What is EXTENSIVE LISTENING, and why (and how) should you do it?

Summary

In this video, Morksensei explains the concept of extensive listening, a technique that involves listening to easy, engaging audio content in the language you're learning, without focusing on every detail. The aim is to understand the main ideas, reduce cognitive load, and enjoy the process. Morksensei emphasizes the importance of regular listening practice, using a variety of materials, and repeating content to build listening skills over time. The video encourages learners to take initiative and practice extensively outside of class for effective language development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Extensive listening involves listening a lot, regularly, and at an easy level, focusing on enjoying the content rather than analyzing every detail.
• 😀 The material should be interesting and easy enough that you do not need to stop and replay it repeatedly.
• 😀 The main goal of extensive listening is to get a broad understanding of the content, not to focus on every word or grammar point.
• 😀 It’s essential to practice with materials that are not too difficult. If the material is too complex, it shifts from extensive listening to intensive listening.
• 😀 Variety in listening materials is key; expose yourself to different types of content like narratives, reports, dialogues, and more to broaden your vocabulary and comprehension.
• 😀 Frequency is important for extensive listening. Aim to listen regularly, whether daily or weekly, based on your available time.
• 😀 Repetition helps solidify understanding. Re-listening to recordings helps reduce cognitive load, making listening easier over time and improving learning.
• 😀 Extensive listening should be done outside of class. It requires commitment and self-discipline, as the teacher is not likely to prompt you to practice it.
• 😀 The goal of extensive listening is to understand the main ideas or themes of the material, not to learn new vocabulary or grammar.
• 😀 Extensive listening is a long-term process that helps you develop automatic listening skills over time with consistent practice.
• 😀 Both extensive and intensive listening are valuable for language learners. While listening may be challenging, with sufficient exposure and practice, you can improve your skills.

Q & A

What is the main difference between intensive and extensive listening?

The main difference is that extensive listening focuses on listening for broad understanding and enjoyment, with easy-to-understand content, while intensive listening involves a more detailed, analytical approach to understanding and learning specific aspects of the language.

Why is it important to choose listening materials that are not too difficult?

Choosing materials that are not too difficult ensures that you can practice extensive listening, which focuses on meaning and enjoyment, rather than intensive listening, which is more about detailed comprehension and learning specific language points.

What role does repetition play in extensive listening?

Repetition helps to reduce cognitive load by allowing learners to become more familiar with the content, structure, and vocabulary. It also makes the listening process more automatic over time, improving overall listening skills.

How often should learners engage in extensive listening?

Learners should engage in extensive listening regularly, depending on their schedule. It could be daily or weekly, as long as they do it frequently enough to develop their listening skills.

What types of content should be included in extensive listening materials?

Extensive listening materials should include a wide variety of authentic recordings, such as stories, informational reports, instructional content, interviews, and conversations, to expose learners to different structures, contexts, and vocabulary.

What is the primary goal of extensive listening?

The primary goal of extensive listening is to get a broad understanding of the material, not to focus on every word or language structure. The aim is to enjoy the process of listening and gradually build language ability over time.

Why is it important for the listening material to be interesting to the learner?

If the material is interesting, learners are more likely to engage with it over extended periods of time, making it easier to sustain the practice and improving their listening skills.

How can learners avoid the mistake of using listening materials that are too difficult?

Learners can avoid this mistake by starting with materials that seem too easy and gradually increasing the difficulty as they become more comfortable, ensuring they are practicing extensive listening instead of intensive listening.

What does the term 'cognitive load' refer to in the context of listening?

Cognitive load refers to the mental effort or stress required to process information. In the context of listening, repetition helps reduce cognitive load by making it easier for the brain to process familiar material.

What should learners do if they need help with finding suitable listening materials?

If learners need help, they should talk with their teacher or more advanced learners to find appropriate materials or get advice on how to plan their extensive listening practice.