How to make listening to English easier

When it comes to listening in another language, the key to learning is understanding. The more you understand, the more you can learn. So, don’t be afraid to take steps to make your listening practice more effective. This article offers fifteen tips to help you make listening more engaging and beneficial for your language learning journey by reducing the level of difficulty.

 

Listen to something with comprehension tasks

Some people struggle with listening because they try to catch every single word, which even native speakers don’t do. Answering comprehension questions can make listening easier because it helps you focus on key information and ignore irrelevant details. Knowing what to listen for can improve your listening skills, and the topics of the questions can give you clues about the content of the listening material.

 

Listen to something at the right level

It’s important to practice listening at a level that suits your abilities. Choose listening materials that are graded at your level, such as Elementary or B2 level, instead of content designed for native speakers. You can use resources like exams at your level, audio with graded readers, or additional listening materials provided by your textbook.

 

Listen to something easier

If you find traditional language learning materials boring, try listening to simpler content like “simple English” news broadcasts or children’s stories. These materials are easier to understand and can help improve your listening skills.

 

Avoid things that you find particularly difficult

If certain topics or types of content are too challenging for you, set them aside for later. Focus on listening to materials that are more manageable for your current level of comprehension.

 

Listen to something less intellectually challenging

Choose listening materials that are less intellectually demanding to help improve your listening skills. For example, opt for basic-level courses or radio soap operas instead of complex content that requires deep thinking.

 

Listen to the same thing again and again

Repetition is key to improving your listening skills. Listen to the same songs, poems, stories, or comedy sketches multiple times to enhance your understanding and decoding abilities.

 

Listen to something which repeats that information

Choose listening materials that present information in a clear and structured way, such as university lectures or radio documentaries with summaries. Repetition can help reinforce your understanding of the content.

 

Listen to something similar

Listening to similar content can provide similar benefits to listening to the same material repeatedly. Try listening to interviews with the same person, episodes of the same radio program, or audiobooks by the same author to improve your listening skills.

 

Listen to something that you are already familiar with

Listening to familiar content, such as news about your country or audiobooks of books you’ve already read, can help you understand more and improve your listening skills.

 

Prepare before listening

Do some research before listening

Before listening to a movie, radio program, or podcast, do some research to familiarize yourself with the topic. Reading summaries, looking up new vocabulary, or exploring related information can enhance your listening experience.

 

Imagine what you might hear

Before listening to a radio program or exam material, try to imagine what you might hear based on clues like photos or headlines. Writing down your predictions can help you focus and improve your listening skills.

 

Listen for shorter periods

If you struggle to concentrate during longer listening sessions, try listening in shorter intervals. Breaking up the listening material into smaller chunks can make it easier to digest and understand.

 

Listen more slowly

Adjusting the playback speed of audio can help you improve your listening skills. Listening at a slower pace initially can make it easier to understand the content, and you can gradually increase the speed as you become more comfortable.

 

Listen and read, then just listen

Listening and reading can be a helpful strategy for learning pronunciation, spelling, and word combinations. While it’s important not to rely on this method too heavily, it can be beneficial for certain types of content, such as graded readers or podcasts with transcripts.

 

Step up the listening challenge then step back down

If you find certain listening situations challenging, try exposing yourself to even more difficult materials to build your listening skills. Then, return to the original challenge, and you may find it more manageable. This approach can help you develop effective listening strategies for various situations.