Improve Your Reading and Listening Skills With This Strategy

Summary

The video discusses the importance of both reading and listening in language learning, emphasizing the cognitive benefits of sub-vocalization while reading. It outlines strategies based on the learner's stage, starting with listening first as a beginner and moving toward balancing both skills at intermediate levels. The speaker also contrasts intensive and extensive reading and listening, advising that as proficiency grows, the approach should evolve. Ultimately, the key is to engage in both skills regularly, fostering curiosity and building a deeper understanding of the language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Reading and listening are powerful ways to learn a language and are essential goals for language learners.
• 😀 The order of reading and listening depends on your current level in the language and the material you're working with.
• 😀 Subvocalization during reading helps move you toward speaking ability, as it engages similar brain areas involved in speaking.
• 😀 At the beginner stage (A1 to A2), listening first, then reading, helps you familiarize yourself with pronunciation and build recognition.
• 😀 As you progress, at the B1 stage, it's easier to listen first and then read the transcript to reinforce your understanding.
• 😀 In the beginning, focusing on one sentence at a time and alternating between listening and reading can build your language skills.
• 😀 At the intermediate level (B1), it's more efficient to listen first and later check the transcript to clarify unfamiliar words.
• 😀 Intensive reading and listening (looking up words and going over content repeatedly) are helpful at the beginner level, but extensive reading and listening (casual engagement) are more appropriate at higher levels.
• 😀 As your proficiency increases, you can gradually reduce repetition and stop re-listening or re-reading, as you're able to understand more naturally.
• 😀 The best approach to language learning involves using both reading and listening strategies, as they complement each other and keep the process engaging and varied.

Q & A

Why are reading and listening both considered powerful ways to learn a language?

Reading and listening are powerful because they engage different aspects of language learning. They help learners absorb vocabulary, understand grammar, and build familiarity with the language, all of which are crucial for fluency.

What role does sub-vocalization play in reading and language learning?

Sub-vocalization, which is the act of silently pronouncing words while reading, helps with understanding and memory retention. It also connects the written word with how it sounds, aiding learners in pronouncing and internalizing the language.

What is the difference between reading out loud and speaking?

Reading out loud or sub-vocalizing is not the same as speaking. While reading, you are voicing the words, but not creating new sentences or drawing on your language production skills. Speaking involves constructing thoughts and sentences using your language skills and memory.

Why is listening suggested as a starting point before reading?

Listening first is recommended because it helps learners understand how words are pronounced. This way, when they read, they are more likely to sub-vocalize them correctly, forming a connection between sounds and written words.

What strategy is suggested for beginners learning a new language?

For beginners (A1-A2), the strategy is to listen to one sentence at a time, then read it. After listening, try reading, and then listen again. This helps improve pronunciation and familiarity with the language structure gradually.

What does the speaker suggest about the cognitive challenge of reading?

Reading is a significant cognitive challenge because it requires the brain to decode written symbols into meaning. It involves complex processes that connect written words to their meanings and sounds.

How do stages of language proficiency affect the order of reading and listening?

The approach to reading and listening changes with proficiency levels. For beginners, listening first helps with pronunciation. As learners advance to an intermediate stage (B1), they can start with listening, followed by reading for deeper understanding.

What is the difference between intensive and extensive reading and listening?

Intensive reading and listening involve close attention to details, such as looking up every word or repeating sentences. Extensive reading and listening are more about reading or listening for general comprehension without focusing too much on every word.

Why is it important to avoid repeating material too much at higher levels?

At higher proficiency levels, repetition may hinder progress by creating a sense of laziness. It is more beneficial to push the learner to engage with increasingly complex material without reverting to previous, easier content.

How does the speaker suggest integrating reading and listening for effective language learning?

The speaker recommends integrating both reading and listening by alternating between them. As learners progress, they should switch between intensive and extensive methods and adjust the balance depending on their comfort with vocabulary and comprehension.