There are two different methods you can use to improve your listening and both are very important.
I’m pretty sure that you already use the first method I’m going to talk about. But I bet that most of you don’t use the second one.
If you start working your listening skill through both ways, I can guarantee you that your listening level is going to improve a lot. And moreover the other skills and above all your speaking skill is going to follow this improvement.
Let’s take a look at the strategies you have to combine from now on…
First strategy: Work your English listening skill actively
Here there is no secret.
I’m pretty sure that you already work your listening skill actively:
It’s when you stop doing anything else and concentrate to work your listening.
You just sit in front of your TV, computer, tablet or phone…. and concentrate, listening to your favorite TV show, film, documentary…
Doesn’t that ring a bell?
It’s very important to work your listening skill actively and you must keep doing it as much as possible in a regular way.
Second strategy: Work your English listening skill passively
Here is the trick!
Last but not least, the second way to improve your listening (passively) is as important as the first one (actively).I even think that is more important, but a lot of people don’t use it regularly.
It’s just when you listen passively to English stuff while doing your daily activities. It’s very important to use your daily tasks, your common activities, to work your listening skill in “autopilot”.
How to work your English listening skill passively
You just have to keep doing and concentrating on your primary task (your daily chores) while you listen “semi consciously “to your English stuff as a secondary task.
- You concentrate 80% on your main task.
- You only concentrate 20% on what you are listening to.
When can you work your listening skill passively?
- While cleaning your house
- While walking
- While driving
- While taking a shower
- While doing easy or repetitive tasks at your job
- While doing the dishes
- While cooking
- …And so on…
How to do it?
You just need your Headphones and your MP3 Player full of songs, audio books, podcasts, radio shows, news, whatever you like… just in English.
As a personal Example…
I always listen to my MP3 player that is full of English stuff while doing any task that allows me to listen in autopilot (semi consciously).
I don’t concentrate 100% on what I’m listening to.
I concentrate 80% on my primary task (for example cooking) and concentrate 20% on what I’m listening.
I’m currently listening to a show that I like very much: Comedy Central Presents
I mostly work my listening passively when:
- Doing house chores
- While driving or walking to work
- Before falling asleep at nights
- When I wake up and stay sometime at bed before going to the shower
After combining these two strategies for a long period, you are going to feel that your listening is gradually improving. You are going to understand English in a natural way without any effort.
And Remember…
-Are you already using these two strategies to improve your listening?
-Are you going to try them?
-Is it working for you?
…All your comments are very welcome!!!
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