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Asyte2c00 View Drop Down
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Points: 2099 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Listening and Language (Improvement)
    Posted: September 27 2008 at 10:43

As I student of Spanish and Portuguese, I have a genuine interest in the culture and politics of South America. 

When I study and practice these languages, I find listening to native speakers in real life and in movies the most challenging aspect of language learning. 
 
Simply,
 
Reading: Good
Writing: Good
Speaking: Good
Listening: Bad
 
For the polyglots of PA, particularly those who grew up in monolingual families,
 
Ho do you suggest a student of langauge to improve his listening abilities?
 
Are there exercises that I can do (spanish movies w/o subtitles, spanish prog, newscasts?
 
^^For this approach, will this definietly work if done for a long amount of time.  if so, I'm willing to put in the effort. 
 
 
Is it stil possible (I am twenty)?
 
It's only the listening that challenges me. 
 
Suggestions are greatly appreciated. 
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Leningrad View Drop Down
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Points: 7991 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 11:23
I'm learning Russian, German and Finnish. I find that one good thing you can do is Google for radio-broadcasts in that language. Talk shows work even better for this.
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Atkingani View Drop Down
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Points: 12288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 17:07
Listening (and understanding) is basically a matter of practicing and practicing. Anyway, it varies from person to person just like the ability to learn music, something like to 'have ears' as we say here.
 
To listen to music can help too... Smile
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KoS View Drop Down
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Points: 16310 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 17:56
If you can, find someone who speaks the languages you want to learn and try to learn and listen to their pronunciation and speech mannerisms. Try to have conversation only in the language you are trying to learn. I'm pretty sure, since you live in the States that you could find a friend, neighbor, teacher etc. that speaks Spanish  . Try also to do your exercises out loud and record yourself so you could improve.
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Asyte2c00 View Drop Down
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Points: 2099 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 19:06

Yeah, but is listening enough or do I have to concentrate and listen?

 

Because If truly understood their words I would not need to translate them, correct?

Like for polyglots, they don't listen and translate into their mother tongue, they just understand it and reply, without thinking. 
 
Is this true?
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Atkingani View Drop Down
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Points: 12288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 20:07
The 2 polyglots I had the opportunity to meet in my entire life (they were not translators but real polyglots) were raised in areas where 3-4 languages were spoken: one for Eastern Europe and the other from the Middle East. This kind of environment tends to produce more polyglots than others where a sole language is spoken IMO but I recognize that there are people really gifted in this area just like others are gifted for maths or sports.
 
However, focusing in one or two foreign languages (instead of 8 or 12) one may reach the polyglossy stage after hard working, training, experimenting, etc. The day you dream in another language you'll be totally ready. Wink
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markosherrera View Drop Down
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Points: 3252 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2008 at 20:32
Originally posted by Asyte2c00 Asyte2c00 wrote:

As I student of Spanish and Portuguese, I have a genuine interest in the culture and politics of South America. 

When I study and practice these languages, I find listening to native speakers in real life and in movies the most challenging aspect of language learning. 
 
Simply,
 
Reading: Good
Writing: Good
Speaking: Good
Listening: Bad
 
For the polyglots of PA, particularly those who grew up in monolingual families,
 
Ho do you suggest a student of langauge to improve his listening abilities?
 
Are there exercises that I can do (spanish movies w/o subtitles, spanish prog, newscasts?
 
^^For this approach, will this definietly work if done for a long amount of time.  if so, I'm willing to put in the effort. 
 
 
Is it stil possible (I am twenty)?
 
It's only the listening that challenges me. 
 
Suggestions are greatly appreciated.


 




Ok you ought to practice with portuguese videos with subtitles and dictionary...like the next link

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=KC0on_LpoMM





 


Edited by markosherrera - September 27 2008 at 20:33
Hi progmaniacs of all the world
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BroSpence View Drop Down
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Points: 2614 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2008 at 02:10
Its just like your favorite album. Listen to it a lot until you can hear it in your head without actually listening to it.
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Atkingani View Drop Down
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Points: 12288 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2008 at 07:57
For Portuguese lessons I prefer this one:
Guigo

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Dalezilla View Drop Down
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Points: 5113 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2008 at 10:45
Originally posted by Chameleon Chameleon wrote:

I'm learning Russian, German and Finnish. I find that one good thing you can do is Google for radio-broadcasts in that language. Talk shows work even better for this.


You're learning Finnish! Shocked Good luck!

May I ask why?
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Leningrad View Drop Down
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Points: 7991 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2008 at 12:47
Originally posted by Dalezilla Dalezilla wrote:

Originally posted by Chameleon Chameleon wrote:

I'm learning Russian, German and Finnish. I find that one good thing you can do is Google for radio-broadcasts in that language. Talk shows work even better for this.


You're learning Finnish! Shocked Good luck!

May I ask why?
 
After school, I'm going to spend a fair bit of time travelling in Finland and Estonia. That, and I just have an interest in all things Finland.
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