Enhancing listening skills
IF asked to think of listening in the language learning classroom, most people may imagine textbook exercises involving a conversation followed by a series of questions to check whether they have understood or not.
However, there is much more to listening than that and it is possibly one of the most important skills a language learner can develop. The simple reason for this is that listening is the main form of input and all language learners need input before they can start to speak or write.
Thankfully, modern technology means that you can now work on developing their listening skills anywhere and anytime you wish as long as you have an Internet connection.
English learners have access to a huge range of free online resources to develop their listening skills.
YouTube offers access to a wider variety of video clips of varying quality and length and there is also video and audio content on news websites such as BBC, CNN and more. Or thought-provoking content on TED.
In addition, there are thousands of podcasts on a variety of topics available in English, in both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. There are also podcasts and websites that provide content specifically made for learning English.
For example, the British Council’s “Learn English” site offers video and audio contents that cover a range of levels and interests.
You can do online exercises related to the content and also read the transcript as you listen.
Despite this wealth of resources you need to understand how you can improve your listening skills and, in turn, the overall level of English.
There are a number of ways to do this. First and foremost, you should not worry if you do not understand every word as online resources offer the opportunity of listening several times.
The first time you listen, just listen for the main points. Subsequently, listen again for more details.
If a transcript of a recording is available, you can use that to check as well.
Transcripts can also be useful for understanding how some words in a sentence are emphasised more strongly than others.
It is also important to look for familiar topics in your own language, as knowledge of the topic can help you guess the meaning of unfamiliar words.
It is also important to choose topics that interest you. This gives you additional reasons to listen, not just to practise English but also to help with long-term motivation.
Also try listening to different types of spoken English.
This mean absorbing the varieties of English, from the British to American, Australian, Indian and any other non-native speaker as well as different types of spoken communication.
You can easily find news reports, conversations, interviews, lectures, presentations and more online. Listening to a mix of these help you understand the differences in the style of speech in terms of stress, intonation and speed.
You can also give yourself a kind of task while listening to something online such as taking notes and using them to write a short summary or talk to your friend about what you heard.
Finally, remember to listen to English frequently, as the more input you have, the better it is for you.
The wealth of online listening resources presents more opportunities than ever before to develop listening skills independently.
Whether being stuck in a traffic jam, on the train, in the gym or in a cafe, regular listening helps build confidence and improve overall English ability.
For details, visit www.britishcouncil.my/ english/courses-adults.