What is the best way to improve listening skill?

Music, Story ,Have conversations, Focus on active listening, not passive

10 answers from our tutors

Best answer

Maintain eye contact with the speaker.Allow speaker to finish expressing themselves before responding.If something is unclear ask questions to clarify. Be patient.Try to understand the speakers perspective. Empathy helps you connect with the speaker on a deeper level.

  • Hi Aris. Several ways one could do this, because anything auditory will work over time. However, watching movies with someone of better mastery, reading a book of interest, while listening to its audio version are both great ways to achieve this faster. It gets even better when you discuss your findings and difficulties such as new words, idioms and the like.

  • Honestly, from talking to someone. Movies, series, podcasts etc are one thing but actually speaking to a real person about a conversation that means something to you is the best way 😊

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  • Gugu
    GuguCountry flag: za
    Certified Esl teacher

    You need to focus on the speaker and pay attention to detail.

  • Listening can be improved practicing with anything auditory. Movies, Music, Conversation...etc. My personal favorite is reading books while listening to the same audio book. It is something I learned from being Dyslexic. But also, ONLINE CONERSATIONAL CLASSES with your tutor is perfect for this type of thing. A one on one class helps listening and speaking.

  • There are many ways to improve on your listening skill but I find these two very valuable. 1. Practice active listening. Focus on what the speaker is saying without thinking of a response. Fight the thought of trying to speak back once the person is done and show your commitment by nodding and do not stop doing eye contact. 2. Practice empathy. Try to understand the speakers stand point and view. Empathetic listening can be the fastest way for you to actually enhance your understanding.

  • First, it's important to focus on what the speaker is saying, and to pay attention to both the content and the non verbal cues (like tone of voice and body language). You can also practice active listening by asking questions, paraphrasing what the speaker says, and making eye contact. Finally, it can be helpful to review what you've heard after the conversation has ended, so you can reflect on what you learned.

  • Maintain eye contact with the speaker. When you are listening to someone talk, you should avoid looking out a window, texting or scrolling through your phone, or scanning a computer screen. Limit any unnecessary distractions, provide the speaker with your undivided attention and make an effort to look at them.

  • Listen to different people from different countries speaking. If you are a movie person, just watch a movie in English with subtitles, listen to the radio in English and so on. Listening requires practice as well.

  • Concentrate fully when the speaker is talking. Listening is a skill that requires practice.

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