留学・海外大学進学なら NIC - アメリカ留学・イギリス留学・オーストラリア留学など、海外の名門大学へ留学・進学するなら

フリーダイヤル 0120-059-055 〒160-0022 東京都新宿区新宿5-9-16 FAX. 03-5379-5550

Study Tips From Danny

Improve Your Listening

By Danny K. Howard, EAP Associate Director

Listening is very important part of language. When you go abroad, you will spend almost 50% of your day listening to other people, listening to TV, radio, music and other things. A curious student at the demo lesson last week asked me, “How can I improve my listening?” In fact, this question is a very common one. To answer this great question, I have good news and bad news. I will begin with the bad news.

The bad news is...there is no quick way to improve listening ability (it takes a lot of time and effort).

Now, the good news! I know a great way to improve your listening a lot over time. Let’s first begin with some general advice.
 
General Advice
To improve your listening...
Try to listen to English at least 30 minutes each day. 
Pay attention to the large meaning (not individual words).
It’s better to listen at a normal speed (do not slow down the tape or CD).
Repeat the listening activity (once is usually not enough).
Find listening materials at your level (if you completely understand or don’t understand at all, it may be too easy or too hard).









Danny’s Listening Idea!
Find a listening book with a CD & transcript and try this idea at least 3 times a week! More is better.

First, listen to the material. Just try to understand the main ideas.
Second, listen again for details. 
Third, write a short summary of what you understand. 
(for how to write a summary look at the Study Tip for 4/1/05)
Fourth, compare your summary to the transcript. Are they similar? Do they share the main ideas?
Next, listen a third time and read along with the transcript as you listen.
Finally, listen a last time without the transcript. Do you understand more? You should!

Some recommended listening books
 These books can be bought at Kinokuniya or any large bookstore.
Low Levels: Dr. English’s Listening Check-up (1,600 yen)
Middle Levels: Shadowing Vol. 1 & 2 (1,800 yen)
High Levels: BBC World (1,800 yen); VOA (1,800 yen); Live from New York (1,500 yen); Live on Campus (1,500 yen)

All of these books have CDs and transcripts with them!