Friday, March 1, 2013

How to Improve Listening Skills


Look at the speaker's eye (or face).
Inquire about things that are not clear to you.
Summarize by paraphrasing in your own words.
Take notes (if you have to) but make sure don't miss the conversation.
Encourage the speaker to say more and explain more.
Neutralize yourself. Don't agree or disagree. Just listen, period.

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Ask politely the speaker to repeat himself/herself.
Ask relevant questions and know how to ask the proper questions.

Being a good listener fosters better relations and allows you to connect and interact to people more easily.
Be fully aware and completely present.
Be in the moment all the time throughout the conversation.
Be open to new ideas.
Be patient. Hardwork has great rewards.
Be physically and mentally prepared to listen.
Be sensitive to Body Language and Emotions.

Clarify.
Clear your mind of anything not related to the subject or topic. Forget your worries at home...

Do not fake listening. Do not pretend to be hearing even if the topic is boring.
Do not think of rebuttals.
Don't argue with the ideas expressed by the speaker. Just accept it.
Don't be eager or too excited to express yourself or react. Let what you heard sink in to your mind at a deeper level.
Don't criticize.
Don't interrupt the person you are talking to. Let him finish and express himself.
Don't judge the person or the ideas expressed.
Don't mentally and physically turn off even if topic gets uninteresting.
Dont wander. Dont take a mental vacation somewhere or elsewhere.

Feedback.
Focus all your energy and attention to what the speaker is saying.

Get fascinated. Even if the subject is boring, there is always something new and beneficial that you can pick up.
Go out and talk or listen to native english speakers.

Humans can listen 4 times faster than speaking, so concentrate and don't think of something else.
Humans can speak on average 150 words per minute and can listen to 600 words per minute. So, concentrate, focus, control yourself and fight over distractions.


If you miss any word or words spoken, don't be afraid to ask for further clarifications and explanations.
Ignore distractions, avoid selective listening.

Know that by listening carefully, you are also building a good interpersonal relationship.

Learn how the native speakers (American, Canadian, Australian or other English-speaking groups) pronounce English words.
Learn reductions, shortcuts and word linking within a sentence or sentences.
Let the person finish talking, pause a bit to absorb the message, then start talking.
Listen to audio books, files, CDs, etc. and repeat listening until understood.
Listen to easy to understand and interesting music.
Look at the speakers' facial expression.

Make eye to eye contact.
Maintain Good Posture.

Pause 3 to 5 seconds before talking.
Practice listening at your level. Start with easy to listen and enjoyable materials and then medium then hard as you progress.
Practice listening by hearing dictations and writing down what you just heard.
Practice listening. Practice makes perfect, so practice, practice, practice.
Prepare and anticipate the words you are going to hear.

Remember that active listening boosts the speakers' self esteem as well as your own self esteem.
Repetition is your friend.
Respect the speaker. Respect the speaker's opinion, ideas, perspective and point of view.

Say encouraging things like Really?, OK, Ahh, Mmm, Right, etc.
Set a goal in your overall listening skill learning objective. Aim to listen 100% of all the words said.
Show genuine interest.
Show that you care what the person discussed to you by asking questions and making sure you understood his or her point and the message that he/she is trying to get across.
Sit in front.
Study the intonation, emphasis, accent, flow and rhythm of words that are stressed and unstressed.
Study the speaking patterns of native English speakers.

Turn on Active Listening. It is in the power of the mind.

Watch interesting and entertaining English movies and films with subtitles (captions).
Watch your favorite English TV shows and turn on the close captioning/subtitles.
When you have a meeting, class or conference, study about the topic in advance.
Work on a vocabulary system to improve your word database.

Your job is to listen and pay attention. That's it.

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Further help can be obtained by learning from videos in websites on the internet.
Search: How to improve listening skills or How to be a good listener.

This blog post is intended to help other people how to improve their listening skills and how to become a good listener.
Any advice, suggestions and comments are most welcome. Thank you in advance.

