9th June 2021
Listening Skills
The following websites are good for listening practice.
What are the pros and cons of each one ?
What do you like or dislike about them ?
How helpful do you find them ?
Try to use complex sentences in forming your answers, giving reasons and your thoughts.
Example: For me, the best site was (Speakgood.com) because it was well designed, easy to use and extremely helpful. I especially appreciated the subtitles which enabled me to understand what was being said.
British Council (LearnEnglish Teens). Home – skills – listening: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening
Newsinlevels.com: https://www.newsinlevels.com/
This was recommended to me by my Brazilian friend, Ana (also a ESL teacher). Small news stories are told at three levels of English, and you can listen first, then read the text. Also a good way to learn new vocabulary. Having said that, the speaking is rather flat and lacking in intonation.
BBC Learning English (for pronunciation): http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/pronunciation
Small videos focusing on individual sounds and letters.
Learn English with Emma
https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishTeacherEmma
Mad English TV: https://www.youtube.com/c/MadEnglishTV/videos
A YouTube channel for learning. I’ve used some of these videos for adult classes.
Many videos with large text, for beginners. Over twenty dialogues for you to listen to and repeat.
English Class 101: https://www.youtube.com/embed/XtEixjKMPfM?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&start=307&wmode=transparent
Perfect for Lockdown, a 90 minute lesson featuring British English. If you are unable to attend a physical class, this could be a useful refresher.
Pronunciation – plosives (b / d / g / k / p / t) (0.39 – end) http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/pronunciation/tims-pronunciation-workshop-ep-17
Also listen to music (with lyrics)
Films (short clips – 30 seconds to 1 minute)
TV shows with subtitles.
Try these:
Music and what better than The Beatles (‘Help’): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po5ti70U0bc
Any English song with lyrics (words) will be a great way to learn, and fun as well.
Film ‘King’s Speech’, an Oscar-winning film from 2010: https://www.youtube.com/embed/3oFmeT1RVQs?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
TV show – ‘Eastenders’
This is a ‘soap opera’ – a TV drama that is shown two or three times a week. Each episode last 30 minutes and has many different characters. This drama is set in east London, so many people have an accent typical of that area. See how much you understand: https://www.youtube.com/embed/qgUf9hlTnnU?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Thay Paul's Notes 