English listening skills are a key part of speaking the language fluently. After all, understanding others is just as important as making yourself understood when you are learning English.
Fortunately, there are many ways to learn English by listening – from podcasts and audio lessons to music and videos.
This article offers a straightforward guide on how you can improve your English listening comprehension. We have some practical tips for listening to conversations, as well as some helpful tools and resources to give you greater confidence in listening to spoken English.
Check out some of our top recommendations below, or keep reading for a more detailed guide.
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Why do English listening skills matter?
Listening and reading are the two ways that we can receive information in English, so being able to understand spoken English is vital if you wish to be proficient in the language.
Listening is more than just hearing sounds and recognizing individual words. It’s about understanding those words in the context in which they are spoken, and also picking up on the tone of voice used and knowing how this can add nuance to what is said.
With good listening skills, you will be able to hold a natural conversation and minimize misunderstandings with others. Listening to native speakers can also help improve your grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Listening comprehension can be harder to master than reading for several reasons:
- When you read, you have longer to process each word and check you understand it. When you listen, you must follow at the speaker’s pace.
- Listening to English requires you to understand different accents. Five people might say the same word in five different ways because of their accent.
- When we speak, we don’t always pronounce each word separately. Sometimes two words flow together, changing the way they sound. The same happens in writing with contractions, but these are much more limited and follow specific rules.
Nevertheless, we encourage you to make the effort to improve your listening comprehension skills so that you can thrive while using the English language!
Interactive methods to learn English through listening
Having understood the importance of English listening skills, let’s look at some fun, interactive ways to learn English through listening.
The good news is that most of these are completely free and easy to fit into your daily routine.
1. Immerse yourself in audio content
Learning English through immersion is a powerful way to become more familiar with the language quickly. It involves surrounding yourself with English as much as possible, making it a normal part of your everyday life.
Ways you can incorporate listening to English into your daily routine include:
- Radio shows
- Podcasts
- Audiobooks and other audio recordings
- Short videos and movies
- English courses
Podcasts like Podcasts In English and British Council LearnEnglish Podcasts are good for beginner to intermediate level as they are specifically designed for English learners. Each episode comes with a transcript and comprehension activities, so they are like mini English lessons focused on listening skills.
At a more advanced level, you may enjoy a wider range of podcasts that are not specifically for English learners. We have plenty more suggestions in our guide to podcasts for learning English.
Whatever format you choose, your aim should be to understand the topic without having to read along. You may need to adjust the level of the content or the playback speed to make this possible. Fortunately, most audio platforms now let you slow content down so you can hear more clearly.
As you listen, make a note of any new words you hear so you can add these to your vocabulary list to learn.
2. Use music as a learning tool
Music is not just food for the soul, but it can also be a powerful tool in your English learning journey.
As you listen to and sing along with English songs, you can expand your vocabulary, refine your pronunciation, and sharpen your listening skills – all while making the learning process more enjoyable and engaging.
Don’t feel bad if you occasionally need to look up the lyrics to understand certain words you hear – native English speakers do this too!
3. Try the shadowing technique
Have you ever tried repeating spoken words and phrases immediately after hearing them? This technique, known as shadowing, is very effective because it:
- Tests your listening skills
- Introduces new vocabulary
- Improves your intonation
- Helps you sound more like a native speaker
Set some time aside to listen to an English podcast, audiobook, or video, and pause after each sentence so you can repeat what you just heard. You may need to replay a section several times to get it right.
To take this a step further, record yourself speaking and listen back to see how it sounds compared to the original version.
4. Engage in real conversations
There’s no better way to improve your English listening skills than by engaging in real conversations with native or fluent English speakers.
These conversations expose you to diverse accents, speech patterns, and vocabulary, helping you get comfortable with the natural rhythm of the language and enhancing your ability to comprehend spoken English.
However, we know it’s daunting to launch into a conversation with someone for the first time when you’re not confident you will understand them.
So, why not ask a trusted friend or colleague to have a chat over a coffee? Let them know that you want to work on your listening skills, and ask them to talk at a pace you’re comfortable with.
If you’re not sure what to discuss, our small talk guide will help. You can also learn some phrases to ask for clarification, for when you don’t understand something.
Technology and online resources for English listening practice
In the digital age, technology and online resources have become an indispensable part of language learning. Apps, websites, and online English courses all offer engaging and innovative ways to improve your listening.
Let’s take a look at some of the best platforms and online learning materials out there.
English courses to help with listening
All English courses should incorporate some form of listening practice, since this is such an important part of learning to speak English.
However, some are particularly well suited to students who want to focus on listening comprehension.
FluentU
FluentU is an engaging platform, accessible via their website or app, that helps you learn English listening skills by watching short videos from real-world situations. It could be a clip from a TV show, an advertisement, or a conversation between people.
Each video lesson includes interactive subtitles that you can explore as you watch to better understand the words and phrases you hear.
After you listen to a video clip, you can complete a quiz to test your knowledge. The app keeps track of difficult words and reminds you when it’s time to revise them.
Preply
Preply gives you access to online English lessons with private tutors from around the world. Lessons are available 24/7 to suit your schedule, and each tutor sets their own price, so it’s easy to browse and find one that suits you.