Thursday, February 28, 2013

List of Phrase Reductions, Contractions and Word Linking in Conversational or Spoken English


Non-native English speakers, beginners, learners and immigrants especially in North America pronounce all the syllables, drop, replace or otherwise make the pronunciation of the word sound different, unnatural and hard to understand. Native American, Canadian and other English speaking groups apparently talk very fast when heard by the first group mentioned above. This is because native speakers:
1. shorten or do word shortcuts
2. use weak forms in informal conversations
3. link words in a sentence
4. use phrase reductions
5. use contractions and short forms

When watching English movies or listening to hiphop music, actors and rappers talk and sing fast. They use one or a combination of the tricks and techniques above. Now add to this the idioms and slang in informal communication. The result is that non-native speakers misunderstand what the native speakers are trying to say. Although the list below is short and by no means complete, it is intended for use by beginners in learning the English language. The list can become endless. It is just a basic starting point to express the idea behind rapid talking.
    

List of Phrase Reductions, Contractions and Word Linking in Conversational or Spoken English:


A
am not, are not, is not = ain't
and = n
are not = aren't


B
bet you = betcha


C
cannot = can't
could have = coulda
could have been = kudabin
could not = couldn't


D
did he = dide
did not = didn't
did you = didya, didja, dija, jya
did you eat = jeet
did you ever = jever, jeva
did you have = jev
didn't you = didenya
do not = don't
does not = doesn't
don't know = donno, dunno
don't you = doncha


F
for you = ferya, feya
front of = frunna


G
get you = getcha
give me = gimme
going to = gonna
got to = gotta
got you = gotcha


H
had not = hadn't
had to = hada
has not = hasn't
has not; have not = ain't
has to = hasta, hasda
have not = haven't
have to = hafta, hafda
he had; he would = he'd
he is; he has = he's
he will; he shall = he'll
her = er
him = im
how are you = howarya
how do you = howdya
how did you = howjya
how would you = howujya


I
I am = I'm
I had; I would = I'd
I will; I shall = I'll
I have = I've
if i could = faykud
is it = zit
is it not = aint
is not = isn't
is not it = iznit
if it is = fits


K
kind of = kinda, kina
kinds of = kindsa


L
let me = lemme
let us = let's
lots of = lotsa
lot of = lotta


M
might have = mighta
might not = mightn't
must have = musta
must not = mustn't


O
or = er, e
ought to = oughda, oughta
out of = outta


S
shall not = shan't
she had; she would = she'd
she will; she shall = she'll
she is; she has = she's
should have = shouldav, shoulda, shuda
should not = shant, shont, shouldn't
should not be = shontbe
should not have = shouldnav, shouldna
should have been = shouldabeen
sort of = sorta


T
that is; that has = that's
that is it = datsit
there is; there has = there's
they had; they would = they'd
they will; they shall = they'll
they are = they're
they have = they've
this is it = disizit
trying to = tryna
type of = typa


W
want to = wanna
want you = wancha
we had; we would = we'd
we are = we're
we have = we've
were not = weren't
what are = what're
what are you = waddaya
what did you = whajya, whadya
what do you = wadya
what have = what've
what is; what has = what's
what is her = whatser
what is his = whatsiz
what is up = whassup, wazap
what will; what shall = what'll
whatcha = what are you, what have you
when did you = whendya, whenjya
where did you = wherdya, wherjya
where is; where has = where's
who are = who're
who did you = whodyu, whojya
who had; who would = who'd
who have = who've
who is; who has = who's
who will; who shall = who'll
will not = won't
won't you = woncha
would have = wouldav, woulda, wuda
would have been = wudabin
would not = wouldn't
would not have = wouldnav, wouldna
would you = woujya, wouldya


Y   
you = ya, yo, u
you had; you would = you'd
you will; you shall = you'll
you are = you're
you have = you've