Got some trouble understanding English? You just need a little training, a few minutes a week will help you, tremendously! Here are some tools you can use: "6-minute English" on the left bar, and the "BBC learning" widget at the very bottom of the page...just scroll down and you'll see it, it's always there. These two elements are updated weekly. Here's how to use these them:
- on the BBC learning widget, short audio files (they're entitled "words in the news" on the website): Listen to them as many times as needed and write the entire script. It's quite short! Don't worry. Then compare your script with the actual one, which is on the page. You've got some lexical help underneath the script, don't forget to check it out!
- "6-minute English": the audio files are longer, so your work will be different. Listen to it as many times as needed and take notes: 1) names, dates, numbers 2) important words and expressions Then, sum up what you understood. Finally, check the script of the recording on the BBC learning website (it's also available from the BBC learning widget), and compare with what you understood.
Remember! The important thing is not to understand every single word. This will come with practise. The really important thing is that you train your ear and you will progressively improve your understanding AND your accent. You will also learn vocabulary as you go without even noticing it.
You can send me your written paragraphs from time to time so that you can practise your written expression as well, or even your audio sum up if you've recorded it (see post from September on how to record yourself for free!). Don't forget that you've got my email if you need some help, and don't hesitate and leave comments on the blog.
Just a few minutes a week and you'll improve a lot, so try and do that regularly!
