Steps To Effective Listening Skills

For some people, listening is a skill that they don’t need to develop. They think that just merely hearing is enough to be able to listen well. The truth is that when you hear, you don’t necessarily focus your attention to what you are hearing. If you are taking an exam such as IELTS, you need to improve your listening skills. There are ways to do this, and today, I am going to show you how.

The first thing that you need to do is to tune in, and this can require your physical and mental preparedness. If you are talking to someone, establish and maintain eye contact and focus all your attention to what the person is talking about. Do not entertain other thoughts, especially when the person is not done talking yet. Make sure that you show to the speaker your interest in the conversation. Understand what is being said and use your imagination. You may also ask a question to clarify what the person is trying to say. For instance, when the person says I am opening the door, you may ask about what door is the speaker trying to open such as an office or car door.

Practice listening to others. If you are having difficulties listening and understanding someone who speaks English, then you need to take advantage of the resources available online. There are videos, audios, apps, and other tools that can help you understand English speakers. Find a video that has a subtitle, and then use it. Study the mouth of the speaker, how the words are pronounced, and how words are connected in a sentence. You need to remember that English speakers tend to connect words, and this can be difficult to understand for individuals whose mother tongue is not English. Once you are able to understand someone who speaks English, continue with your practice sessions.

While practicing, ensure that you understand what you have heard. You may confirm your understanding by paraphrasing or rewording what the speaker has said. Doing this allows you to validate your understanding.

Bear in mind that you already have the inherent ability to listen, and you just need to improve it to prove that you are able to listen well with the use of the English language. Once you are already equipped with the ability to listen well in English, you may then try on the practice tests and mock tests available online. Take advantage of these resources as they will help you have a high band score during the test day. Don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the test format of the IELTS listening test. Learn about the flow of the exam, the time that will be given to you to answer the questions, and the type of questions you will potentially encounter.

The listening section of IELTS is not at all difficult, and you just need to get yourself ready for it. Learn about the listening test techniques and tricks to perform well during the exam.

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