Listening is one of the most important and challenging skills to master when learning a new language. Listening helps you to understand the meaning, context, and tone of the spoken language, as well as to communicate effectively and fluently with native speakers. Listening also helps you to improve your vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and accent. However, many learners struggle with listening, especially when it comes to fast, complex, or unfamiliar speech.
So, how to improve listening skills in English? What are the best strategies and resources to improve english listening? What are the skills required for acing an English level test, such as IELTS, TOEFL, or OET? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and provide you with some effective ways on how to improve listening skills in english language.
Tips to Improve English Language Listening Skills
Here are some tips and ways to improve listening skills in English and become a better listener:
Listen actively and attentively: Active listening means paying full attention to what you hear and trying to comprehend the message, rather than just hearing the sounds. Active listening also means engaging with the speaker, by asking questions, giving feedback, or showing interest.
Listen to a variety of sources and materials: One of the best way to improve english listening skills, you need to expose yourself to different types of spoken English, such as podcasts, audiobooks, radio, TV, movies, songs, lectures, speeches, conversations, etc. You also need to listen to different accents, dialects, and styles of English, such as American, British, Australian, Indian, formal, informal, etc.
Listen for the main idea and the details: When you listen to something, you should try to identify the main idea and the details of the speech. Listening for the main idea and the details helps you to understand the structure, logic, and purpose of the speech, as well as to remember the information better.
Listen repeatedly and regularly: To understand how to improve english speaking and listening skills you need to practice listening repeatedly and regularly. Listening repeatedly means listening to the same material more than once, until you understand it fully and can summarize it in your own words.
Listen and read: To understand how to improve english listening, you can also listen and read at the same time. Listening and reading means listening to something while following the transcript, subtitles, or lyrics. Listening and reading helps you to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and grammar, as well as to learn new words and phrases.
Listen and write: To improve english listening, you can also listen and write at the same time. Listening and writing means listening to something and taking notes, summarizing, or answering questions. You can also listen audio to improve english and write in English, to practice your listening and writing skills in the same language.
Skills Required for Acing English Level Test
If you want to study, work, or live in an English-speaking country, you may need to take an English level test, such as IELTS, TOEFL, or OET. These tests assess your English language skills in four areas: listening, reading, writing, and speaking. To ace an English level test, you need to develop and demonstrate the following skills:
- Listening comprehension: Listening comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret the spoken language in various situations and contexts. To improve your listening comprehension, you need to listen to a variety of sources and materials, listen for the main idea and the details, listen actively and attentively, and listen and write.
- Reading comprehension: Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and analyze the written language in various formats and genres. To improve your reading comprehension, you need to read a variety of texts and materials, read for the main idea and the details, read actively and critically, and read and write.
- Writing proficiency: Writing proficiency is the ability to produce clear, coherent, and accurate texts in various styles and purposes. To improve your writing proficiency, you need to write a variety of texts and materials, write for the main idea and the details, write actively and creatively, and write and read.
- Speaking fluency: Speaking fluency is the ability to communicate effectively and confidently in the spoken language in various situations and contexts. To improve your speaking fluency, you need to speak a variety of topics and materials, speak for the main idea and the details, speak actively and politely, and speak and listen.
English Language Courses Provided by OIDI
If you want to improve your English language skills and prepare for an English level test, you can enroll in one of the online courses provided by OIDI (Oxford International Digital Institute). OIDI is a global destination for high-quality, accredited online courses that deliver quality education powered by digital innovation. OIDI offers a range of English language courses for different levels and purposes, such as:
- General English: A course that helps you to improve your overall English skills and confidence in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. You will learn grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and communication strategies for different situations and contexts. You will also have access to interactive activities, feedback, and progress tests to monitor your learning.
- English for Journalism: A course that helps you to improve your English skills for working in journalism or media-related fields, such as reporting, editing, or blogging. You will learn how to write clear, concise, and accurate news stories, articles, or reviews, using appropriate style, tone, and structure. You will also learn how to conduct interviews, research sources, and use social media platforms.
- English for Customer Service: A course that helps you to develop your English skills for working in customer service roles, such as retail, hospitality, or tourism. You will learn how to communicate effectively and politely with customers, handle complaints, deal with problems, and provide information. You will also learn the vocabulary, phrases, and expressions that are commonly used in customer service situations.
- English for Creative Writing: A course that helps you to unleash your creativity and express yourself in English through various forms of writing, such as fiction, poetry, or drama. You will learn how to use literary techniques, such as imagery, dialogue, or metaphor, to create engaging and original texts. You will also learn how to give and receive feedback, edit your work, and publish your writing.
- English Skills Booster: A course that helps you to boost your English skills in specific areas, such as writing, speaking, or grammar. You will focus on improving your accuracy, fluency, and clarity in your chosen skill. You will also practice using authentic and relevant materials, such as articles, podcasts, or videos, to enhance your learning.
You can find the list of language courses provided by OIDI on their website. You can also explore their other courses in higher education, teacher training, professional qualifications, and virtual internships. OIDI partners with leading institutions and offers flexible and affordable learning options for students and partners worldwide.
Conclusion
English listening skills are essential for learning and communicating in the English language. To improve your English listening skills, you can follow some effective ways, such as listening actively and attentively, listening to a variety of sources and materials, listening for the main idea and the details, listening repeatedly and regularly, listening and reading, and listening and writing. One of the ways to improve british english listening skills is to listen to podcasts, radio shows, or audiobooks that feature British speakers and accents. If you are preparing for an English level test, such as IELTS, you need to understand how to improve english listening skills for IELTS by practicing with sample tests, questions, and answers.
You can also use online platforms, such as OIDI, to enroll in one of the English language courses that they offer. To answer how to improve my english listening, you need to listen to English every day, even if it is for a short time. You should also challenge yourself with different types of listening materials and tasks, and seek feedback and guidance from others. By following these tips, you can improve your English listening skills and become a more confident and fluent listener.
