Benefits of listening and reading at the same time

In this article, we’ll take a look at four benefits to English learning of listening and reading at the same time. They are:

• You can associate sounds with written words
• You deepen the learning pathways
• You involve multiple senses at once
• It helps you stay on track

Associate sounds with written words

Every word (in fact, every part of a word) has a sound and a spelling.

When reading…

When reading, we pay attention to the way a word looks. We notice its spelling. If it’s a hard word, we can take a little longer to identify it and process its meaning. If it’s a word we know, we can process it quickly.

It’s also common to “say” the words out loud in our heads. But a problem comes when we recognize the way a word is written, but we don’t know how it sounds. We can’t say it silently to ourselves, and we can’t use it out loud in a future conversation.

When listening…

When listening, on the other hand, we clearly know how words sound. But as we’re listening, we don’t know how words are spelled. And if we don’t hear the speaker clearly, it can be hard to know whether we simply don’t know the word or if we mis-heard it.

When listening, too, we don’t have the option of taking a little while longer with each word, since we (usually) don’t control the speed with which a person speaks.

When doing both…

But listening and reading together is a powerful strategy. It combines the strengths of each method. When you hear a word spoken out loud, you can immediately associate the sounds you hear with the way it’s written on the page. That way, when you encounter the word again in a book, you’ll be more likely to know how it sounds, so you can “say it” in your head.

Likewise, when writing, you might think of a word based on what you’ve heard. And if you know how it’s spelled, you’re prepared to write it out.

Plain English is a podcast with slower-speed audio and free, word-for-word transcripts to help English learners. Learn more here.

Deepen the learning pathways

Learning any new skill involves carving new pathways in your brain.

The first time you do something new, it feels slow and uncomfortable. The second time, it might feel only a little better. But if you’ve done something a hundred times, you probably feel like an expert. By that hundredth time, you’ve already carved a deep learning pathway for yourself in your brain.

Every time we hear something—and every time we read something—in our new language, we deepen the learning pathways in our brains. It’s not a big change every time, but the accumulation of reading, listening, speaking, and writing over long periods is what makes us comfortable and fluent in a new language.

That’s why it’s important to be consistent and to get a lot of exposure to a new language.

You won’t find us arguing for a quick-fix to language learning. But listening and reading at the same time can help you deepen those learning pathways faster than if you were practicing just one of those skills at a time.

Involve multiple senses at once

Humans perceive the world using multiple senses. We have evolved to process information quickly from multiple senses at once. That’s why multi-sensory learning can be so effective.

Multi-sensory learning is just what it sounds like: a learning style that uses multiple senses at once. In most cases, this means some combination of sight, sound, touch, and movement.

Of course, not everything can be taught in a multi-sensory way. But languages are tailor-made for a combination of sight and sound. Listening and reading at the same time stimulates two of your senses at once, and can help you make faster progress.

Stay on track with your reading

Finally, who among us hasn’t allowed our mind to wander while reading a book? A thought pops into your head, you look up…and ten minutes later, you’ve had a daydream and haven’t even turned one page. That can be even more true in a second language, when reading is more of a strain than it is in your first language.

Getting lost while reading a book isn’t bad in and of itself. But sometimes we would benefit from the discipline of someone keeping us on track. Listening to the text we’re reading can help us stay on track, especially if it’s at a pace we can follow (more on that later).  

Where to get the material

You might be convinced that listening and reading at the same time offer benefits over and above what each individual activity can offer by itself. But where can you get material?

Here are three suggestions:

• Podcasts: Many English-language podcasts come with free transcripts. Plain English, for example, is a twice-weekly English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics. The transcripts are free and available on PlainEnglish.com. Other podcasts, especially from NPR in the United States, also have transcripts.
• Audiobooks: If you like reading books, you might consider combining the written book with the audiobook. If you buy e-books from Amazon, look for the feature called “Whispersync” to make sure your Kindle book comes with an audio version.
• Automated narration: Many newspapers and magazines now offer narration of the articles on their websites. This is an excellent way to make the content more accessible. Just be aware, however, that this is often computer narration. While the pronunciation is basically accurate, it’s not the same as listening to a human.

Other tips for listening and reading at the same time

Finally, here are a few tips to keep in mind if you follow this strategy:

• Listen at the right speed: Listening does you no good if it’s too fast for you to understand. Some audiobook narrators speak slowly, while others go much more quickly. The same goes for podcasts. Pick an audio source that goes at a speed that you can understand. (Plain English is available at two speeds, for example, so you can pick the speed that’s right for you.)
• Don’t overdo it: Remember the benefits of listening and reading at the same time, especially about creating deeper learning pathways? Well that comes at a cost. This is a more intense way of learning, so you’ll get tired more quickly. Don’t try to do too much. Listen to just ten or fifteen minutes at first. Then, you can gradually increase the amount you do per day as you get more comfortable.

