| You may wish to understand spoken English for a | | | | yourself the following questions. What happened? |
| variety of reasons. Maybe you plan to take the | | | | Where did it happen? How many people were |
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) so | | | | affected by the event? When did it happen? You can |
| you can study abroad or get a good job in an | | | | come up with questions of your own. Try to ask |
| English-speaking country. Perhaps you want to | | | | yourself to recall specific details about the stories as |
| become a translator or a guide for English speakers. | | | | well as the general nature of the story. If you do not |
| Or maybe you just want to enjoy an English movie or | | | | think you understood some of these points, try to |
| song in its original language. Whatever the reason, you | | | | catch the broadcast again at another time during the |
| will need to practice your English listening skills to | | | | day or see it on a station that broadcasts it in your |
| improve. | | | | own language.. |
| Of course, English classes, preferably taught by a | | | | Translation, please. |
| native English speaker are an excellent way to learn | | | | Volunteer to take an English speaker on a tour of your |
| to understand the spoken word. However, you can do | | | | town. Check with local travel or bus companies. They |
| more to make your understanding more complete and | | | | might need someone to assist tourists. Visit museums |
| natural. The ideas presented below will help you build | | | | and other cultural sites which tourist frequent. If you |
| your listening skills. | | | | see someone struggling to find something, help them |
| Check out a movie. | | | | out. However, remember to respect the traveler's |
| If you have a DVD or VHS player, check out a British | | | | wishes. Sometimes English speakers get |
| or American movie and turn on both the English sound | | | | overwhelmed with people who wish to practice their |
| track and the English subtitles. Often times, English | | | | English. |
| language learners are much further along in their | | | | Keep an English notebook. |
| reading skills than their speaking or listening skills. Feel | | | | When you learn new words or phrases, jot them |
| free to watch the movie once for the fun of it, but | | | | down in your notebook so you can refer back to them |
| then get ready to watch it slowly and with more care. | | | | later. If you are speaking with a native English speaker |
| Work through the movie scene by scene. Listen | | | | and they say something you are not familiar with, ask |
| carefully to the dialog. If you can not make out what is | | | | them to explain. Perhaps they can spell the word for |
| being said, read the subtitle. Repeat the scene several | | | | you and tell you the definition they were using. Many |
| times until you know you have understood each word. | | | | English words have multiple meanings and it is helpful |
| Then ask yourself the following questions. What was | | | | to know which meaning was being used. Some English |
| the scene about? Who were the main characters? | | | | phrases have a meaning that does not translate |
| How do these characters feel about each other? | | | | literally. For example, the phrase - his heart was in his |
| What things did they say that support your idea of | | | | throat - means the person was excited and fearful at |
| who they are and how they relate to one another? | | | | the same time. Writing down the words and phrases |
| Catch the news. | | | | which are new to you causes your brain to make a |
| Watch an English-speaking newscast. If the broadcast | | | | better record of these new items and you are more |
| station provides closed-captioning, turn it on. Listen | | | | likely to remember them. |
| carefully, read if you have to. After the newscast, ask | | | | Start an "English Speaking" Club. |