Every language learner know about the fours basic skills they have interest in improving, namely Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. It is said that this is also the order of how we learn a language. We start with listening.

Children learn their mother tongue by listening and imitating words and sentences, through interactions. There are so many language learning methods and theories. One states that someone starting to learn a language should not speak at least for one year, only listening would be allowed. When the learner acquires the melody and the gist, the soul of a language, they can start to speak. Maybe it works, maybe not, who knows. Definitely this is the way small children pick up the language.

Effective listening ensures understanding and it helps improve accuracy when speaking, among other things. 

It can be improved by

• Watching movies, videos
  • Use subtitles and replay scenes until you get it
  • Watch videos or animated movies for children, if you want to try a lighter option
• Listening to podcasts (british accent)
  • Long (40 min):  BBC podcasts 
  • Short:  BBC podcasts for learners
  • Short and long: The Naked Scientist podcast from the UK
• Listening to Audio books, in case you are at a higher level. Without visual support it is not always easy to follow them.