How to Improve Listening
Learn how listening is like training for a sport!
Stop Studying! Start Training!
You cannot improve listening by studying alone. You need to train!
Listening is like training for a sport. An athlete needs four things:
- Stamina
- Power
- Speed
- Flexibility
A good listener needs these four things too.
1. Listening stamina
Stamina means you can listen for a long time. You do not get tired quickly.
Hard English can make you tired. Start with easy English. Choose English at your level. Listen for five minutes. Later, listen for ten minutes or more.
2. Listening power
Power means you can hear and understand many words.
You need to hear words many times. Each time you hear a word, it becomes easier to understand. Regular listening makes your listening stronger.
3. Listening speed
Speed means you can understand people when they speak quickly.
Do not start with very fast English. Start with English at your level. Listen often. Your brain will learn to understand the words more quickly.
4. Listening flexibility
Flexibility means you can understand words in different situations.
For example, the word ‘so’ has different uses:
- I am so happy.
- It was cold, so I went inside.
- So, what did you do last night?
You learn these different uses through listening. You hear the same word in many situations.
Listen a little every day
Five or ten minutes a day can help. Choose easy English. Listen every day. Over time, your listening will become stronger, faster, and more flexible.
