Improve Your English Listening Skill With Podcasts!

Summary

In this educational video, Maddie from POC English offers strategies to enhance English listening skills through podcasts. She categorizes learners into below or above intermediate levels and recommends specific resources like 'Lesson a Minute' for beginners and 'BBC 6 Minute English' or 'VOA Learning English' for advanced learners. Maddie outlines a four-step process: initial listening for gist, detailed transcription, script comparison, and vocabulary learning, emphasizing the importance of persistence for effective listening improvement.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video discusses a common issue where people can speak English but struggle with understanding spoken English.
• 🎧 The speaker, Maddie, recommends using English podcasts as an effective method to improve listening skills.
• 📚 Podcasts are available at different levels and with various accents, so it's important to choose based on one's proficiency and preferred accent.
• 🔍 For beginners or those below the intermediate level, the focus should be on general understanding rather than specific accents.
• 🌐 Maddie suggests 'lessonaminute.com' for those below the intermediate level, offering one-minute podcasts on various topics.
• 📝 For intermediate and advanced learners, the accent becomes more important, and learners can use techniques like imitation or speech shadowing to improve pronunciation.
• 🇬🇧 For those interested in a British accent, 'BBC 6 Minute English' podcasts are recommended.
• 🇺🇸 For American accent enthusiasts, 'VOA Learning English' is the go-to resource.
• 👂 The first step to using podcasts for listening practice is to listen without worrying about understanding every detail, focusing on getting the gist.
• 📖 The second step involves listening and writing down what is heard after each sentence, going back to replay parts that are not understood.
• 🔍 The third step is to follow along with the original script while listening to the podcast to ensure full understanding.
• 📝 The final step is to compare the written script with the original to identify mistakes and areas of difficulty, which also helps in learning new vocabulary.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is teaching viewers how to improve their English listening skills through podcasts.

Why is listening skill important for effective communication?

Listening skill is crucial for effective communication because it allows one to understand and respond to others accurately, facilitating better interaction.

What are the two key questions one should ask themselves before choosing an English podcast?

The two key questions are: What is my English level (below intermediate or above intermediate), and what is my favorite accent (American or British)?

What website is recommended for English learners below the intermediate level?

For English learners below the intermediate level, the website lessonaminute.com is recommended.

How are the topics categorized on lessonaminute.com?

The topics on lessonaminute.com are categorized alphabetically, making it easy to find specific topics of interest.

What is the recommended podcast for those interested in improving their British accent?

For those interested in the British accent, BBC 6 Minute English podcasts are recommended.

What does VOA stand for and what accent is it associated with?

VOA stands for Voice of America, and it is associated with the American accent.

What are the three steps to improve listening skills through podcasts as mentioned in the video?

The three steps are: 1) Listen without worrying about understanding everything, 2) Listen and write down what is heard, and 3) Listen while following the original script.

What technique can be used to improve pronunciation along with listening skills?

The speech shadowing technique can be used to improve pronunciation along with listening skills.

How can one receive a summary of every video lesson posted on YouTube by the speaker?

To receive a summary of every video lesson, one can subscribe by providing their email address on the speaker's website, pocenglish.com.

What does the phrase 'kill two birds with one stone' mean in the context of the video?

In the context of the video, 'kill two birds with one stone' means achieving two goals (improving listening skills and learning new vocabulary) by doing one activity (listening to podcasts).

Outlines

00:00

🎧 Improving Listening Skills with English Podcasts

This paragraph introduces the video's focus on enhancing English listening skills through podcasts. The speaker, Maddie from POC English, addresses a common issue where learners can speak but struggle with comprehension. She suggests that listening to English podcasts is an effective method to improve this skill. Podcasts cater to various levels and accents, so learners should consider their proficiency level and preferred accent. For those below the intermediate level, Maddie recommends 'Lesson a Minute' for its one-minute podcasts on diverse topics, which come with written scripts. For advanced learners interested in British or American accents, she recommends BBC's 6 Minute English and VOA Learning English, respectively. These resources include audio files and scripts to aid in learning.

05:06

📝 Steps to Effectively Utilize Podcasts for Listening Practice

The second paragraph outlines a three-step method to improve listening skills using podcasts. The initial step involves listening to podcasts without the pressure of understanding every detail, focusing instead on getting the general idea. The second step requires active engagement, where learners pause after each sentence to write down what they hear, revisiting parts they didn't understand by replaying them. If certain parts remain unclear, they should be left blank and the exercise continued. The third step is to follow along with the original script while listening to the podcast, ensuring full comprehension. The final step is a comparison of the learner's transcript with the original to identify areas of misunderstanding or gaps in comprehension. This method not only enhances listening skills but also helps in vocabulary acquisition. The speaker also mentions a subscription service on her website, pocenglish.com, for those interested in receiving summaries of her YouTube lessons.

