Autor: wolfgang kugler

• 🥳why enjoy texts, exercises presented?

🥳The texts presented will help you learn many parts of tourism and hospitality.

🥳You will see words and phrases for hotels, travel, restaurants, and sightseeing.

🥳You will also learn how to talk to guests, make bookings, and give information.

🥳The texts will cover important topics like:

• Hotels and accommodation: rooms, check-in, check-out, breakfast, key cards, services
• Restaurants and food: menus, reservations, ordering food, special requests
• Travel and transport: tickets, airports, trains, buses, taxis
• Tourist attractions: museums, parks, temples, tours
• Customer service: welcoming guests, solving problems, being polite, giving information

🥳The goal is to help you enjoy learning and remember new words.

🥳If you have ideas or comments, please tell me.
>>>>>>>SMFrockZ (at) gmx (dot) at<<<<<<<

🥳You can also suggest topics you want to learn about, read, and listen to…..

🥳……you can also say on which language level:
A1, A2, B1, or…..
( for details see https://www.fluglehrer.at/?p=681 )

🥳I want the texts to be useful, fun, and easy to understand.

🥳ENJOY🥳

• how our ears hear and our brain understands when we learn a new language

---

The Ears and the Brain in Language Learning

When we learn a new language, listening is very important. Our body has two helpers for listening: the ears and the brain. They work together all the time.

The ears hear sounds from outside. They hear words, voices, and sentences. The ears do not understand the meaning, but they bring all sounds to the brain. The ears are like doors. They open and let the sounds go inside.

The brain takes the sounds from the ears. Then it starts to work. The brain listens again inside, and it looks for meaning. It remembers old words and connects them with new ones. When the brain finds the meaning, we understand.

When we listen many times, the brain becomes faster. It learns the correct sounds, the right stress, and the rhythm of the language. Later, this helps us to speak more clearly and with more confidence.

So, the ears and the brain are a team. The ears bring the sounds, and the brain builds the meaning. Without ears, no sounds come in. Without the brain, no meaning comes out. Together, they make language learning possible.

____________________

Vocabulary:

---

brain – the part inside your head that thinks and remembers.
to listen – to pay attention with your ears.
important – something we really need.
a helper – a person or thing that helps.
to work together – to do something with another person or thing.
all the time – always, every moment.
to hear – to get sounds with your ears.
sounds – noises we hear with our ears.
from outside – not inside, but in the world around us.
a voice – the sound from a person when they speak.
a sentence – a group of words that go together.
a meaning – what a word or sentence tells us.
to listen again inside – the brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks.
to look for meaning – to try to find what the words want to say.
to remember – to keep something in your mind.
to connect – to join things together.
stress (pronunciation) – the part of a word we say stronger or louder.
rhythm of a language – the music or beat of how people speak.
to speak clearly – to say words in a way that people can understand.
confidence – to feel strong and sure, not afraid.
to make possible – to help something happen.

---

###############

---

Multiple choice, one answer correct:

