Introduction:
In the process of learning a foreign language, training your ear becomes the key to understanding it comprehensively. This aspect is especially highlighted in the official certification exams, where the English listening section evaluates the ability to follow conversations, among other aspects.
Chapter 1: Strategies to Boost Your Listening Comprehension
At first, understanding a word or phrase is easier when it is written down. However, as we advance in our learning, it is essential to incorporate oral comprehension. Below are some strategies to prepare effectively for your English listening exam.
Chapter 2: Preparation in Advance
Preparing ahead of time is crucial. We recommend integrating strategies to improve overall listening comprehension, which will be beneficial during the listening exam.
- Practice regularly: Take time out of your day to improve your understanding of English, whether it's listening to and trying to understand songs at lunch or a podcast on your commute to work.
- Content of interest: To improve your listening in English, it is essential that the content you listen to keeps your attention and is enjoyable. It can be cinema, literature or videos on current affairs.
- Active training: Focusing and paying attention to understanding the language will prepare you for the exam. Listen to a podcast, stopping every two minutes to jot down the main ideas, then relax as you listen for pleasure.
- Beneficial repetitions: Listen to the same audio or movie several times to catch the most difficult words. Repetition improves the perception of nuances in the content.
Chapter 3: Vocabulary Improvement
When preparing for listening in English, it is essential to consider aspects related to the pronunciation, accents and contractions of the language.
- Pronunciation and accents: English pronunciation does not always follow written grammatical rules, and accents vary from country to country.
- Contractions and links: Contractions and word links are common, as in "can't." Learning these subtleties makes listening comprehension easier.
- Specific phonemes: English has phonemes that do not exist in Spanish. Practicing the pronunciation of diverse vocabulary helps you anticipate the words in listening.
Chapter 4: Additional Tips for the Listening Test
During the exam, anticipating is key to answering questions and filling in blank spaces based on the audio.
- Word type identification: Before listening, determine the type of word you should fill in. Is it an adjective, noun, adverb, time, place, noun, or action?
- Connection with context: Connect with the context before conversations to better understand the vocabulary. Take advantage of introductions or written statements that explain the context.
- Advance reading: Read all the sentences or questions before listening. Underline key words if allowed, but keep in mind that the words in the questions will not be exactly the same as in the audio.
- Attention to connectors: Connectors such as "finally" or "but" indicate the type of information. Use these indicators to anticipate the audio content.
- Careful review: When you finish the audio, check your answers to correct spelling errors and make sure they fit together grammatically. Avoid leaving blank spaces and deduce words from context if necessary.
Conclusion:
Developing listening skills is essential to mastering English, and Native English positions itself as an ally on this educational journey. By implementing effective strategies and considering the importance of vocabulary, students can comprehensively prepare to successfully meet the challenge of English listening at any certification level. With Native English, the path to listening fluency becomes more accessible and enriching!