Consider Plain English for the best of both worlds

Plain English offers English lessons based on current events and trending topics. Each lesson has both an audio version and a transcript. The best news? They’re both free.

Plain English offers several advantages to English learners who want to upgrade their English skills. First, each and every one of our 650+ lessons includes a free transcript. That way, you can listen and read at the same time for hundreds of hours of interesting content.

Second, the audio goes at a slower speed, perfect for intermediate English learners. What’s more, the slower speed isn’t a mechanical or automated change to normal speech. The narration is just like a patient friend speaking a little more slowly so you can understand.

Finally, while the main topics on Plain English are about what’s going on in the world, each lesson includes a helpful discussion of a common English expression or phrasal verb. These discussions take a story-based approach, so you hear the full context of the words you’re learning.

It’s easy to get started

It’s easy to start with Plain English. Just tell us a little about yourself in the form below and we’ll help you start listening to our free audio lessons and reading the transcripts:

The post Listening and reading at the same time: a great way to improve your English appeared first on Plain English.

Keep reading for a list of mix-and-match resources and activities – for all types of learners – to help you improve your listening skills in English.

Ways to practice English listening

Keep these resources handy (= easily available and useful).

Audio streaming app

Whether you’re listening to the radio, using songs to improve your English, or trying out different podcasts, audio is a great tool because you’re less likely to be distracted by watching the content.

Audiobook app

Whether you love self-improvement books, romance, or thrillers, audiobooks are a great way to practice your listening skills. They can even be better than podcasts because the narrators read with emotion based on the plot, there are often multiple voices in a dialogue, and sometimes, you’ll even get to hear the original author read it. Plus, you can always use the original text to help.

Youtube or other video app

Online video is booming. There are so many types of content to explore based on your interests. Many videos have captions (or you can add them yourself). Since these are computer-generated, they may not be perfect, but they often communicate the main idea.

Video streaming service

Chances are (= it’s likely that) you have a subscription to an on-demand media streaming app. Many English language learners (ELLs) use sitcoms to improve English listening skills. These are enjoyable to watch, the actors’ faces are expressive, and there are many pauses between their speech.

Video games

Video games are a popular way for people to blow off steam (= relax from stress) and improve your English as a bonus. From puzzle games to role-playing and massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), there are many genres to choose from.

English class

Taking a course, whether online or in-person, is a tried and true way to learn listening skills in English.

Join a community

Sometimes, you learn faster when you learn together. For example, 11,500+ English learners love Plain English’s modern approach, fun lessons, and helpful conference calls.

Game night

Games aren’t just for kids! There are many games you can play with your English class, friends, or children. 

People-watching

Whether you prefer the café or the park, this is a low-pressure way to hear real-life English and practice your listening skills.

English listening exercises for intermediate learners

The following mix-and-match exercises have worked for Plain English teachers and students in real life. For each, we’ll give you the best resources to use it with.

Practice your active listening 

Use with: audio streaming app, audiobook app, some Youtube and on-demand videos

Improve your English listening skills massively with just 15 minutes a day. We think this is the best way to invest your time for the biggest impact. Here’s our guide.

Listen and answer questions 

Use with: audio streaming app, listening exercise videos on Youtube, English class

Content that is made for ELLs will often feature conversations or information, and then ask you questions about what you heard. The Business English podcast and 6 Minute English podcast are great examples. You can also search for channels with listening exercises on Youtube, like English Test Blog or Burhan peynirci.

Fill in the song lyrics

Use with: audio streaming app

A website like Lyrics Gaps has thousands of songs for you to search, listen, and fill in the blanks. For example, their exercise for The Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” allows you to choose a beginner, intermediate, or expert version. The site Lyrics Training allows you to study the lyrics while you listen to songs, like Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable,” and fill in the gaps with different levels – you just need a free account. A phone app is also available.

Play Mad Libs

Good for: English class, learning community, game night with a partner or group

Mad Libs is a popular template-based word game invented in 1958. One partner reads a story with gaps, and the other chooses any word to fill it in. Gaps use word categories like noun, verb, or adjective as a prompt, so you’re also practicing your grammar. You can find Mad Libs printables, books, and apps on their website.

Use reader’s guides 

Use with: audiobook app, partner work

Search a site like Reading Group Guides to find a reader’s guide to answer questions about what you heard in your audiobook. Sometimes, books will have reader’s guides in the back to help you think about what you learned, both in each chapter and overall. 