The benefit of speaking to someone live (rather than watching videos) is that you can listen intently to what they say, ask them to repeat anything you don’t understand, and get personalized feedback on your progress.
You can also tailor lessons to focus on any area you like, from conversation skills to business English to listening practice.
Get 50% off your first lesson when you try Preply!
British Council
British Council has one of the most established platforms for teaching English lessons, with over 80 years’ experience.
Choose from group or private lessons where you will be able to practice your speaking and listening skills with your teacher and classmates.
British Council also has an excellent selection of online resources to supplement your classroom learning. Check it out now and get 7 days free with a Gold or Platinum subscription.
Video platforms for English listening practice
YouTube is an obvious place to look for free English listening materials. There are hundreds of great channels producing short videos for English learners to watch and listen to, with or without subtitles.
Beyond that, try listening to some TED Talks; recorded video lectures given by speakers from diverse cultures and backgrounds about all kinds of different topics. Search for a topic that interests you, or just watch one of their latest videos and see if you learn something new!
EdX is a similar platform for watching lessons with a more academic emphasis.
Top websites for listening materials
If you just want some free websites for English listening practice, here are some to check out:
- Elllo: Hundreds of lessons for beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Hear people talk in real-life conversations, read a transcript, learn new words, and complete quizzes on the material.
- English Club: Short listening exercises with topics ranging from world history to science to famous people.
- Breaking English News: A great way to learn English with the news – this website publishes interesting news stories to read or listen to at different levels. It also has a wide selection of activities for each story to test your comprehension of the topic.
Language exchange platforms
Language exchange platforms are the perfect space to practice English listening and speaking skills.
A language exchange connects you with a fluent or native English speaker who wants to learn your native language. As you communicate on the platform, you both help each other become more fluent.
With these platforms you can:
- Practice with native speakers, exposing you to a variety of accents and dialects
- Learn from each other in a supportive environment
- Understand more about the nuances and rhythms of natural spoken English
- Receive feedback from someone who is also learning a language
Tandem and HelloTalk are a couple of good language exchange apps to try, but you may also be able to find a local group where you can meet in person.
Advanced listening techniques to sharpen comprehension
As you become more comfortable with English listening, it’s time to take your skills to the next level with some advanced listening techniques.
These include:
Focusing on intonation and word stress
To truly understand spoken English, you need to pay attention to nuanced details like intonation and word stress. These elements carry meaning and emotion, and you should listen out for them.
Try saying “I love you” three times, stressing a different word each time, and see how it changes the meaning. Then listen for similar patterns in spoken English.
Adjusting audio speeds
If you normally decrease the playback speed of audio or video, try to listen or watch at normal speed and see how it affects your comprehension.
Exploring accents
Do you struggle to understand certain accents? English is spoken in different accents all over the world, and you want to be confident speaking to anyone in English!
Try listening to speakers from different regions, and notice the differences in pronunciation, intonation, and flow.
Practicing passive listening
This simply means having English audio content playing in the background while you focus on another task (rather than listening for the purpose of studying).
Next time you’re doing dishes, working out at the gym, or going for a walk, consider playing a podcast or an audiobook in the background to practice passive listening.
Combining key skills
It’s no good learning to listen, speak, read, or write in isolation. English fluency comes from integrating these skills for a holistic learning experience.
Listening and reading in English simultaneously can be a powerful way to reinforce your understanding of vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure.
Next time you’re watching an English movie or a TV show, consider turning on the subtitles and reading along as you listen.
Many of the podcasts we mentioned earlier also publish a transcript with each episode, so you can read the words as you hear them.
Then, you can practice listening and writing simultaneously by:
- Transcribing audio recordings
- Making notes to summarize a video or podcast
- Writing a summary of a news story or conversation you heard
- Jotting down any new words you hear as you listen to audio to learn English
Practicing one or two of these exercises each day will help you gain more advanced comprehension.
Summary
There are many ways to learn English by listening, and it’s a key skill that shouldn’t be neglected.
From engaging in real conversations and practicing the shadowing technique to leveraging technology and online resources, each strategy plays a vital role in enhancing your English listening skills and overall proficiency.
We hope this article has given you some fresh ideas to keep you motivated as you improve your English day by day.
FAQs
Can I learn English by listening?
Yes, listening is a key aspect of learning English and can significantly improve your speaking ability by exposing you to different types of English. Consistent and repeated exposure is essential for natural and meaningful communication.
How can I speak English fluently by listening?
To speak English fluently by listening, regularly practice mimicking native speakers’ pronunciation, intonation, and grammar, and improve your vocabulary through attentive listening.
Shadowing sentences and repeating them immediately after the speaker will help match your speed and intonation with those of the speaker. With consistent practice, you can improve your fluency.
How can music help in my English learning journey?
As you listen to music in English you will improve your listening skills, learn new words, and refine your pronunciation. It’s a fun way to get more familiar with the language!
What is passive listening and how can it help me improve my English skills?
Passive listening means playing English audio in the background while doing other tasks, which can help increase exposure to the language and improve listening skills. Give it a try and see the difference in your English skills!