Keywords

💡Listening skill

Listening skill refers to the ability to understand spoken language, which is essential for effective communication. In the video, it is highlighted as a crucial skill that can be improved through listening to English podcasts. The script mentions that for beginners, the focus should be on general understanding and listening skill rather than specific accents.

💡Podcasts

Podcasts are digital audio files that can be downloaded or streamed over the internet. They are used in the video as a medium for language learning, with different podcast recommendations based on the listener's English level and preferred accent. The script provides examples of podcast sources such as 'Lesson a Minute', 'BBC 6 Minute English', and 'VOA Learning English'.

💡Accent

Accent in the context of the video refers to distinct pronunciation characteristics of a particular region or social group within English-speaking countries. It is important for learners who are above the intermediate level, as it helps them not only understand but also imitate the pronunciation and speech patterns of native speakers. The script differentiates between American and British accents and suggests specific podcasts for each.

💡Level

Level in the video script pertains to the proficiency in English language learning. It is used to categorize learners into 'below intermediate' and 'above intermediate' levels, with different approaches to improving listening skills suggested for each. For instance, beginners are advised to focus on general understanding, while more advanced learners can work on accent and pronunciation.

💡Imitation technique

The imitation technique is a method of learning where one mimics the sounds, intonations, and speech patterns of a model, in this case, a podcast speaker. The video mentions this technique as a way to improve accent and pronunciation for those with an intermediate to advanced English level. It is linked to the speech shadowing technique, which is elaborated on in another video by the same creator.

💡Speech shadowing

Speech shadowing is a language learning technique where a learner listens to a recording and repeats it aloud, trying to match the speaker's pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation as closely as possible. The video script suggests using this technique with podcasts to improve listening skills and pronunciation, especially for those at an intermediate level and above.

💡VOA

VOA stands for Voice of America, which is a multimedia network funded by the U.S. government. In the context of the video, VOA is recommended for learners interested in the American accent. The script provides a link to VOA Learning English, which offers podcasts for different levels to help improve listening and speaking skills.

💡BBC

BBC refers to the British Broadcasting Corporation, a public service broadcaster in the UK. The video script recommends 'BBC 6 Minute English' podcasts for learners interested in the British accent. These podcasts are designed to improve listening skills and provide exposure to a variety of topics in a short format.

💡Script

In the video, a script refers to the written text that corresponds to the audio content of a podcast. It is used as a tool for learners to follow along while listening to a podcast to improve their understanding and to compare their own transcriptions with the original to identify areas of improvement.

💡Transcription

Transcription in the video is the process of writing down the spoken words from a podcast. It is suggested as a method to deepen understanding and to practice listening skills. The script mentions that learners should pause after each sentence, write down what they heard, and compare their transcriptions with the original script.

💡Gist

The gist refers to the main point or central idea of a piece of content. In the context of the video, getting the gist is the initial goal for listeners when they start practicing with podcasts, where they understand the general topic and the flow of the conversation without needing to grasp every detail.

Highlights

The video discusses a common problem where individuals can speak English but struggle with understanding it.

The presenter, Maddie, introduces the concept of using English podcasts to improve listening skills.

Podcasts are available for different English levels and accents, which can be chosen based on personal preference and language proficiency.

For beginners or those below the intermediate level, focusing on general understanding is recommended over specific accents.

Lessonaminute.com is suggested for those below the intermediate level, offering one-minute podcasts on various topics.

The website allows users to download audio files and scripts in PDF format for easy access and practice.

For those above the intermediate level, accent becomes more important for improving pronunciation and listening skills.

BBC's 6 Minute English is recommended for those interested in the British accent, with a variety of topics available.

VOA Learning English is the go-to for American accent enthusiasts, with podcasts for different proficiency levels.

The presenter explains the process of using podcasts effectively, which includes three main steps.

The first step involves listening to podcasts without the pressure of understanding every detail, focusing on getting the gist.

The second step requires active listening and writing down what is heard after each sentence, even if it requires multiple listens.

The third step involves following the original script while listening to the podcast to ensure full comprehension.

The final step is comparing the written script to the original to identify areas of misunderstanding or gaps.

This method not only improves listening skills but also helps in learning new vocabulary.

The presenter uses the idiom 'kill two birds with one stone' to illustrate the dual benefits of this exercise.

A summary of the lesson is offered on the presenter's website, pocenglish.com, for those who subscribe with their email.