(Pro tip: Read a book with an English-learning buddy and have them ask you questions for a listening and conversation activity.)

Explain a video

Use with: video app, video streaming service

Listen to a short video (or part of a video, using our active listening exercise above) and explain it to a friend or write it down in your own words. First, try to summarize the topic: Imagine you are explaining it to someone else. Then you can explain how you feel about it.

Try one of these channels or topics:

• TEDx Talks (self-improvement, various topics; find transcripts on their website)
• AsapSCIENCE (science)
• The School of Life (psychology)
• Draw My Life videos (pop culture, celebrities)
• Life hack videos (pop culture)

All examples include helpful visuals.

Fix the captions or subtitles

Use with: video app, video streaming service, audio streaming app

Many video services include captions or subtitles to help with accessibility. But automatic captioning on Youtube, for example, isn’t always right. Even subtitles on streaming services aren’t 100% correct. But correct captions help everyone, from people who are hard of hearing (= can’t hear well) to ELLs like you.

Here are a few activities:

• Listen and transcribe a Youtube video into your own language and share the captions (beginner)
• Listen and transcribe the English words to a Youtube video in order to add non-existent captions or fix incorrect captions (intermediate)
• Watch an episode of a TV show on a streaming service with subtitles, transcribe the captions based on what you hear, and compare as you go (advanced)

Read an episode review

Use with: video streaming service

Use your active listening skills to watch an episode of a TV show or a short film, and then read an episode review to see if you understood what happened. You can find plot recaps on Wikipedia, IMDB, or Vulture (beginner to intermediate), and episode reviews on Metacritic, IGN, or Vulture (advanced).

Play a multiplayer online game

Good for: game night, your ELL community

In MMOGs, you choose a character and complete tasks with others. Many MMOGs are fantasy, role-playing, and world-building games where you have to communicate and collaborate with other players. They are played by people of all ages and language abilities. Popular MMOGs include EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings online, Guild Wars, and Minecraft. Read a list of top-rated MMOGs here.

Set daily or weekly word-use goals

Did you hear a word while doing a listening exercise that you want to add to your active vocabulary? Choose one word for a daily or weekly goal. You must actively try to use this word in conversation so that you become used to using it.

Eavesdrop 

Eavesdropping, or listening in to other people’s public conversations, is a low-pressure way to improve your real-life listening skills in English. Read more in our blog about improving your English listening comprehension.

What’s the best English listening exercise?

Many of the English listening exercises above are free and multi-purpose, helping you with listening, speaking, reading, and writing. That said, no single listening exercise is the best for everyone. What works for you may not work for your classmate or coworker. 

Choose your preferred listening exercise based on your interests, resources, the amount of time you have, whether you have a conversation partner, and even where you live. For example, eavesdropping in your native language may be fun, but it probably won’t help you learn English. 

What English listening exercise will you try first?

The post 15+ English listening exercises you can start using today appeared first on Plain English.

For English language learners, a strong listening ability is the gateway to speaking. In this article, we’ll show you how to learn active listening skills in English in just 15 minutes a day.

Too much content, too little active concentration

Think about the content you’ve listened to lately. Maybe you enjoy podcasts or audiobooks as you commute to work or relax in the evenings. Maybe you watch videos during stolen moments at work, or relax with Netflix in the evenings. 

Often, we want to practice our English but we are actually listening to “zone out” (= relax our minds and not think much). This is a form of passive listening. Even if you listen this way for 30 to 60 minutes, you may not actually learn from what you hear.

That changes today Keep reading for more…

A guide to building active listening skills

Anyone can do this exercise with access to audio and a transcript.

The key is to do some concentrated listening consistently each day. It doesn’t have to be difficult – ideally, you should look forward to it! 

Choose your material

Use material you already have and enjoy. For our purposes, let’s use the Plain English. The episode, “100-year-old American food brands that are still in business” is one of our favorites.

Pick a clip

(Plain English Podcast always has a transcript. When you do this yourself, make sure a transcript is available, but don’t look at it.)

Let’s start with the first paragraph of the section titled, “Oldest American food brands.”

The first paragraph describes the aisles of an American supermarket and what companies do to keep the foods interesting for shoppers over time.

First listen

Listen the first time to see if you understand it. If you’re not sure, repeat the material until you understand the main point. 

You can play a slow or fast version of Plain English lessons, but the slow version might work better for this exercise.

Second listen

Play the content again and transcribe (= write down or type) the words you hear – without looking at the transcript. Repeat as many times as you need to get all the words down.