1. What is the brain?
   a) The part inside the head that thinks
   b) A sound from outside
   c) A group of words together
2. What does to listen mean?
   a) To speak loudly
   b) To pay attention with your ears
   c) To write words on paper
3. What does important mean?
   a) Something very big
   b) Something funny
   c) Something we really need
4. What is a helper?
   a) A person or thing that helps
   b) A strong feeling
   c) A word in a sentence
5. What does to work together mean?
   a) To do something alone
   b) To say words clearly
   c) To do something with another person or thing
6. What does all the time mean?
   a) Always, every moment
   b) Only one time
   c) Sometimes
7. What does to hear mean?
   a) To look with your eyes
   b) To get sounds with your ears
   c) To remember something
8. What are sounds?
   a) Pictures we see with our eyes
   b) Words we write on paper
   c) Noises we hear with our ears
9. What does from outside mean?
   a) In the world around us
   b) Inside your head
   c) Something we remember
10. What is a voice?
    a) A place to study
    b) The sound from a person when they speak
    c) The brain inside the head
11. What is a sentence?
    a) A group of words that go together
    b) A word we say louder
    c) A sound from outside
12. What is a meaning?
    a) A kind of rhythm
    b) What a word or sentence tells us
    c) A strong voice
13. What does to listen again inside mean?
    a) To write the words again
    b) To speak in a loud voice
    c) The brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks
14. What does to look for meaning mean?
    a) To speak with stress
    b) To connect two things together
    c) To try to find what the words want to say
15. What does to remember mean?
    a) To keep something in your mind
    b) To forget something
    c) To speak very clearly
16. What does to connect mean?
    a) To say a word louder
    b) To join things together
    c) To work alone
17. What is stress (pronunciation)?
    a) The beat of a language
    b) The part of a word we say stronger or louder
    c) A group of words
18. What is rhythm of a language?
    a) A helper in the brain
    b) The sound of one voice
    c) The music or beat of how people speak
    ———————————-
19. What does to speak clearly mean?
    a) To say words in a way people understand
    b) To say words very quickly
    c) To read silently
20. What is confidence?
    a) To work with a helper
    b) To feel strong and sure, not afraid
    c) To listen to sounds again
21. What does to make possible mean?
    a) To remember something important
    b) To stop something from happening
    c) To help something happen.

Answer key (one line):
1a 2b 3c 4a 5c 6a 7b
8c 9a 10b 11a 12b 13c 14c
15a 16b 17b 18c 19a 20b 21c
___________________

Answers:

---

1. What is the brain? → a) The part inside the head that thinks
2. What does to listen mean? → b) To pay attention with your ears
3. What does important mean? → c) Something we really need
4. What is a helper? → a) A person or thing that helps
5. What does to work together mean? → c) To do something with another person or thing
6. What does all the time mean? → a) Always, every moment
7. What does to hear mean? → b) To get sounds with your ears
8. What are sounds? → c) Noises we hear with our ears
9. What does from outside mean? → a) In the world around us
10. What is a voice? → b) The sound from a person when they speak
11. What is a sentence? → a) A group of words that go together
12. What is a meaning? → b) What a word or sentence tells us
13. What does to listen again inside mean? → c) The brain hears the sounds one more time and thinks
14. What does to look for meaning mean? → c) To try to find what the words want to say
15. What does to remember mean? → a) To keep something in your mind
16. What does to connect mean? → b) To join things together
17. What is stress (pronunciation)? → b) The part of a word we say stronger or louder
18. What is rhythm of a language? → c) The music or beat of how people speak
19. What does to speak clearly mean? → a) To say words in a way people understand
20. What is confidence? → b) To feel strong and sure, not afraid
21. What does to make possible mean? → c) To help something happen

---

##############

---

Gap-fill exercise, one answer correct:

1. The _____ is the part inside your head that thinks and remembers. (a) brain (b) helper (c) confidence
2. Listening is very _____ when learning a new language. (a) rhythm (b) voice (c)important
3. A _____ is a person or thing that helps. (a) helper (b) meaning (c) sentence
4. The ears and the brain _____ to understand language. (a) stress (b) work together (c) connect
5. They do this _____ , every moment. (a) to speak clearly (b) from outside (c) all the time
6. The ears _____ sounds from the world around us. (a) hear (b) listen again inside (c) confidence
7. Sounds are the _____ we hear with our ears. (a) sentences (b) stress (c) noises
8. The ears hear sounds _____ the body. (a) helper (b) to look for meaning (c) from outside
9. A _____ is the sound from a person when they speak. (a) brain (b) voice (c) rhythm
10. A _____ is a group of words that go together. (a) sentence (b) helper (c) confidence
11. The ears cannot understand the _____ by themselves. (a) to speak clearly (b) meaning (c) stress
12. The brain _____ the sounds one more time and thinks. (a) listens again inside (b) remembers (c) connects
13. The brain tries _____ what the words want to say. (a) to look for meaning (b) to speak clearly (c) from outside
14. The brain _____ old words and joins them with new ones. (a) stress (b) remembers (c) confidence
15. It also _____ words and ideas together. (a) rhythm of a language (b) helper (c) connects
16. Listening many times teaches the correct _____ of words. (a) brain (b) stress (c) confidence
17. It also helps us learn the _____ of a language. (a) rhythm of a language (b) to speak clearly (c) helper
18. Later, this helps us _____ words in a way people understand. (a) to speak clearly (b) from outside (c) to remember
19. It also builds our _____ , so we feel strong and sure. (a) helper (b) confidence (c) stress
20. The ears bring sounds, and the brain builds meaning to _____ learning possible. (a) make (b) hear (c) stress
21. Both the ears and the brain are _____ in learning a new language. (a) sentences (b) rhythm (c) helpers

