| Many students ask me, "Can you learn English | | | | Another good place to study listening is while you are |
| vocabulary just by listening?" And then they often ask | | | | walking. I know one businessman who goes for a walk |
| me how to do it. I want to reassure you that listening is | | | | at lunch and listens to his materials and does listen and |
| a great way to learn vocabulary. Of course, you need | | | | repeat practice while he walks. You can also learn |
| to have structured listening exercises. | | | | English vocabulary on trains and buses, but you may |
| But that's easy once you see how we do it. | | | | not feel comfortable speaking during this practice, and |
| Do You Need This? | | | | then you just have to repeat the words in your mind. |
| Not everyone wants to learn English vocabulary by | | | | This is not as effective as speaking out loud. |
| listening. If your target is to speak English, or if you | | | | Learn English Vocabulary Safely |
| know you have to listen to English a lot, (like for a test | | | | Some people find speaking out loud to learn English |
| like the toeic test), then listening practice is the best for | | | | vocabulary easy to do in their car, and they take their |
| you. On the other hand, if you want to become a | | | | listening practice in their car with them. As a matter of |
| translator, you will be working mostly with written | | | | fact, that is what my wife does now. I highly |
| words. You don't need to practice listening so much. | | | | recommend this as long as you drive safely. Please |
| Reading practice is better for you. | | | | remember safety is number one. |
| Your First Step | | | | Safe study is easy if it is part of your regular routine. |
| If you decide on listening practice instead of reading | | | | This might be your regular travel routine, such as going |
| practice then your first step is to choose your | | | | to work. You might know that a particular stretch of |
| vocabulary. Then its easier to choose the listening | | | | road is safe and easy to drive, and you can easily |
| materials you will use for studying. Nouns are generally | | | | practice listening for two or three minutes at a stretch |
| very easy to study and easy to remember so we'll | | | | safely. Or, you might find it easy to add your study |
| skip them. Other types of words are more difficult. | | | | practice to one of your daily routines, such as brushing |
| Adjectives, adverbs, verbs and grammar functional | | | | your teeth. The minute you finish brushing your teeth, |
| words are great words to study by listening. Idioms | | | | turn on the sound, and do your listening exercises in |
| and phrasal verbs are also great words to study by | | | | the mirror. |
| listening. As you listen to them in stories, you can hear | | | | In fact, speaking in the mirror is a powerful way to |
| how they are used and memorize the patterns that | | | | learn English vocabulary. You are speaking it, hearing it, |
| way. This is much more effective than just using a | | | | and getting direct feedback on your performance from |
| dictionary. | | | | the mirror. You are also showing yourself on a regular |
| What Kind of Exercises? | | | | basis that you can and do speak English, so it builds |
| Since we aren't using a dictionary, you may ask, "What | | | | confidence. Finally, you become comfortable making |
| kind of listening exercises, are best?" I covered this in | | | | mistakes, and that is very important. |
| another article but to put it short, you can do | | | | Be comfortable Making Mistakes |
| shadowing, listen and repeat, and then finally | | | | If you study frequently, you will become comfortable |
| comprehension exercises. When you do these | | | | making mistakes. That's why I tell people to study for a |
| exercises to learn English vocabulary, also try to | | | | short period of time. Then it is easier to study more |
| memorize the stories or parts of the stories that have | | | | frequently. Frequency is far more important than length |
| your target words. | | | | of study. Don't study for 30 minutes twice a week. |
| 'Where' is the Beautiful Part | | | | Study for five minutes, 12 times a week, and you will |
| One of the beautiful things about listening to learn | | | | progress and much much faster. |
| English vocabulary is that you can do it in many | | | | You can make great progress by studying frequently |
| different places. Now where the technology of MP3 | | | | with good sources for you to learn English vocabulary. |
| and MP3 players. You can listen just about anywhere. I | | | | There are many great listening sites on the Internet. |
| still think home is the best place to study, because you | | | | Look around and try to find stories that contain the |
| get some privacy there, and you can set up a regular | | | | vocabulary you want to study. If you can't find the |
| study routine. Also speaking out loud isn't usually a big | | | | vocabulary you're looking for, make a request. After all, |
| problem at home. | | | | making a request is free, and the webmasters want to |
| If you're not at home, you might find yourself studying | | | | know what visitors want. Make sure you ask nicely, |
| at school. If your language teacher has access to | | | | and don't demand anything, because the webmasters |
| good listening stories, they may even let you practice in | | | | are busy people too. |
| class or during a special language lab study session. | | | | |