Compare

Now, compare what you’ve written to the transcript. Notice where you made errors. Did you miss smaller words like prepositions? Was it harder to understand words that sound blended together? Spelling counts here, as do all the small transition words. 

As you progress, the goal is to transcribe the content with fewer repetitions. Gradually expand the length of the clips you use. Eventually, you will be able to longer excerpts and transcribe them correctly the first time you listen.

Learn

This activity has many benefits. Repeated listening and transcription helps you: 

• Pick up more vocabulary words
• Practice your spelling and word order
• Understand the overall message better
• Improve your attention span when listening
• Be more likely to retain knowledge over time

In our experience, 15 minutes of daily active listening like this is better than an hour of passive listening!

Hint: Want to incorporate more active learning into your plan? Check out this free workshop on active learning.

The best times for active listening

Doing active listening exercises takes commitment. Although 15 minutes is a relatively short time, it may be hard to squeeze it successfully between other stressful activities.

It’s important to set aside 15 minutes per day at a time when you feel calm and can concentrate. The best time for you will vary based on your energy levels; for example, whether you are an early bird or a night owl.

Here are some times to consider:

• If you’re an early bird, get up 15 minutes earlier for quiet “alone time”
• Just after breakfast
• 30 minutes after a workout
• During a longer commute when you have hands free; for example, on the train
• Your lunch break
• The early afternoon before children get home from school
• During the evening after children have gone to bed
• If you’re a night owl, after everyone has gone to sleep

Experiment with different times of day until you have a consistent, dependable rhythm. Once you make active listening a habit, you will improve your English skills faster than you know it!

Turn passive listening to active listening

Anyone can practice these active listening exercises for free with any audio sample and accompanying transcript. However, consider taking your active listening and practicing to the next level with Plain English Plus+.

As a Plus+ member, you can practice listening to lessons at two speeds, see instant translations of difficult words, and complete active-learning exercises that help you with prepositions, verb tenses, and vocabulary.

Getting started with Plain English

If you’re not yet ready to commit to the Plus+ membership, you can explore our audio lessons and full transcripts by joining as a free member. That way, you can begin to apply some of what you learned in this article with our English lessons about current events and trending topics.

The post How to Build Your Active English Listening Skills in Just 15 Minutes appeared first on Plain English.

You can listen while commuting to work, doing housework, or relaxing. Some people like to use music to improve their listening; others may prefer podcasts. Podcasts are easy to access on the web or streaming apps, and transcripts are often available to help listeners practice their English.

Best podcasts for English language learners

Let’s go through the best podcasts for English language learners, with a variety of topics, accents, lengths, and levels.

In this post, we’ll talk about:

• Plain English
• All Ears English
• Luke’s English Podcast
• Business English Pod
• BBC Radio 6-Minute English

Plain English

It would be a little strange if we didn’t put ourselves first, right?

We’ll set our modesty aside for a second. Plain English is (we think), the best podcast for intermediate-level English learners who enjoy current events and trending topics. The podcast is popular among professionals and lifelong learners alike.

This podcast is great for listeners who…

…want to improve their listening. The audio goes at a slower speed just for learners. But don’t let that fool you. The content is authentic, real-world content. The delivery is just a little slower to help learners process every word.

Slower audio is good if you struggle to watch movies without subtitles. When you listen to Plain English, concentrate on hearing every distinct word.

While some English-learning podcasts charge for transcripts, Plain English offers them for free.

Bonus: Every Plain English episode comes with a free transcript. See where to get them here.

The format

Each episode starts with a story about something happening in the world. It could be something in the news, a health trend, or something from the business world.

Then, in the second half of the episode, listeners learn exactly how to use one English expression or phrasal verb, with plenty of real-world examples and all the right context.

Episodes are about 20 minutes long in total, so they’re perfect for a brisk walk or your morning commute. The host is Jeff, originally from Chicago. JR is the producer; he’s originally from Mexico.

Read more about Jeff and JR

Example of a recent episode

Episode 630 (or “Lesson 630,” as we call it) is all about sleep. You’ve probably heard the advice to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. But that’s not possible for a lot of people, who have work and family obligations.

But you’ll learn in the episode: there’s still hope for you! A recent study found the consistency of sleep is just as important as the amount.

So if you can only sleep six hours, that’s fine; just make sure it’s the same six hours each night.

In the second half of the episode, Jeff explains how to use the English phrasal verb “catch up,” with lots of realistic examples to help you understand.

Why should you listen?

A lot of English podcasts are strictly about learning. And that’s great. But at Plain English, we believe you should also have exposure to a lot of different topics. That will help you expand your vocabulary and express more complex ideas.

