Practice Listening

In order to practice English listening skills, we recommend three things:

1. Good listening materials:  short, realistic, a little higher than your level
    Podcasts are great for practicing listening.
    Check out these websites for audio practice.
    Videos can also be useful for improving skills.
    Many textbooks have audio recordings and exercises.

2. Background information:  know soemthing about the topic beforehand
    Prepare your mind by thinking about the topic ahead of time.
    Think about vocabulary you might encounter.
    Predict what language and information you might hear.

3. Techniques for Practice:  Listen for general and specific information
    Listen the first time to get the gist (general idea)
    Listen a second time for specific details.
    Have a purpose or something to listen for
    Listen a third time to review what you have learned.