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How to

improve
listening skills

This presentation
includes:
1. What are suggestions for
listening?
2. 10main principles for listening
3. Mini tasks, some internet
resources of listening some and
ways for improving listening.
4. References

Listening strategies
Listening is the one skill that you use the most in everyday life. Listening
comprehension is the basis for your speaking, writing and reading skills. To train
your listening skills, it is important to listen actively, which means to actively pay
attention to what you are listening to. Make it a habit to listen to audio books,
podcasts, news, songs, etc. and to watch videos and films in the foreign language.
You should know that there are different types of listening:
Listening for gist: you listen in order to understand the main idea of the text.
Listening for specific information: you want to find out specific details, for
example key words.
Listening for detailed understanding: you want to understand all the
information the text provides.
Before you listen to a text, you should be aware of these different types. You will
have to decide what your purpose is. Becoming aware of this fact will help you to
both focus on the important points and reach your goal.
In order to improve your listening skills, you may apply certain listening strategies
that support the listening process. To learn how to do so, read our tips below.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING


YOUR LISTENING SKILLS
Before you listen
Think about the topic of the text you are going to listen
to. What do you already know about it? What could
possibly be the content of the text? Which words come
to mind that you already know? Which words would you
want to look up?
If you have to do a task on the listening text, check
whether you have understood the task correctly.
Think about what type of text you are going to listen to.
What do you know about this type of text?
Relax and make yourself ready to pay attention to the
listening text.

While you are listening


It is not necessary to understand every single word. Try to
ignore those words that you think are less important anyway.
If there are words or issues that you don't understand, use
your general knowledge as well as the context to find out the
meaning.
If you still don't understand something, use a dictionary to
look up the words or ask someone else for help.
Focus on key words and facts.
Take notes to support your memory.
Intonation and stress of the speakers can help you to
understand what you hear.
Try to think ahead. What might happen next? What might the
speakers say, which words might they use?

After listening
Think about the text again. Have you understood
the main points?
Remember the speculations you made before you
listened. Did they come true?
Review your notes.
Check whether you have completed your task
correctly.
Have you had any problems while listening? Do
you have any problems now to complete your
task? Identify your problems and ask someone for
help.
Listen again to difficult passages.

7main principles for listening


01- Stop talking
If we were supposed to talk more than we listen, we would have
two tongues and one ear. Mark Twain.
Don't talk, listen. When somebody else is talking listen to what they
are saying, do not interrupt, talk over them or finish their sentences for
them. Stop, just listen. When the other person has finished talking you
may need to clarify to ensure you have received their message accurately.

02- Prepare Yourself to Listen


Relax.
Focus on the speaker. Put other things out of mind. The human mind
is easily distracted by other thoughts whats for lunch, what time do
I need to leave to catch my train, is it going to rain try to put other
thoughts out of mind and concentrate on the messages that are being
communicated.

03
Put the Speaker at Ease
Help the speaker to feel free to speak.
Remember their needs and concerns. Nod or use other
gestures or words to encourage them to continue.
Maintain eye contact but dont stare show you are
listening and understanding what is being said.
04
Remove Distractions
Focus on what is being said.
Dont doodle, shuffle papers, look out the window, pick
your fingernails or similar. Avoid unnecessary interruptions.
These behaviors disrupt the listening process and send
messages to the speaker that you are bored or distracted.

05
Be Patient
A pause, even a long pause, does not necessarily mean that the
speaker has finished.
Be patient and let the speaker continue in their own time, sometimes it
takes time to formulate what to say and how to say it. Never interrupt or
finish a sentence for someone.
06
Listen for Ideas Not Just Words
You need to get the whole picture, not just isolated bits and
pieces.
Maybe one of the most difficult aspects of listening is the ability to link
together pieces of information to reveal the ideas of others.With proper
concentration, letting go of distractions, and focus this becomes easier
07
Wait and Watch for Non-Verbal Communication
Gestures, facial expressions, and eye-movements can all be
important.
We dont just listen with our ears but also with our eyes watch and pick up
the additional information being transmitted via non-verbal communication.
See our page:Non-verbal Communication .

Activities for listening


in order to adjust to your ear

Daily English listening

Watching movies in English.

http://www.voanews.com/
https://www.englishlistening.com/index.php/understand-spoken-eng
lish
/
http://www.5minuteenglish.com/listening.htm
http://www.agendaweb.org/listening/intermediate-advanced-4.html
http://
learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening-skills-practice
http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topicsmenu/listening.html
Apps:
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/07/26/8-great-apps-for-listeningto-podcasts-on-android-and-ios/#gref
To visit
http://www.learning-english-online.net/listening-comprehension/list
ening-strategies
/
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-and-learning/activelistening-seven-ways-to-improve-students-listening-skills/

References
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teachingand-learning/active-listening-seven-ways-toimprove-students-listening-skills/
http://www.voanews.com/
http://thenextweb.com/apps/2011/07/26/8-greatapps-for-listening-to-podcasts-on-android-andios/#gref
http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/lis
tening-skills-practice
http://www.learning-english-online.net/listeningcomprehension/listening-strategies/

Thank you for your


attention

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