How to Improve English Listening Comprehension

By Miki Garcia, eHow Contributor

updated: May 7, 2010

I want to do this! What's This?

You should improve English listening skills at your own pace.

girl listening to music image by Tammy Mobley from Fotolia.com

Many English learners find improving English listening comprehension hard. When they go to an English-speaking country, and face real life English for the first time, it is normally the speed of English that makes them get overwhelmed. But don't overload yourself. The key is to practice and learn English everyday at your own pace. It takes time and effort and make sure you have fun learning English.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 1
   Set an achievable goal. Why do you want to learn English? Is it to be relocated in a foreign country in three months, to watch "Gone with the Wind" without subtitles, or to pass an English proficiency test? Find out which area you want to focus on learning. If you don't have any specific goals, set a daily, weekly, or monthly goal -- learning five new words everyday, for instance.
   
2. 2
   Listen daily. There are countless ways to listen to English online, such as CNN, BBC World, radio stations, and so on. Voice of America has audio archives of free English listening comprehension resources. Get audio learning materials. Subscribe to podcasts and radio stations on iTunes. Try to listen attentively, take a note, and summarize what has been reported. If you didn't understand it, repeat it again. If you find real life English a little difficult, find something easier, such as conventional English study materials. If you are taking an English test, such as IELTS or TOEFL, they usually provide good listening materials and textbooks. Listening without understanding at all does not help unless you are a child.
   
3. 3
   Watch English films. If you are a beginner, watch it with English subtitles. If you are learning American English, then stick with American films. Do not translate into your native language. Try to think in English while watching by using an English dictionary. If you are into sports, watch sports in English through satellite or cable TV.
   
4. 4
   Speak English daily. Speaking, listening, writing and reading abilities go hand in hand. Increase vocabulary everyday. Set time for studying English every day -- for example 30 minutes before going to work. Try to have a conversation with English speaking people as often as possible. If you don't live in an English speaking country, make an effort and be proactive. Enroll in English classes, attend English forums, join English-speaking expat groups, volunteer to speak with English-speaking tourists, and so on. Learn about your country's culture and history, so that you can explain them to foreign tourists.

Read more: How to Improve English Listening Comprehension | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_6471930_improve-english-listening-comprehension.html#ixzz13isJCQnj