How to listen to podcasts when learning English

When you’re learning a new language, regular listening builds fluency and boosts confidence. This makes podcasts a valuable tool for language learners.

How do I listen to podcasts for language learning?

Podcasts are a great learning tool, but it is important to know how use them effectively.

Here are our top tips for listening to them.

Avoid multitasking

Listening to podcasts in your native language is easy. You can engage in other activities at the same time, such as cleaning, exercising or walking the dog.

However, the same cannot be said for second-language podcasts. If your concentration slips, you may get lost. As you improve this will occur less frequently.

But at first, it's advisable to minimize multitasking and focus on listening.

First listen without referring to the transcript

Avoid using any assistance such as a transcript or vocabulary list during your first listen. This approach encourages you to grasp the content in its contextual entirety.

Write down unfamiliar words as you listen. Often, simply writing them down prompts immediate understanding.

You may notice that after writing a word, its meaning becomes clear later in the podcast as it is used again in a different context. Actively engaging in this process enhances your retention of vocabulary and expressions.

Learning vocabulary and grammar within the context of real-life sentences is more engaging than memorizing examples from a textbook. It is also a more effective way to learn.

Take notes

One of the best things you can do is keep track of new vocabulary you hear. Attempt to understand the word’s meaning from the context before looking up the definition.

Use Google Translate or a traditional dictionary such as the Oxford English Dictionary or the Collins Dictionary for a comprehensive understanding of the word.

You will soon notice your progress as you look up fewer words. It is immensely satisfying to listen to an entire episode without looking up a single word.

Listen with transcripts

Many of the best podcasts designed for studying English come with a written transcript. Try reading along to a podcast, and you’ll learn how to read and pronounce simultaneously.

It can be difficult to tell how English words are pronounced just by seeing them written down. In fact, this is one of the most frustrating things about learning English.

Reading along to a podcast is an easy way to get used to strange English pronunciation rules. It’s also a great way to make sure you don’t miss anything important.

Find other learning resources

You may have read about people learning English by binge-watching TV for a few months. While this approach sounds wonderful, it oversimplifies the process.

Along with listening to podcasts it's necessary to bring variety to your learning. Look for other resources such as written material.

Since podcasts generally lack feedback mechanisms for assessing your progress, think about booking lessons with a tutor to upgrade your language acquisition journey.

Occasionally play podcasts in the background

I know we said to avoid multitasking. While we emphasize the importance of focused language learning, simply immersing yourself in the language you're studying is beneficial.

It helps you with the natural cadence and varied accents of the language. Having a podcast that you have already listened to running in the background helps you familiarize yourself with the language's sounds and patterns.

Where to find English podcasts

Today there are thousands of podcasts to choose from via the internet or on your smartphone. With so many to choose from the easiest way to find podcasts, organize episodes you want to listen to, and download them is via a dedicated podcast app.

Apple, Spotify, and YouTube Music are the leading apps, but there are many others to pick from. The best podcast apps come with personalized playlists, offline listening, bonus content, and more. Some apps offer free subscription.

Be aware some apps are not free and only offer a free trial and require a monthly subscription. Depending on the podcast you're searching for it may be possible to access episodes for free from their website.

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Listen to our podcasts…

All our podcasts are free, less than 20 minutes and can be downloaded. They all have transcripts with additional vocabulary and phrases. There are more to choose from here…