Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Linh]

Please give me some strategies to cope with new words and speed when listening to English. Thank you!

[damon@English24/7]

1. Don`t get discouraged if you can`t follow the English you hear on movies or in real conversations between native speakers, it will take a long time.

2. You need to read and listen to sources that are not too difficult. If you can`t guess at the meanings of the words that you don`t understand, then whatever it is you are listening to is too difficult. You need to understand enough of the language that you can guess the meanings of what you don`t understand without losing the rest of the conversation.

3. Speed also comes with time. When someone says something you know and understand quickly, remember how it was said. Try repeating it to yourself quietly after. Pay particular attention to getting the accents right. I will be controvertial here and say that vowels in English are relatively unimportant. If you can hit all the consonants with stresses in the right places, most people will understand you. If you pronounce things perfectly, but without accenting the language properly, you will have a hard time being understood.

Let`s hope someone can give you some more specific activities to practice with.

damon

[Linh]

Thank you!