For many, the listening part of any English exam is seen as the hardest part and the area that a lot of learners struggle with. This is perfectly normal and nothing to be embarrassed about. In today’s post we will give you some top tips on how to improve your listening skills and better tune your ear and get a better mark in the exam!
- Active Listening Practice
- Watch English media: Regularly watch TV shows, news, podcasts, or movies in English without subtitles. Try to understand the content without relying on visuals or text.
- Vary your accents: English exams often include a variety of accents (American, British, Australian, etc.). Expose yourself to different English accents to get used to the different ways English is spoken.
- Listen to English audio materials: You can use materials specifically designed for English learners like podcasts, audiobooks, or exam practice materials. In fact, if you’re looking for a great podcast, give the Daway Podcast with Aurelia a go!
- Use English Listening Apps and Websites
- BBC Learning English: Great for understanding British English and improving general listening comprehension.
- TED Talks: Offers high-quality presentations with varied accents and topics. TED transcripts are available, so you can listen and read along.
- Listen and Repeat: Listen to audio clips or dialogues, then try to repeat what you hear. This helps you pay attention to pronunciation and sentence structure.
- Focus on Keywords
- Listen for keywords: During the exam, focus on key points like dates, names, numbers, or signal words (e.g., “first,” “next,” “finally”).
- Predict content: Read the questions or prompts before listening. This helps you anticipate what kind of information will be important.
- Improve Your Vocabulary
- Expand vocabulary: The more words you know, the easier it is to understand spoken English. Focus on common topics in exams like health, education, and daily life.
- Practice word association: Learn words in context. For example, if you're learning about travel, focus on words related to airports, hotels, or directions.
- Note-Taking Skills
- Learn to take effective notes: You won’t be able to write down everything, so practise writing key details in shorthand while listening.
- Use symbols or abbreviations: Develop a set of personal abbreviations (e.g., "b/c" for "because," "$" for money, etc.) to jot down key points quickly.
- Practice with Exam Materials
- Mock tests: Take practice tests under timed conditions. This will not only help you get used to the format but also improve your ability to focus for the duration of the exam.
- Analyse mistakes: After doing practice tests, go back and listen to the parts you missed. Understand why you missed them and how you can avoid similar mistakes.
- Develop Concentration Techniques
- Improve focus: If you find your mind wandering during listening tasks, practice mindfulness techniques to stay focused. You can try short meditative exercises to improve your concentration.
- Tune out distractions: During practice, work in different environments to train yourself to ignore background noise.
- Summarise What You Heard
- After listening, summarise: After listening to an audio clip or conversation, try to summarise it in your own words. This helps with comprehension and reinforces what you’ve heard.
- Use both writing and speaking: Practice summarising by both writing down and speaking aloud the key points you’ve heard.
- Practice Speed and Intonation Recognition
- Understand fast speech: Native speakers sometimes speak quickly, connect words, or reduce certain sounds. Practicing with fast speech will help you avoid being overwhelmed in the exam.
- Recognize intonation: Intonation patterns (rise and fall in speech) can help you understand the speaker’s attitude, whether they’re asking a question, or making a point.
- Stay Calm and Focused During the Exam
- Stay calm: Anxiety can make it harder to focus. Take deep breaths before the exam starts and remind yourself to stay calm.
- Don’t panic if you miss something: If you miss a part of the conversation, don’t stress. Focus on the next part and answer as many questions as possible.
By combining these strategies, you’ll be better prepared for the listening section of your English exam. Regular practice is key!
Also, if you’re interested in learning English and are looking for a course to advance your studies then check out Daway and use the promotional code BLOG20 for a 20% discount on all courses!
