I'm Listening, but not Improving...

by Ardiabara Ihsan
KJS Instructor

How come?

It sounds like we are generally doing the right thing.  We may say that we have been listening to English movies, dramas, etc. most of your life, yet we still have a lot of problems when speaking. Yes, it must frustrate us.

Note this!Hmm, while we are correct to focus on listening, we have been making a big mistake-- which is probably the cause of our speaking problems.  The mistake is that we have not been listening to

Movies and dramas and songs are very difficult. At least, for beginner. The speaking is very fast.  They are full of slang and strange phrases.  Movies and dramas contain extremely ADVANCED English speaking.

Here's the problem:  When we listen to English that is too difficult,  our brain simply cannot learn.  Instead, we become frustrated, confused and stressed.   If we continue to do this, we will eventually teach ourselves to be frustrated, confused and stressed EVERY TIME we listen to or speak English!  Of course, we do not want!!

My suggestion is that you should understand 90-98% of the English you are listening to.  It should feel very easy.   When you understand 90% or more, it's easy for you to guess the meaning of the other 10%.  This will happen automatically, without effort.  In this way, you will improve quickly and effortlessly.

So the answer to those problems above is simple:  stop listening to such difficult material, and instead listen to very easy English.   Listen to easy podcasts.  Listen to easy audio books. Get close to the easiest one


And when you want to listen to more advanced Real English, be sure that you have lessons that make the material very easy for you to understand.  And enjoy it!!!

I bet that your English will improve very quickly, without stress, and happy!!!