Are you having a hard time understanding others at work or parties? Yes?
Do you understand the main idea(s) a speaker conveys? No?
Active Listening Improves Comprehension
Try listening to a podcast, such as NPR Podcast Directory. Most podcasts have a written script. Listen to one twice. The first time just listen for comprehension. The second time select a three to four minute segment. Try writing down what you hear. Every word. When you are finished, compare your writing to the podcast script.
1. Listen to spoken English like a podcast.
2. Write down what you hear, word for word. Transcribe each sentence as you hear it.
3. Compare your results with the transcript. Take note of what you did transcribed incorrectly.
Benefit: When comprehension improves, pronunciation automatically improves
Pronunciation improves significantly once comprehension improves. A good way to improve what you hear is to listen to a short passage whose words are not visible. Listen to the passage a few times and then write down everything that is spoken. Make sure you can access a written script and compare it to what you have written down.