Transcripts

in one of my videos i talked about a very common  problem i can understand but i cannot speak but  

while i was reading the comments i came across  this one i can speak but i cannot understand so  

in this video i'm going to teach you the best way  

to improve your listening  skill through english podcasts

hello my name is maddie from poc english lessening  is a very crucial skill especially if you want to  

be able to communicate effectively one of the  best ways to improve your listening skill is by  

listening to english podcasts but what podcasts  and how to listen to them english podcasts are  

available for different levels and with different  accents so two questions you need to ask yourself  

is what is my level and what is my favorite  accent do i want to learn the american accent or  

the british accent based on your answers to these  two questions you can choose the right podcast so  

first of all what is your level well  you should consider two different levels  

below intermediate level or above the intermediate  level which one are you if you belong to the  

first group whose level of english is below the  intermediate level you should not worry about  

the accent so forget about the accent first of  all you should focus on improving your general  

understanding and listening skill for you i  recommend this website lessonaminute.com on this  

website you can find one minute english podcasts  about almost any topic you think of and the topics  

are categorized alphabetically for instance let's  go to one of the topics paper there you can see  

the one minute audio file and the written script  you can also download the audio file if you like  

plus you can download the script in a pdf file  format this website is amazing for those who  

are below the intermediate level especially  for the beginners but how should you listen  

to the podcasts on this website stick to the end  of this video i'm going to teach you alright time  

for the second group those whose level of english  is above the intermediate level for you accent  

is actually important because by listening to  podcasts not only you improve your lessening skill  

and general understanding but you can also improve  your accent and pronunciation using the imitation  

technique or the speech shadowing technique i'm  going to link a video up here so you can click  

on it in this video i talked about improving your  pronunciation using the speech shadowing technique  

so if you are above the intermediate level and you  are interested in the british accent i recommend  

bbc 6 minute english podcasts this is the  official website where you can find the six-minute  

english podcast of bbc you can also see the level  intermediate i'm going to put the link to this  

website down in the descriptions of this video how  does it work well you have a wide choice of topics  

so you can read the topics and see which one  you like click on the one you like and then  

you can see the audio and the pdf files there so  basically you can play the podcast from inside  

the website or you can download the audio of the  podcast together with the pdf file of the script  

what about the american accent lovers like  me well the best option for you is voa  

this is voa learning english and voa stands for  voice of america and we are talking about the  

american accent right on this website you can  find podcasts for different levels beginning  

intermediate or advanced levels we're  talking about the intermediate level  

we click on it and then you can see there  are four options here available health and  

lifestyle science and technology art and culture  as it is you click on your favorite area and then  

you can see a lot of podcasts available you can  also click on load more and then there they are  

let's click on one and see what happens well  we have the audio file we can play we can also  

download the audio file here and the text and  the script of the audio file is right below it

so let's sum up the first part of this lesson  if you are below the intermediate level go to  

lessonaminute.com that's where you should start  from if you are above the intermediate level  

and you like the british accent bbc's six-minute  english is for you and if you are into the  

american accent then voa is the best option  okay now that we know what podcast you can use  

time for second question how can we lessen  two podcasts in order to improve our listening  

if you want to improve your listening through  podcasts you have to follow these three steps  

step one is to lessen don't worry about anything  you don't have to understand 100 of what they are  

saying you don't have to take notes just listen  the important thing is that your ears are getting  

used to the sounds you're hearing and that you  can get the gist of the story what is going on  

who are the main speakers what is the topic of the  podcast that's enough and the good part about the  

first step is that you can do it anywhere you can  listen to podcasts while you were sitting down or  

maybe while you were doing the dishes you can also  listen to podcasts while you are walking on the  

street or maybe you are waiting for the bus or you  know you can listen to it anywhere you want and  

as many times as you need step 2 lesson and write  down now listen guys this step might take a lot of  

time but trust me there is no shortcut in learning  you need to spend time so do it and don't be lazy  

what you need to do here is to listen to  the podcast pause after each sentence and  

write down what you heard so basically you're  going to write down the script of the podcast  

maybe sometimes you don't understand what they  are saying pause go back lesson again again if  

you need you can go back and listen again do this  as many times as you need in order to understand  

what the podcast the speaker is saying so that you  can write it down what if i don't understand what  

they are saying well in that case if you couldn't  understand what they are saying after a few times  

of playing it and listening to it then just leave  it blank and continue with the rest of the podcast  

alright by the end of this step you will write  down the script of the podcast what is step three  

lesson and follow the original script whether  you listen to voa or bbc podcasts the script is  

available in a pdf file format so what you need  to do is to download that file play the podcast  

and while you are listening to the podcast follow  the script this time you will understand what they  

are saying a hundred percent now and step four  the final step is to compare your script to the  

original script to see which parts you have  made a mistake which parts you couldn't get  

and which parts you left blank this exercise  takes a lot of time guys but trust me you will see  

immediate results plus not only it improves your  listening you can also learn some new vocabulary  

so basically you're killing two birds with one  stone and to kill two birds with one stone means  

to achieve two things by doing one thing i  hope you've enjoyed this lesson if you want  

to receive the summary of every video lesson i  post on youtube in one pdf file each time i post  

what you need to do is to go to my website  pocenglish.com the link is down in the  

descriptions click on the link go to my website  type in your email address and click subscribe see