It also gets you thinking in English and it gives you something to talk about with English-speaking friends and colleagues.

There’s more: If you like the podcast, you can make faster progress with Plain English Plus+. Learn more about Plus+ here.

All Ears English

All Ears English (AEE) is an “English as a Second Language (ESL) podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners around the world.” The podcast has been downloaded more than 200 million times, offers an email signup so you can get transcripts delivered directly to your inbox, and has the motto, “Connection NOT perfection.”

This podcast is great for listeners who…

…are looking to learn more about American English or have the goal to speak more like a U.S. native speaker. Many episodes are geared towards (= focused on) communication skills in professional and social environments.

AEE currently has 1660+ episodes that come out multiple times a week, almost daily. There is a lot of variety, from discussion of the past participle to color vocabulary to different moments of connection in English. This might include phrases for your next job interview, different ways to say thank you, and tips on how to be playful in English.

The format

Episodes are typically between 10-20 minutes. Hosts Lindsay and Michelle introduce the podcast and topic of the episode and banter (= have casual conversation) for a few moments. 

Then, they explain why the topic is relevant, give you specific phrases and tips, and share real-life examples or use the concepts they’ve introduced in a sample conversation. 

Finally, they summarize the topic and finish with an invitation to subscribe to the podcast.

Example of a recent episode

In “AAE 1659: Believe It or Not, this Phrase Brings Connection in English,” Lindsay and Michelle discuss how and when to use the phrase “believe it or not,” whether you are talking about the nearest laundromat or going skydiving this weekend.

Why should you listen?

Lindsay (from Colorado) and Michelle (from New York City) are enthusiastic, high-energy hosts who approach the topic of improving your English from many different angles. They use idioms and slang in context, which can be helpful. Their sample conversations can give you good ideas for using what you’ve learned in real life. 

Luke’s English Podcast

Luke’s English Podcast (LEP) is one of the longest-running English-language shows in the world. Luke Thompson, an English teacher and stand-up comedian from London, started the award-winning show in 2009.

This podcast is great for listeners who…

…are looking for an entertaining, long-form way to listen to and learn British English. LEP aims to make listeners laugh and think, and is great for listeners who want to hear guests with different accents speak and share stories. 

The podcast has nearly 750 episodes, which come out once or twice a week. LEP is complete with transcripts and other resources on Luke’s site.

The format

Episodes are between 30 and 90 minutes and the episode topic is clearly explained in the title of each episode. Luke greets listeners, whom he calls LEPsters, and, often, introduces the guest of the episode. The podcast contains a mix of genres, but most recent episodes spend the majority of the time on the guest interview. Afterwards, Luke “rambles,” or chats to the audience about current events and other topics at length, and sometimes even sings.

Example of a recent episode

Episode “743. Give me Tea, Please – Practical Ingredients for Tasteful Language (with Natasha V Broodie) + ramble / song” features author Natasha V Broodie who wrote Give Me Tea, Please. During her travels, Broodie had to learn how to communicate effectively in Russian, German, and more. On the podcast, she compares politeness in different languages to show how non-native speakers can get the tone of their communication right in English. At the end, Luke plays the Coldplay song “Trouble” on guitar.

Why should you listen?

Luke is an English teacher with 20+ years of experience. There is a lot of variety in subject matter and guests, and with so much choice, English language learners will never be bored. The podcast is great for longer listens; for example, when you’re commuting.

Business English Pod

Business English Pod (BEP) offers podcasts targeted for business English – it’s in the name! You can download the podcast episodes, complete with transcripts and quizzes, for free on the the BEP website or listen on a streaming app.

This podcast is great for listeners who…

…are beginner-to-intermediate speakers who want to focus on business English for meeting, networking, and more, without extra frills (= fancy additions). BEP currently has 380+ episodes that come out two or more times a month, with a long archive that is sure to keep you busy while you wait for the next episode.

The format

BEP alternates different podcast formats. Episodes that start with “BEP” – the majority of recent episodes, are structured specifically to help you practice your listening skills. The speaker introduces the topic, gives you questions to pay attention to, and plays a sample conversation with different voices. Then, you have the opportunity to practice specific phrases that you learned. 

There are also BEP “English Lessons” (talking about prices, making arrangements), “Skills” lessons (meeting new people, following up with contacts), and “Business English News” (cryptocurrency, the economic impact of Covid-19). Often, more than one episode is devoted to a specific topic.

Example of a recent episode

“Business English News 48 – Cryptocurrency” is a thorough yet clear explanation of “crypto.” The podcast explains what cryptocurrency is, why it is so popular, and how governments are reacting to its use.

Why should you listen?