---

Answers:

1a 2c 3a 4b 5c 6a 7c 8c 9b
10a 11b 12c 13a 14b 15c 16b
17a 18c 19b 20a 21c

________________________

Full version:

---

The brain is the part inside your head that thinks and remembers.

Listening is very important when learning a new language.

A helper is a person or thing that helps.

The ears and the brain work together to understand language.

They do this all the time, every moment.

The ears hear sounds from the world around us.

Sounds are the noises we hear with our ears.

The ears hear sounds from outside the body.

A voice is the sound from a person when they speak.

A sentence is a group of words that go together.

The ears cannot understand the meaning by themselves.

The brain connects the sounds one more time and thinks.

The brain tries to look for meaning what the words want to say.

The brain remembers old words and joins them with new ones.

It also connects words and ideas together.

Listening many times teaches the correct stress of words.

It also helps us learn the rhythm of a language.

Later, this helps us to remember words in a way people understand.

It also builds our confidence, so we feel strong and sure.

The ears bring sounds, and the brain builds meaning to make learning possible.

Both the ears and the brain are helpers in learning a new language.

---

###############

True or false:

1. The ears can hear words, voices, and sentences.
2. The ears and the brain do not need to work together for language learning.
3. Listening many times improves (make better) understanding and speaking confidently.
4. Without the ears, no sounds come into the brain.
5. The brain listens again inside and looks for meaning.
6. The ears understand the meaning of the words they hear.
7. Repeated listening helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm.
8. Listening does not help with speaking clearly.
9. The brain and the ears work together in language learning.
10. Without the brain, the sounds from the ears have no meaning.
11. The ears can connect old words with new words by themselves.
12. Language learning is only possible when the ears bring sounds and the brain builds meaning.
13. The brain remembers old words and connects them with new ones through repeated listening.
14. Repeated listening does not help the brain remember old words.

---

Answers:
1T 2F 3T 4T 5T 6F 7T
8F 9T 10T 11F 12T 13T 14F
___________________

Full version:

1. The ears can hear words, voices, and sentences. T
2. The ears and the brain do not need to work together for language learning.
   F True is: The ears and the brain do need to work together for language learning.
3. Listening many times improves understanding and speaking confidently. T
4. Without the ears, no sounds come into the brain. T
5. The brain listens again inside and looks for meaning. T
6. The ears understand the meaning of the words they hear.
   F True is: The ears do not understand meaning; the brain finds the meaning.
7. Repeated listening helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm. T
8. Listening does not help with speaking clearly.
   F True is: Listening does help with speaking clearly.
9. The brain and the ears work together in language learning. T
10. Without the brain, the sounds from the ears have no meaning. T
11. The ears can connect old words with new words by themselves.
    F True is: The brain connects old words with new words, not the ears.
12. Language learning is only possible when the ears bring sounds and the brain builds meaning. T
13. The brain remembers old words and connects them with new ones through repeated listening. T
14. Repeated listening does not help the brain remember old words.
    F True is: Repeated listening does help the brain remember old words.

