How to Make Strides with Your Language Listening Skills Today

When we start learning a new language, we do it for several reasons. Some of us decide to do it as it is a way to improve our job prospects, others want to move abroad and believe there is no better way than to learn the language of the country. And there are those whose main passion is languages and learning them just like any other hobby.

Either way, Studies have proven that learning a foreign language opens up your brain’s hippocampus and areas of the cerebral cortex. Whether your motivation for picking up a new language is for business, travel, or pleasure, learning a new language can be highly beneficial, although definitely not always easy.

When we start learning a language we are expected to become proficient in the four skills: Listening, speaking, reading and writing.Foreign language classes can help cement the basics: grammar, reading, and writing. But when it comes to skills like listening, many students struggle. It’s easy to grow accustomed to listening tapes specifically geared towards non-native speakers, with slower-than-average speaking rates and overly annunciated syllables. No doubt that this is an important place to start when it comes to gaining confidence and becoming familiar with the tonal sounds, patterns, and cultural nuances of hearing a new language.

 

 

Your listening skills are really put to the test though when you listen to music & podcasts, watch television directed at a native speaking audience and most important, when you have to speak with a native speaker. Remember, if you don’t understand what you hear, there will be no communication. Therefore here are some strategies and quick tips we would like to share with you to add a major boost to your listening and comprehension skill sets.

Participating in Online Listening Simulations and Games

 

 

Of course when you’re first starting out with a new language, you won’t immediately have the skills necessary to converse. Baby steps. Thanks to so many great online sources and mobile apps, you can partake in simple listening activities wherever you are. Sites and apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Yabla among so many others offer you guided activities in recognizing dialogue based on the conversation and music lyrics of native speakers. You can quickly assess where your listening skills stand, and plan future practice accordingly. I’ve personally used all three, and can say that each has either reinforced what I thought I knew, or pushed me forward to practice new vocabulary.

The websites listed above also come as mobile apps so you can take your learning language on the go.

Make Native Speaking Exposure Part of Your Everyday Routine

Your primary goal in improving listening skills is to one day be able to confidently participate in conversation with native speakers. Naturally, this means that early on, you should be exposing yourself to native speaking voices. Sounds easy enough, right? Comprehension of native speaking doesn’t have to be intensive, overwhelming or drawn out. What’s most important is that you incorporate into your daily life, into activities you would normally do throughout the day anyway. That morning run, cup of coffee, or commute to work? A great opportunity to be tuning into a podcast, radio station, video clips or full television shows in your target language.

 

 

At first you may need subtitles, and that’s fine. The goal is that little by little, you’ll begin to recognize individual vocabulary without the need of guided dialogue below, but that will come in time.

The great thing about learning a language as opposed to other academic subjects, is that permeates every aspect of life. You choose what subjects become your vehicle for learning a language. If you love history, listen to a story about Chilean Independence (in Spanish!), watch a rugby match (in English!) or learn how to cook a new meal (in French!).

If you’re so lucky as to be visiting or living in the country of your target language, improving your listening skills is just a step outside your door. When else would you be encouraged to eavesdrop on people’s conversations in a cafe? I’ve done it, and come away proud for understanding the gist of the conversation without it being especially slowed down or simplified for my own benefit.

Start a Language Exchange

 

 

If you’re the less noisy type (or even if you are) one-on-one language exchanges are also a great way to improve not only listening but speaking too. Language exchanges can be as formal or informal as you decide alongside your partner. Every exchange I’ve participated in has been a simple one or two-hour get together each week for coffee, with a simple premise: one hour speaking in your native language and one hour in my target language (right now, that’s Spanish). It will make you a better active listener when you realize you have to come up with follow up questions and added conversation.

On a side note, it’s also a great way to meet native friends who can further expose you to cultural aspects of a culture they’ll proudly share: upcoming concerts, art exhibits, university events, and festivals.

Practice What You Hear

Listening practice will undoubtedly push your other language skills along as well. Be as active as you can in your listening by emulating what you hear in out-loud pronunciation practice. Slowly, you’ll pick up on things like tonal nuances and accent variations. When learning a new language, there will be some sounds and tonal variations that are almost inaudible to a non-native speaker. Take the independent b and v sounds in English for example, which are blended into a single b + v sound. Likewise, the letters “r” and “l”, which are distinct in English and romantic languages, but not at all in Korean and many other Asian languages.

These seemingly subtle tonal differences can have a major effect on the meaning of the word or sentence or at least the intention behind it. Be diligent in repeating the pronunciation you hear so that after a while, the sound distinction becomes natural.

Learning a language is like riding a bike: tricky at first, but exponentially easier and more fun the more you push yourself. Perfect comprehension and listening skills won’t happen in a day, but with persistence, you’re sure to see rewarding results sooner than you thought possible.

So, what about you? How do you develop listening skill in your language learning process? Are there other tips you find useful? Comment below, we would love to hear about you!