5 Foolproof Secrets to Train Your Ear to English

Do you find yourself reading English fluently but struggling to understand when listening? If so, this blog post is for you! I'll share the only tricks that exist to help you fine-tune your listening skills and comprehend spoken English more easily. These techniques have worked wonders for me, and I'm confident they'll do the same for you.

Before we dive into the secrets, let me introduce myself. I'm an English teacher with years of experience helping students improve their listening skills. I've seen firsthand the challenges that learners face, and I'm passionate about providing practical solutions. So, without further ado, let's get started!

Secret #1: Close Your Eyes and Listen

This may seem like a strange tip, but it's incredibly effective. When you close your eyes, you eliminate visual distractions and force yourself to focus solely on the audio. This allows your brain to dedicate more resources to processing the sounds you're hearing, leading to improved comprehension.

Here's how to practice this technique:

1. Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed.
2. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.
3. Play an English audio recording, such as a podcast, news broadcast, or movie dialogue.
4. Listen attentively, paying close attention to the sounds and rhythms of the language.
5. Don't worry about understanding every word; focus on getting the gist of what's being said.

Secret #2: Listen to Different Accents

One of the biggest challenges in understanding spoken English is the variety of accents. To improve your listening skills, it's essential to expose yourself to different accents from around the world. This will help you become more familiar with the different ways that English is pronounced and make it easier to understand people from different regions.

Here are some ways to listen to different accents:

• Watch movies and TV shows from different countries.
• Listen to podcasts and radio broadcasts from around the world.
• Find language exchange partners from different English-speaking countries.
• Travel to English-speaking countries and immerse yourself in the local culture.

Secret #3: Reduce the Speed to Enhance Comprehension

If you're finding it difficult to keep up with the pace of spoken English, don't be discouraged. Many resources are available to help you slow down the audio and make it easier to understand.

Here are a few options:

• Use a media player that allows you to adjust the playback speed.
• Find audio recordings that are specifically designed for learners of English.
• Watch videos with subtitles and slow down the playback speed.

Secret #4: Avoid Using Subtitles

While subtitles can be helpful for understanding the general meaning of a conversation, they can also hinder your listening skills in the long run. When you rely on subtitles, you're not training your ears to understand the spoken language. Instead, you're relying on your eyes to do the work.

To improve your listening skills, it's essential to wean yourself off subtitles. Here are a few tips:

• Start by watching videos with subtitles in English.
• As you become more comfortable, gradually reduce the font size of the subtitles.
• Eventually, turn off the subtitles altogether and challenge yourself to understand the audio without any visual aids.

Secret #5: Practice Dictation

Dictation is an excellent way to improve your listening skills and spelling. When you practice dictation, you're training your ears to recognize individual words and phrases and your brain to process them quickly.

Here's how to practice dictation:

1. Find an audio recording of a native English speaker speaking at a moderate pace.
2. Listen to the recording and write down everything you hear.
3. Check your work by comparing your transcription to the original text.
4. Repeat this exercise regularly to improve your dictation skills.

Bonus Tip: Become a Chismoso (Gossip)

One of the best ways to improve your listening skills is to eavesdrop on conversations between native English speakers. This is a great way to pick up on natural speech patterns and learn new vocabulary and phrases. Just be sure to do it discreetly and respectfully!

By following these five secrets, you'll be well on your way to improving your English listening skills. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to make mistakes. The more you listen, the better you'll become.

Happy listening!