# Tips & Tricks

# Tips to improve your listening skills!

1. Improve your general listening skills

It is very effective to do various listening exercises, listen to general listening materials (radio reports, TV-shows, documental programs etc) and after that you can do various listening tests.

2. Choose Comprehensible Input

An important thing you must do when looking to improve your listening skills is listen to material that you already mostly understand. This kind of material, known as "comprehensible input", is any audio content that's slightly above your current skill level.

3. Focus on the Big Picture, Not Small Details

Of all the major skills of language, listening skills require the most focus. This is because if you don't focus on what you're listening to, you may miss the core "message" that is being communicated.

Because of all of this, it is important that you focus on "the big picture" when listening, and that you avoid getting distracted by small details.

4. Learn Actively by Taking Notes

Learning happens best when it is active—when you, the learner, are engaged in what you are doing and take action to process new information. If learning is not active, you will absorb less information, and even run the risk of forgetting what you learned quickly.

When working on your listening skills, take out a notebook or piece of paper, and do the following:

- Write down the topic of the audio
- If there are multiple speakers, write down their names, or come up with labels for each (e.g. Speaker 1, Speaker 2)
- Write down the gist of what each speaker says, including any main points they try to communicate
- If you frequently hear a word you do not understand, try to write it down so you can look it up later
- If there's a word or sentence you find interesting, write it down so that you can practice using it in your own conversations.

5. Expand your vocabulary

It’s always a good idea to learn vocabulary that is common. For you especially, learning vocabulary in Retail is extra important. Individuals with rich vocabulary can express their feelings and thoughts appropriately, as well as fully and correctly understanding what they watch, listen and read.