Improving listening and reading skills

Obviously, the most important thing is to practise these skills. However, you should think carefully about how you approach a listening or reading text. Consider following the following stages.

- Pre-listening or reading

If you know the general topic of the text, do some work on this topic before you listen or read.

What do you know about this topic in your own language?
What English vocabulary do you know that is connected to this topic?
Can you predict any language that you might see or hear?

- First listening or reading

You should follow the text through to the end without stopping (unless it is a novel!!). Afterwards, make some notes on what you have remembered or understood.

- Second listening or reading

Read the whole piece again, making notes as you go, to try and get a full understanding of the text. Underline, or note down, new vocabulary

- Dictionary work

Look at the vocabulary you have selected, which words do you think are important? Check some of them in an English-English dictionary if you have one. Choose some of these words to learn. Don't choose all of them, you may overload your memory!

- Third listening or reading

During this stage you may pause and repeat sections to notice the meaning or the use of language

- Fine focus

In a listening, listen repeatedly to one or two sentences or phrases. Can you identify all the words? Can you listen and repeat?

In a reading, choose a sentence or two which shows interesting grammar or sentence style

Overall, you should move from a general understanding to a more detailed focus on meaning and structure. Learn to take notes to help organise your understanding and to be an active listener or reader...