Listening to audiobooks is a powerful way to improve your language skills. Whether you are commuting, walking the dog or exercising, audiobooks allow you to incorporate language learning into your daily routine.
Try to actively engage with the audiobook by taking notes, repeating back the narrator and making connections to your own life. This will help you improve your comprehension and retention.
1. Listening enhances comprehension
Comprehension is one of the most important aspects of learning a language, and audiobooks help with this. Listening to stories and hearing a foreign language spoken can be much easier than reading, especially for those who are still learning the basics of decoding. This makes it easier for students to focus on their higher-level skills like understanding what the text means. It also allows students to practice their pronunciation and use context clues to understand the meaning of words they don’t know.
It’s also a great way to introduce new vocabulary in a natural, engaging manner. Instead of simply telling students the definition of a word, audiobooks allow them to hear the word in context and even hear it being used by native speakers. This makes it more likely that the word will stick in a student’s memory and be remembered when they are asked to recall a specific phrase or term later on.
For students who struggle with reading and/or have dyslexia, ADHD or other conditions that affect their ability to process information at a fast pace, listening is a much more manageable way to learn a language. By taking the decoding task off of the student, they can focus on what’s most important: understanding the message of the story and making connections to their own experiences.
Audiobooks can be particularly helpful for struggling learners because they come pre-divided into easily digestible chunks, which make it easy to fit language study into their daily lives. Students can also choose their own speed and can take advantage of a variety of apps that let them pause, repeat, slow down or rewind the audio to better understand it. This fosters educational independence, allowing students to engage with the material at their own pace and in ways that best suit their interests and proficiency level.
When listening to an audiobook, be sure to actively participate. Pause, take notes on unfamiliar words and phrases and repeat after the narrator to practice pronunciation. Moreover, it’s best to avoid looking up every single word you don’t understand; this can be overwhelming and distracting. Instead, try to understand 80% of the content and keep the rest for future listenings, as you can always go back and listen again later on to improve comprehension.
2. Audiobooks are easier to multitask
As anyone who lives in New York knows, every minute counts. Whether you are trying to take a conference call on the subway or just trying to make it through the never-ending line at the grocery store, you have to find ways to multitask in order to get things done. Luckily, audiobooks make it easy to turn mindless tasks like commuting or doing chores around the house into time well spent.
Just like movies and television allow us to imagine our own world through the setting, character’s faces, and unspoken glances, audiobooks do so through voice. Audible’s feature called Whispersync for Voice, which allows you to switch back and forth between reading the ebook and listening to the audiobook on your Kindle or iPhone, means you can take that book with you without having to worry about missing a beat.
Many audiobook applications also let you slow down the playback so you can listen while completing a task. This is a great feature for people who work in high-stress environments. For example, a bridge rigger may not want to listen to an audiobook while on the job, but for someone who works in an office, this can be a great way to keep focused and stay on track.
Another benefit of using an audiobook while working is that it can keep you from getting distracted by social media or other online activities. You can even use your earbuds while working to prevent yourself from being distracted by other people or noises.
In addition to making it easier to multitask, audiobooks can help you learn a language faster than a traditional book. This is because it takes less time for your brain to process information and can help you remember it better. In addition, it can be easy to skip ahead in an audiobook, so you don’t have to read a whole chapter to find out what you need to know.
In addition to helping you learn a language, audiobooks can be used for entertainment, education, and personal development. You can find books about anything from self-help and wellness to history and fiction on your favorite audiobook app. Just be sure to choose an audiobook that will interest you and will keep you engaged!
3. They are a great way to learn a new language
If you’re looking for a way to learn a new language, an audiobook is a great option. It’s easy to listen while driving or working out, and it can help you stay engaged with your target language. Plus, it can be fun and inspiring, which may be a helpful motivator for you or your students.
Audiobooks can also help you build your vocabulary, as well as improve your pronunciation and intonation. They can be a helpful supplement to other learning methods, such as reading, speaking with native speakers, and using language learning apps.
When choosing an audiobook, start with a book that is easy for you to understand. Avoid audiobooks that require too much background knowledge or technical vocabulary. You can always progress to more difficult books as you become more comfortable with the language. If you aren’t sure where to begin, try listening to children’s stories or novels that have a wide appeal. These tend to be written in simpler language, making them easier to understand.
Another tip is to keep a dictionary handy. However, don’t be afraid to skip over words you don’t know in order to focus on the story and increase your comprehension. Just make sure to look up the words you don’t know at least once before listening again. It’s a good idea to write down these words by hand, in a physical notebook. This will help you memorize them and make them stick long term.
In addition to learning a new language, audiobooks can also teach you about the culture, history, art, and humor of your new country. These are important aspects to learn in order to truly feel like a part of the community when you visit. There are many different kinds of audiobooks to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that interests you!
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t ask yourself “is it worth it?”, get started with a free Audible trial and claim two language-learning audiobooks to add to your library! You can cancel anytime, so there’s no risk in trying out this awesome tool for your language learning.
4. They are entertaining
When learning a new language, it’s important to make the experience as fun as possible. This will help you keep motivated and will improve your retention of the vocabulary.
Audiobooks are a great way to do this. They are entertaining and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. They can also be used to supplement classroom and homeschool language learning. For example, students who struggle with decoding or have a visual impairment can listen to an audiobook instead of reading. This allows them to engage with the story, develop their imagination, and use their critical thinking skills.
When choosing an audiobook, it is important to choose one that you are genuinely interested in. This will ensure that you are engaged with the story and will be able to remember the words you hear. It is also a good idea to choose an audiobook that is appropriate for your level of proficiency. Audible offers a variety of language-learning books categorized by age and skill level, which makes it easy to find an audiobook that will be right for you.
Another way to enhance your listening experience is by using an audiobook app that provides you with short audio summaries of the most important parts of the book. This will help you keep up with the pace of the story and will allow you to pick up on more vocabulary and grammar structures.
Audiobooks are also a great way to learn on the go. You can listen to an audiobook while you are riding the subway, walking to work, or even driving in your car. This is a great way to get in listening practice and will help you progress faster in your language journey.
When listening to an audiobook, it is important to look up any words that you do not understand. However, it is not necessary to check every word, as this can become tedious and may lead you to lose interest in the book. A better option is to write down the new words and their translations in a physical notebook. This will help you to retain the information and will allow you to test yourself on the words you have learned.