If you’ve ever taken an English course with listening exercises, you will feel right at home (= comfortable, familiar) with this podcast. Episodes often take the form of listening exercises with questions and opportunities to practice. There are informative discussions of current topics or skills in business. The speakers are always easy to understand.

BBC Radio 6 Minute English

BBC Radio is a great resource for English language learners who want to improve their British English listening skills, with many podcasts available for learners of all levels. “6 Minute English” and “6 Minute Grammar”, in particular, feature varied topics and helpful lessons.

The “6 Minute English” podcast is great for listeners who…

…are intermediate learners interested in learning about diverse topics, from the environment and women’s health to technology and strange animals. Every Thursday, listeners will hear a variety of male and female speakers and learn interesting facts they can use to discuss the topics in their own lives.

The “6 Minute Grammar” podcast is great for listeners who…

…want to hear relevant tips they can apply to their English immediately and use daily. Every Tuesday, listeners will hear a variety of male and female speakers, who explain what the element of grammar is and how to use it, give examples, and quiz the listener on what they learned.

The format

Episodes are 6 minutes long. Hosts introduce themselves, then introduce and explain the topic. Most episodes include two main hosts who alternate speaking, ask each other questions, and quiz each other.

Example of a recent episode

“6 Minute English” covered “Smart tech and climate change.” The episode is a conversation between male and female speakers discussing whether artificial intelligence (AI) can help us fight climate change. The hosts share interesting facts and expert quotes, and fully explain new vocabulary like “simulate” and “carbon footprint.”

In one recent episode of “6 Minute Grammar,” hosts explained the difference between “‘Have to’ and ‘must,’” and in another, hosts discussed the many “Present tenses.”

Why should you listen?

BBC “6 Minute” podcasts are short, weekly podcasts that provide an easy way to practice listening to current topics and use that knowledge to improve your speaking skills. Both podcasts can make a good companion to English language learners who are also taking an English class.

What podcast will you use to improve your listening?

There are many podcasts for English language learners that can help you develop your English listening skills. Choose a podcast with topics or a focus that is relevant to your goals, and/or podcast hosts with your target accent, and commit to listening a few times a week so you can improve with ease.

And if podcasts aren’t your thing, that’s okay too. Check out these other tips for improving your English listening skills.

The post Best Podcasts to Improve Your English Listening Skills appeared first on Plain English.

“Telephone” is a game where you whisper a message and the listener transfers it to a line of other people. It’s called “broken telephone” in Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Malaysian, and Greek.

Part of the fun of playing as a kid was seeing how the message got confused as people misheard. That can be fun in a game, but not as fun when you’re trying to understand others in the real world. In our own lives, we don’t want to be the ones who make a mistake with our listening. 

Here are a few tips to improve your listening skills, plus important things for English language learners to remember as you listen your way to better English.

Before you start

When it comes to the best strategy to learn listening skills in English, here are a few things to keep in mind:

There are many varieties of English

The United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and Australia are all examples of countries with English as a dominant language. Yet of the 1.35 billion people who speak English worldwide, over 1 billion are non-native speakers. 

That should be a great encouragement! It also means you should choose your sources based on what your target dialect (ex. American English, British English) is. If your goal is to improve your general listening skills, choose speakers you find easiest to understand. 

Native speakers aren’t always the best sources, at first

Naturally, native speakers have been speaking English for a long time. Sometimes, they talk too fast. They may link a lot of their words (“gonna,” “wanna” instead of “going to,” “want to”) or use a lot of slang and idioms.

Start out with a speaker you feel comfortable listening to. Maybe you like the tone of their voice. Maybe they are a native speaker of your language who is fluent in English. Eventually, you’ll want to listen to a native speaker’s pronunciation, but since many non-native speakers are easy to understand, this can be a good starting point.

It takes time to transition from solo listening to real life

If you live in an English-speaking country or work with a lot of English speakers, it can be a big change from practicing your listening skills in a safe environment with headphones. Take your time! Gradually, it will become easier.

10 ways to improve listening skills in English

Define your goals for improving listening

Do you have Australian coworkers? Do you plan to spend a year in Ireland? English accents can sound very different from each other and have small but important differences in vocabulary and grammar. 

Find content that matches your target dialect and accent. If your goal is to understand American or Canadian English, choose a source like Plain English, which features the American accent. If your destination is the U.K., you might want to look for content from the BBC, for example.

Get a good pair of headphones

Whether you love listening to podcasts or you spend a lot of time on work calls, you’ll want to make sure your headphones are comfortable.

