Practice English listening

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What does this article include?

What challenges do you face when practicing English listening?

Among the 4 language skills - listening, speaking, reading, writing - when learning English, most learners encounter the most difficulty in listening. Have you ever been determined to practice English listening to improve speaking skills for better communication at work but still unsuccessful? Read the article below from Mytour to find the most effective listening practice method for yourself.

What does this article include?

Why do many people fail to improve their English listening skills?
How to improve English listening skills
Key takeaways for English listening practice

What challenges do you face when practicing English listening?

You struggle to understand native speakers.
You find it challenging to improve your English listening skills.
You lack time to listen to English daily.

I. Why do many people fail to improve their English listening skills?

The sole reason people fail in improving English listening is because they do not practice enough listening.

If you practice English listening for 1,000 hours, your listening ability will definitely improve significantly. Unfortunately, below are the ways many people practice English listening:

Watch a few English movies every week.

Listen to English videos or audios 3-5 times per week.

Listen to English for 15 minutes every day.

Actions still remain weak, insufficient to bring about significant change. Even if you diligently listen for 15 minutes every day, after 1 year you will only have listened for about 90 hours. Not to mention holidays or company trips with family and friends, you may forget or not be in the mood to practice English listening. Thus, it will take you at least 10 years to improve your English listening skills.

Why does extensive English listening still lead to failure?

Some individuals allocate numerous hours daily to English listening, believing it would enhance their proficiency. However, their listening ability shows no significant improvement. Why does this happen?

Initially, they are determined to improve their listening skills by dedicating 2 hours daily to English listening. However, they encounter difficulties due to time constraints. Eventually, motivation dwindles, and they give up. Since they quit too soon, their listening skills fail to progress despite the correct approach.

Key takeaway for those aiming to enhance listening skills: Consistently practice listening to English for a sufficiently long period. Listening to English for at least 2 hours every day for a month is not enough; you need to persevere for at least 6 months to a year.

II. Techniques to Improve English Listening Skills

If you do these two things, your listening skills will be excellent:

Listen to a lot of English every day
Listen continuously for an extended period

Listen to English for 1-2 hours every day. The best way is to listen to English amidst activities that don't require concentration or deep thinking.

Turn English listening into entertainment and relaxation by watching entertainment channels on YouTube that you love.

For beginners, start with easy listening. If possible, read many newspapers and books in English to learn vocabulary.

If you understand 80-90% of the content, increase the difficulty of the listening material. It's not necessary to understand all the words/sentences in the audio.

If you don't have time to go to English learning centers, you can explore more English learning websites here to study online at any time of the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common reasons people struggle with English listening skills?

Many learners fail to improve their English listening skills primarily due to insufficient practice. Watching a few English movies weekly or listening to audio a few times isn’t enough. Real progress requires dedicated practice; just 15 minutes a day for a year totals only about 90 hours of listening, which is inadequate for significant improvement.

How long should I practice English listening to see improvement?

To effectively improve your English listening skills, you should listen for at least 1-2 hours daily over an extended period, ideally six months to a year. Short-term practices won’t yield substantial results; consistency and duration are key to mastering this skill.

What techniques can help enhance my English listening abilities?

To enhance your English listening abilities, incorporate daily listening into your routine. Engage with English content passively while doing other activities. Start with easier material and progressively challenge yourself as you understand more, aiming for at least 80-90% comprehension before increasing difficulty.

Is it necessary to understand every word when practicing English listening?

No, it’s not necessary to understand every word or sentence when practicing English listening. Focusing on the overall meaning and context is more beneficial. If you grasp 80-90% of the content, you can gradually tackle more complex listening materials.

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