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The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) promotes intercultural understanding and diverse communities by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training.

You are here: Home / News / Improve your listening skills in 4 easy steps!

February 9, 2021

Improve your listening skills in 4 easy steps!

Improve your listening skills in 4 easy steps!

Have you noticed that when children learn their first language they don’t start speaking immediately? “Comprehension before production”.

You can’t expect to say a new word or phrase if you haven’t been exposed to it. While you’re learning any language (and you’re past the true beginner stage) one of the best things you can do by yourself, outside of class, is to work on your listening skill by listening to authentic recordings (not the kind produced for language students). There are so many rich places to find listening segments including TV, podcasts and the internet. Remember that less is more, so you should limit the recording to less than a minute in length. Choose recordings that have a transcript. If you watch a segment from a video or something from TV, make sure you can activate your close-caption option. Make sure you choose something that interests you and follow the easy steps below to improve your listening… and speaking!

1. Listen to the recording at least 3 or 4 times. After each time you listen to the recording, take a moment to reflect on what you heard and ask questions about the recording (How many speakers are there? Where are the speaker/s? What are they talking about?) After each listening, think about what you heard in more detail, jot down words that you heard, write down predictions for the next listening (trying to understand in more detail with your predictions).

2. This step focuses on reading and there is no listening. Take time to analyze what you read; keep a list of new vocabulary words. If you’re watching a segment on TV, make sure you turn down the sound while you’re reading the text. You should read the text at least 2-3 times.

3. Once you understand what you have read, read again while listening to the text. You should also do this several times as it will help you with the rhythm and intonation of the language.

4. The final step is to listen again, this time without the transcript or the close-caption on. You’ll be amazed at how much you understand!

One minute of material could turn into an hour of listening practice, but any time you spend listening (even only 5 minutes a day!) will help you improve your language skills. Written by Caroline Gear

 

Useful Links for Listening:

newsinslowspanish.com (Also news in slow: French, German, Italian)

french-resources.org/skill/listening

german-resources.org/skill/listening

spanishlistening.org

Radio Ambulante

Duolingo Podcast (French & Spanish)

Article by ILI Staff / News

ILI News

  • ILI is a finalist for the PIEoneer “Language Educator of the Year” 2022 award! June 15, 2022
  • ILI’s Caroline Gear featured in Rotary magazine! June 13, 2022
  • Top 7 Reasons to do an Intensive English Program (IEP) in the Summer June 8, 2022
  • An Interview with MJ Adams: An International Host and Global Citizen June 2, 2022
  • How to Improve your Academic English and Business English Writing Skills May 25, 2022
  • ILI board member Reynolds Whalen earns “40 under Forty” recognition! May 11, 2022

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A huge thank you to the @rivervalleycoop for award A huge thank you to the @rivervalleycoop for awarding ILI the Austin Miller Co-op Hero Award! We are grateful to be among all the amazing winners of this prestigious award! Receiving  the award is Sonya, a member of ILI’s Board of Directors. Caroline, ILI’s Executive Director and Beth, ILI’s Career and College Advisor.
ILI is thrilled to be a recipient of @rivervalleyc ILI is thrilled to be a recipient of @rivervalleycoop 's Austin Miller Award alongside Riquezas del Campo and The Nolumbeka Project! 

The nonprofit award winners receive $500 each and split the proceeds from food sales at River Valley Co-op's annual Strawberry Ice Cream Social and June Change for Change contributions.

➡️Read more here: https://rivervalley.coop/event-details/strawberry-ice-cream-social-austin-miller-awards?fbclid=IwAR3Uh8pZ0v5jO4jbYLG50xFVNcq5OEKPXj6HOmmU6F8e0toyzhFp6Dokt1A
“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of vict “Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do.” — Barack Obama

Resources to learn more about Juneteenth:
• https://naacp.org/campaigns/juneteenth
• https://www.history.com/.amp/news/what-is-juneteenth
• https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/06/17/a-proclamation-on-juneteenth-day-of-observance-2022/
After months–or years—of studying online at ho After months–or years—of studying online at home or taking English classes in their home countries, millions of students want a breath of fresh air. 💨

Sunny days, warm weather, cool winds–summertime is a wonderful time to enroll in an Intensive English program. 📚

➡️Check out our recent NEWS Item titled, "Top 7 Reasons to do an Intensive English Program (IEP) in the Summer" here: https://ili.edu/2022/06/08/top-7-reasons-to-do-an-intensive-english-program-iep-in-the-summer/

➡️Interested in learning more about ILI's Intensive English Program? Email macey@ili.edu.

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For today's #tbt we're reflecting on Paradise City For today's #tbt we're reflecting on Paradise City Arts Festival that happened a few weeks ago! 🎨

Thank you @paradise_city_arts_festivals for designating ILI as the silent auction beneficiary this year. Thank you to the 75+ generous artist for donating their art and thank you to the 20+ volunteers for staffing the table and booth sitting for artists. ✨ What a generous community we live in!

#ili #paradisecityartsfestival #2022 #silentauction #community #festival #nonprofit #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #ialc
We are thrilled to be one of three nonprofits that We are thrilled to be one of three nonprofits that are the Change for Change recipients at @rivervalleycoop along with #NolumbekaProject and @riquezasdelcampocoop ✨The three of us will not only receive all Change for Change donations made in June but also the proceeds from this year's Strawberry Ice Cream Social, which returns on June 23rd.

The Nolumbeka Project envisions a Connecticut River Valley where the histories, cultures and persistence of Northeastern Indigenous Peoples are recognized and celebrated, and where all beings coexist in balance and reciprocity.

Riquezas Del Campo is an immigrant-led, worker-owned cooperative farm in Hatfield, MA that began leasing land on the Grow Food Northampton Community Farm in 2021. 

✨Pictured here is Megan, a cashier at RV. Next time you’re shopping, please consider rounding up in support of these nonprofits.

#changeforchange #roundup #rivervalleymarket #rivervalleycoop #nonprofit #local #community #ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton
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