---

################

---

Gap-fill exercise, one answer correct:

1. The ears _____ sounds from the outside world.
   (a) hear (b) ignore (c) confuse
2. Listening many times helps the brain _____ old words with new ones.
   (a) connect (b) forget (c) ignore
3. The brain listens again inside and tries to _____ the meaning.
   (a) find (b) hide (c) repeat
4. Without the ears, no _____ would reach the brain.
   (a) words (b) sounds (c) meaning
5. The ears and the brain work together _____ learning a language_____.
   (a) to make possible (b) to confuse (c) to avoid
6. Repeated listening helps improve the correct _____ and rhythm of words.
   (a) stress (b) voice (c) noise
7. The ears alone cannot _____ the meaning of the words.
   (a) understand (b) hear (c) connect
8. The brain helps us speak more clearly and with more _____.
   (a) fear (b) confidence (c) mistakes
9. Sounds enter through the ears, but the brain gives them _____.
   (a) rhythm (b) stress (c) meaning
10. The ears do not _____ words; they only bring sounds to the brain.
    (a) connect (b) understand (c) remember
11. The brain becomes faster at processing sounds after _____ listening sessions.
    (a) little (b) many (c) no
12. Without the brain, sounds from the ears have no _____.
    (a) voice (b) meaning (c) noise
13. Listening helps the brain remember words and _____ them with others.
    (a) ignore (b) connect (c) confuse
14. Both the ears and the brain are _____ in making language learning possible.
    (a) helpers (b) obstacles (c) noise

---

_______________

Answers:

1a 2a 3a 4b 5a 6a 7a 8b
9c 10b 11b 12b 13b 14a
_______________

Full version:

1. The ears hear sounds from the outside world.
2. Listening many times helps the brain connect old words with new ones.
3. The brain listens again inside and tries to find the meaning.
4. Without the ears, no sounds would reach the brain.
5. The ears and the brain work together to make possible learning a language.
6. Repeated listening helps improve the correct stress and rhythm of words.
7. The ears alone cannot understand the meaning of the words.
8. The brain helps us speak more clearly and with more confidence.
9. Sounds enter through the ears, but the brain gives them meaning.
10. The ears do not understand words; they only bring sounds to the brain.
11. The brain becomes faster at processing sounds after many listening sessions.
12. Without the brain, sounds from the ears have no meaning.
13. Listening helps the brain remember words and connect them with others.
14. Both the ears and the brain are helpers in making language learning possible.

---

#################

---

Interview with an expert on learning a language, ears, and brain, fill in, words below:

meaning – remembers – words – sounds – brain –
stress – important – hear – understand – speak –
confidence – many times – word

________________________

---

1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening helps us hear __________ and understand meaning.

2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds and send them to the __________ .

3. Q: Can the ears __________ words alone?
A: No, the ears only hear sounds. The brain finds the meaning.

4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again and looks for __________.

5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps us learn correct sounds and __________.

6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with __________.

7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read words but cannot __________ well or understand spoken words.

8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain __________ old words and joins them with new words.

9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening __________ makes the brain faster.

10. Q: Can we learn language without listening?
A: No, listening is very __________.

11. Q: What is stress in a __________?
A: Stress is the strong part of the word we say louder.

12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring __________ and the brain finds meaning.

___________________

Full version in A1:

---

1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening helps us hear words and understand meaning.

2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds and send them to the brain.

3. Q: Can the ears understand words alone?
A: No, the ears only hear sounds. The brain finds the meaning.

4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again and looks for meaning.

5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps us learn correct sounds and stress.

6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with confidence.

7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read words but cannot speak well or understand spoken words.

8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and joins them with new words.

9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening many times makes the brain faster.

10. Q: Can we learn language without listening?
A: No, listening is very important.

11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the strong part of the word we say louder.

12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring sounds and the brain finds meaning.

---

###############

The same dialogue in A2:

---

1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening is very important because it helps us understand words, sentences, and meaning.

2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears hear sounds, words, and sentences, and send them to the brain.

3. Q: Can the ears understand words alone?
A: No, ears cannot understand meaning. The brain finds the meaning of the sounds.

