Jo Yassin
Hi guys ! How're you doing toay? Please, I have a question about English. I'm B1 intermediate, and my listening is between A2 and B1 the problem is I can't improve my listening:- - videos on youtube don't give me a specific method to do. - I tried write what you hear method I found it so stressful, and takes much time, and even in this period I don't have energy for anything. - Are there resources to study English reductions?
Oct 28, 2024 11:49 AM
Answers · 1
If you can, try to have a lot of conversations with either native speakers or people who speak English at a decent level (especially those capable of fast/natural speed conversations). I have found that conversations best improve listening skills because there is the pressure to pay attention and to understand the person--eventually, you're able to progressively understand more and more of what is being said. It's a long process, and don't be concerned or feel pressured to understand things 100%. First, try to understand the basic topics the person is speaking about, and then progress to understanding it with more nuance. Trying to translate word for word in real-time is almost impossible, so try to instead extract, absorb, and "feel" the general message the person is trying to communicate without trying too hard. The more you stop and think/analyze in your head, the more you won't be paying attention/listening to what the person is talking about. In the modern context, I think we have all lost some of our attention spans, so that can make focusing on foreign speech in something like a YouTube video more challenging. Whereas if you are talking to a real person, I think, there is more pressure to pay attention and be respectful of what they're trying to express. YT is still a good resource, of course. I like to find people that do 10-15 minute vlogs where they sit in front of the camera and talk about one topic (when they show pictures or video clips, that helps to give context, as well). After A2 level, I avoid instructional videos because they typically speak too slow, and it encourages translating rather than trying to holistically understand the message. Steve Kaufman talks about this; you can look up his content if you haven't already heard of him. Good luck!
Oct 29, 2024 8:51 PM
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