Many
people argue that improving listening skill is the most difficult thing
to do. Some other people say that listening skill is a gift instead of a
skill. Well, those are wrong opinions about this skill. Same as other
skills tested in IELTS, we could do some efforts in improving our score.
Test taker can pick some websites to help them learning more some
different accents that are usually used such as British, American
English, or other accents. Mostly, in IELTS, the recording uses British
accent.
However,
test taker must be ready in case he or she gets different access. For
deepen test taker’s understanding in catching word in British accent,
test taker can open BBC website in http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/. Test taker can check at VOA to learn more about American English accent in http://learningenglish.voanews.com/?refresh=1.
By
having enough number of practices, test taker will be able to catch
clearer words compared to his or her initial ability. Before practicing,
test taker might catch no words at all, but then, he or she is going to
be able to break the sound that he or she has heard into words. So,
what must be done to optimize the practices?
The
first is by using a transcript. Test taker could do some efforts in
catching the words played in the recording. After playing the recording
for a few minutes, test taker can stop it for a while. Then, test taker
sees whether he or she has understood every word or not by checking the
transcript.
The
second way is repeating phrases. After listen to the recording, test
taker should try to remember then repeat the phrase. It is important for
test taker to give repetition on words he or she has heard in order to
improve his or her understanding on words that they have heard.
The
last is training to have higher concentration. A good concentration is
inseparable part for test taker in grabbing a good score because he or
she needs this skill when dealing with background voices in the
recording. Disturbing voices that test taker usually hear in airport,
railway station, or shopping malls are aimed at disturbing test taker’s
concentration.
Reference: http://www.ielts-blog.com/ielts-preparation-tips/listening-tips/listening-a-skill-not-a-gift/
