(LISTENING ACTIVITY)
One of the best ways to improve your listening skills is to actively engage with what you hear. This activity is designed to help you train your ear to catch every word and to spell them correctly. 1
While listening to the audio, fill in the blanks with the correct word.
Step 1: Listen First. Play the audio once without looking at the text. Just try to get the general idea of what is being said.
Step 2: Listen & Write. Play the audio again. This time, fill in the blanks with the words you hear. Don't worry if you miss a few! You can pause or rewind as needed.
Step 3: Check Your Work. After you've filled in all the blanks, check your answers against the full transcript. This is a great way to see what words you're missing and to learn from your mistakes.
This structure makes the exercise feel less intimidating and more like a guided, productive learning experience.
Shadowing means you listen to a native speaker and then try to speak at the exact same time as them, like an echo or a shadow. Don't worry about the meaning of every word; just focus on matching the rhythm, speed, and intonation of the speaker.
Shadowing is a powerful exercise because it helps you:
Improve Your Rhythm and Pace: You'll train your mouth and brain to move at the natural speed of a native speaker.
Refine Your Pronunciation: You'll learn how to pronounce words and connect them correctly, making you sound more natural.
Build Muscle Memory: The more you practice, the easier it becomes to produce the sounds and patterns of English automatically.