4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again inside, remembers old words, and looks for meaning.

5. Q: Why should we listen many times?
A: Listening many times helps the brain learn the correct sounds, stress, and rhythm.

6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening helps us speak clearly and with confidence.

7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We can read and write, but we cannot speak well or understand spoken language.

8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and joins them with new words.

9. Q: Does the brain work faster with practice?
A: Yes, listening many times makes the brain faster and stronger.

10. Q: Can we learn a language without listening?
A: No, listening is necessary for learning a language.

11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the part of the word we say stronger or louder.

12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring sounds and the brain gives them meaning.

---

##############

The same dialogue in B1:

---

1. Q: Why is listening important when learning a new language?
A: Listening is very important because it helps us understand not only words but also sentences and overall meaning.

2. Q: What do the ears do in language learning?
A: The ears receive sounds, words, and sentences from the environment and pass them to the brain.

3. Q: Can the ears understand words on their own?
A: No, ears cannot understand the meaning by themselves; the brain interprets the sounds.

4. Q: What does the brain do with the sounds?
A: The brain listens again internally, connects new words with words you already know, and searches for meaning.

5. Q: Why should we listen repeatedly?
A: Listening repeatedly helps the brain learn correct pronunciation, stress, and the rhythm of the language.

6. Q: How does listening help speaking?
A: Listening trains the brain to recognize language patterns, which improves clarity and confidence when speaking.

7. Q: What happens if we only read words and do not listen?
A: We may understand written words, but we will have difficulties pronouncing them correctly and understanding spoken language.

8. Q: How does the brain connect old and new words?
A: The brain remembers old words and links them with new words to build understanding.

9. Q: Does the brain become faster at processing language with practice?
A: Yes, repeated listening strengthens neural connections, allowing the brain to process language more quickly.

10. Q: Can someone learn a language without listening?
A: No, listening is essential for acquiring proper pronunciation, rhythm, and comprehension.

11. Q: What is stress in a word?
A: Stress is the part of the word we pronounce more strongly or louder than the other parts.

12. Q: Why do we need both ears and the brain?
A: The ears bring in sounds, and the brain interprets them to create understanding and meaning.

---

###########

MORE on the topic => LINK

---

---

---

A1 (Beginner)

Doing texts and exercises helps you learn English. You can get better and know more words.

A2 (Elementary)

Non-native speakers should do texts and exercises. This helps them improve their English and learn new vocabulary.

B1 (Intermediate)

Learners of all levels should practice with texts and exercises because this will help them improve their English skills and increase their vocabulary.

B2 (Upper-Intermediate)

Non-native speakers at every level should engage in texts and exercises as these activities enhance their language proficiency and expand their vocabulary.

C1 (Advanced)

It is essential for non-native speakers across all proficiency levels to work with texts and exercises, as doing so significantly boosts their command of the language and enriches their lexical knowledge.

C2 (Proficient)

Regardless of their current proficiency, non-native speakers benefit greatly from engaging with texts and exercises, as these practices profoundly refine their linguistic abilities and considerably broaden their vocabulary repertoire.

---

-babies do it

---

A1:

---

Why Listening Is the Most Important Skill When Learning a Language

When you learn a new language, you should practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking. But listening is the most important skill to start with. Here are three reasons why:

1. Our brains learn to understand spoken language first
   Humans learned to speak and listen long before they learned to read and write. Babies understand sounds and words before they learn to read. This is because spoken language developed with humans over hundreds of thousands of years, but writing is much newer (only a few thousand years old). So, your brain is naturally better at listening and understanding speech first.
2. Listening helps you talk with other people
   To learn a language well, you need to talk and interact with others. Even if you don’t speak much at the start, you can still listen and understand people when they talk. If you don’t understand what people say, you will feel left out and may stop trying. So, good listening helps you join conversations and practice speaking later.
3. Listening helps you learn the correct pronunciation
   When you read, your brain „says“ the words in your mind. If you only read without listening, you might say words in your head wrong because you are using the sounds of your own language. But if you listen first, you learn the right sounds. This helps you speak better later and avoid bad habits.