Also, consider what you’re using them for. If you’re taking an English language course, you might want to look for a headset with a microphone. If you spend a lot of time listening on public transportation, look for noise cancelling sets. It’s hard enough to listen to spoken words without having to compete with other noise around you. Headphones help you isolate background noise so you can listen only to the words.

Listen every day

How much time do you want to commit daily to improving your listening in English? Sometimes, less is more. You want to remain attentive without getting tired, so aim for between five and 30 minutes a day. There are so many great listening exercises to try, but you have to be consistent.

Listen to music, wisely 

Listening to music is a great way to learn new vocabulary and practice your English listening skills. It should also be an active activity for you to get the most out of it. Here’s our 5-step guide for developing your listening skills through music.

Adjust the speed

Nowadays, we have lots of options for listening at our pace (=at the speed that works for us). Listening apps and online video services like YouTube give you the opportunity to change the play speed so that you can catch more words; for example, you can change the speed from 1.0x to .75x so it will play at 75% the speed. (Be aware, though, that slowed-down sound can sometimes sound unnatural.)

Pro tip: Try listening to Plain English lessons at different speeds!

Follow along

Whether you’re listening to a video, podcast, or song, the words are often available:

• Movies and shows. TVs and streaming services will often allow you to enable English subtitles, so you can listen and read at the same time. 
• YouTube videos. More and more, you will find that Youtubers or their fans add subtitles to popular videos. Closed captioning [CC] is often available, but be aware that it may not always be correct if it’s computer-generated.
• Podcasts. Many podcasters link transcripts for their podcasts in the episode description or websites. (All Plain English podcasts have full transcripts available.)
• Songs. You can find lyrics for most songs in your search engines as well as streaming apps. 

Make sure you adjust your method for your level. Start small, then increase the difficulty as you improve.

Use your own voice

After listening, try reading back the text to compare your pronunciation with the speakers’. You can play back the audio as many times as you need to listen again. Focus on sentences that you struggle to understand, read them aloud, listen again, and repeat until you feel comfortable.

Eavesdrop, politely

Eavesdropping, or listening in to other people’s public conversations, is a low-pressure way to improve your real-life listening skills in English. You can make it a treat by going out to your favorite cafe, restaurant, or park. Take a book and don’t look directly at the speakers as you tune in (=focus on) the conversations happening around you.

Know how to respond

If you interact with English speakers on a daily basis, misunderstandings will happen and that’s okay. So what about when you don’t understand the store attendant, your boss during a video call, or your doctor on the telephone?

First, take a quick pause and breathe. Then, choose one of these phrases:

• “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand.” 
• “Can you please repeat that?”
• “Can you please say that again, more slowly?”
• “I didn’t catch that. Can you say it again?”
• “I’m working hard to improve my English and sometimes I don’t understand. Say it again, please?”

If it’s an informal setting, you can use a short phrase:

• “Sorry?”
• “What?”
• “Again?”
• “Once more?”
• “Repeat that, please?”

Practicing your English listening skills is a process

Our biggest tip of all? Be patient with yourself! Learning listening skills in English can be challenging and will take time. 

Remember that you can always listen at home, then test out your knowledge in the real world. Choose sources in your target language at a speed you feel comfortable, then increase the pace until you can handle native speaker interactions with ease. And most importantly, work at it a little bit every day!

The post 10 Tips to Improve Listening Skills in English appeared first on Plain English.

In this article, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of using music to improve listening, illustrate with funny English song examples, and end with a 5-step guide for making the best of music as a learning tool.

The benefits of listening to music in English

Music can be a fun, low-stress way to develop your listening in English. It brings exposure to many new voices, lots of fresh vocabulary, and better comprehension through repeat listens.

Adapts to the way you learn

Learners with varying styles can use English songs to improve listening skills. While auditory learners connect to the sounds, visual learners enjoy music videos, and kinesthetic learners connect to the rhythm. Some people even learn best while moving to the beat (= dancing)!

Lots of new vocabulary

Like reading and watching movies, music is a good source of words and phrases that you might not otherwise hear. The more you’re exposed to new vocabulary, the easier it is to understand in context.

Lyrics are readily available

Not even native speakers understand every word in a song, so don’t feel bad if it’s hard at first. Lyrics are widely available on the Internet and in streaming apps. Many of these apps allow you to follow the lyrics as you’re listening to the song, so you can associate the sound with the spelling of the words.

Music videos add context

Sometimes music videos will add the context you need to solidify your new vocabulary. If you’re looking for a good place to start, some of our favorites are “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” by Beyonce, “Smells Like Teen Spirit” by Nirvana, and “Hello” by Adele. You can also check out Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 best music videos.

