.e. what they say, not how they say it Listen optimistically – don't lose interest straight away Do not jump to conclusions Concentrate – don't start dreaming – and keep eye contact Do not think ahead of the speaker – you will lose track

TO LISTEN EFFECTIVELY... Work at listening – be alert and alive Keep emotions under control when listening Open your mind – practice accepting new information Breathe slowly and deeply Relax physically, get comfortable