Repetition builds comprehension

Most songs are less than 5 minutes long and are available to listen to while you drive, commute, or shop. The more you hear the same words, the more likely it is that you will remember and be able to use them. Though you might understand only 25% of the lyrics in the beginning, you’ll gradually improve your listening to 50%, then 75%, and so on.

Lots of variety

Because singers from different regions and countries often pronounce words differently, music can help you recognize words you already know from a variety of voices. 

Relevant knowledge

Music is a great conversation topic to discuss with people around you. The more music you listen to and understand, the easier it will be to talk about it with both native and non-native English speakers.

Drawbacks of listening to music in English

As much fun as it can be to listen to English songs, it’s not a perfect method. When you parrot songs (= repeat words and phrases blindly), you can learn phrases that don’t exist, use wrong grammar, or even offend people. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you develop your listening skills.

Lyrics are easy to mishear

Even native speakers mishear lyrics. Taylor Swift’s song “Blank Space” is famous for this. Although many people hear, “All the lonely Starbucks lovers,” the correct line is, “Got a long list of ex-lovers.” (Although people might seem lonely in Starbucks, there is no such thing as Starbucks lovers.) 

Another great example comes from The Eurythmics’ famous titular lyric, “Sweet dreams are made of these.” People mishear it as “Sweet dreams are made of cheese.” (Maybe some people’s dreams are, but that’s not what the band meant!)

The subtext matters

It’s important to understand the story and context behind English song lyrics before you imitate what you hear. Whether it’s curse words, discussed in Lupe Fiasco’s “B*tch Bad,” or sensitive subjects, like the 1972 conflict described in U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” you don’t want to accidentally cause offense by repeating something you heard in a song.

Wrong grammar galore

Singers often play with grammar and meaning. The more you use English songs to improve your listening, the more you will find that songs don’t always use standard English.*

Don’t believe us? Here are a few examples:

• In Justin Timberlake’s hit “What Goes Around… Comes Around,” he sings “When you cheated, my heart bleeded.” The correct verb form is “bled,” but Timberlake needed a good rhyme.
• The lyric “I can’t get no satisfaction” repeats throughout The Rolling Stones’ iconic song “Satisfaction,” but “can’t go no” is a double negative. Unfortunately, “I can’t get any” didn’t sound as catchy.
• Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” features the lyric, “You and me could write a bad romance,” when “you and I” is the correct use.

*Be aware that English dialects like African American Vernacular English may use different grammar that is standard and equally accepted within those communities.

It’s not a substitute for studying

While listening to music is fun and entertaining, it’s still a passive activity – and putting music on in the background doesn’t count as “studying.” If your goal is to use English songs to improve your listening skills, you can make even more progress by actively listening to a podcast, the radio, or another favorite method. 

How to use music to improve English listening skills

Now that you know the pros and cons of using music to practice listening, you can listen smarter. Here’s how to get started.

1. Listen first

The best way to start is at the beginning! Listen closely to an English song of your choice. Try to notice how many words you can understand without judging yourself.

2. Look up the lyrics

Now, it’s time to compare. Find the lyrics online and read through slowly to help you fill in the gaps. What did you hear correctly? What surprises you? What words or phrases have you never heard before?

3. Repeat

Listen repeatedly so you begin to associate the sounds you hear with the lyrics. The more you repeat the song, the stronger this connection will become. 

Try different methods: listen with the whole lyrics in front of you, watch a lyric video, or follow along using a streaming app that highlights the words as they appear in the song. Strong visual learners might try listening with the original music video to build context for the lyrics (but keep in mind that not all lyrics are connected to the music videos).

4. Sing along

As you listen, you might naturally find yourself singing along as you learn the lyrics. This is good: Singing can help you commit the words to memory. If you’re shy about your voice, remember that you don’t have to sing in front of anyone – or sing at all! You can also say the words quietly as the artist is singing, and use the lyrics as a visual aid.

5. Ask to make sure

Once you’re more familiar with the song, you will find yourself with some new vocabulary. But because music genres are so diverse, you might not know how useful or appropriate it is. 

We recommend asking a friend about whether the words and phrases are common in English and the right situation(s) to use them. Now that you understand, you may also start hearing this new vocabulary on the news, in movies, or at work.

Plus, if you hear the song again while you’re out and about, you’ll have an impressive new achievement to show off!

Need a good song recommendation?

Every Thursday lesson of Plain English includes a song of the week, specifically chosen for English learners by Jeff and JR. It’s called “JR’s Song of the Week.”

Not yet a member of Plain English? You can join here; it’s free.

What do you think about using music to improve English listening skills? Let us know – we’re all ears! (= listening attentively)

The post How to improve your English listening with music appeared first on Plain English.