---

Listening is also the easiest skill to practice

Listening is easier to do often because you can listen to music, movies, or videos anytime, even when relaxing. You don’t need a partner or special motivation to listen. You can enjoy many videos or shows on YouTube or Netflix in the language you learn.

---

In short:

• Your brain is made to learn listening first.
• Listening lets you join conversations and practice speaking.
• Listening teaches you the right way to say words.
• And best of all, listening is easy to do every day with lots of fun materials available.

So start listening more now to learn any language faster and better!

---

################

################

A2:

Why Listening is the Most Important Skill to Learn First

When you learn a new language, you practice reading, writing, listening, and speaking. But listening is the most important skill to start with. Here are three reasons why:

1. Our Brain Learns Listening First
   People learned to listen and understand talking before they learned to read and write. Babies listen before they speak. So, it is natural to learn listening first when you learn a new language.
2. Listening Helps You Talk to People
   To learn a language well, you need to talk with other people. But if you do not understand what they say, you feel lost and do not want to speak. When you practice listening, you can understand people and join conversations.
3. Listening Helps You Say Words Correctly
   When you read, your brain says the words in your mind. If you only read and do not listen, you might say words wrong in your mind. This makes it hard to speak well later. Listening helps your brain learn the correct sounds of words.

Why Listening is Easy to Practice

Listening is easier than reading, writing, or speaking. You do not need a teacher or other people to practice listening. You can listen while you relax. You can watch movies, listen to music, or watch videos. There is a lot of fun listening content on the internet in many languages.

---

In short:
Listening is the best skill to start with because your brain learns listening first, it helps you talk with people, and it helps you say words right. Also, listening is easy and fun to practice every day.

---

################

################

B1:

---

Why Listening is the Most Important Skill to Learn First in a New Language

When learning a new language, it’s best to focus on listening first. Here are three reasons why listening is very important, especially at the beginning.

1) Our brains are made to understand spoken language first
People learned to understand and speak long before they learned to read and write. Humans talked to each other for thousands of years before writing was invented. Because of this, our brains naturally learn listening skills first, even when learning a second language.

2) Listening helps you start talking with others
To learn a language well, you need to speak with people. But even if your speaking is not good yet, you can still join conversations if you understand what others say. If you can’t understand, you might feel left out and stop trying. So, listening skills help you join social life in the new language, which is very important for learning.

3) Listening helps you learn correct pronunciation early
When you read in a new language, your brain tries to “say” the words silently in your head. If you never listen to how words really sound, you might learn wrong pronunciation. This makes it harder to speak well later. Listening first helps you hear the right sounds and say words correctly in your mind.

Why listening is also the easiest skill to practice
Listening is easier to do often because you can do it anytime and anywhere. You don’t need a partner or special effort. You can listen while watching movies, YouTube videos, music, or radio. Many fun and interesting listening materials are available for most languages. This makes practicing listening easy and enjoyable.

The main message
Your brain learns listening first, and this helps you speak and read better later. Listening is easy to practice a lot, so start listening to your target language right away to improve fast. Find listening materials that you like, and enjoy learning while doing it!

---

#################

#################

B2:

---

Why Listening is the Most Important Language Skill to Learn First—and Why It’s the Easiest to Practice

When learning a new language, it’s important to work on all four skills—reading, writing, listening, and speaking—but listening should be your top priority at the start. Here’s why.

1) Our brains are made to learn listening first.
Humans evolved speaking long before writing. Our brains developed alongside spoken language over hundreds of thousands of years. Reading and writing appeared only about 5,000 years ago. That’s why babies learn to understand spoken language long before they can read. The same applies to learning a second language: listening naturally comes first.

2) Listening helps you join social interactions.
Research shows that talking with others is crucial to learning a language. People who socialize more with native speakers learn faster. Even if you don’t speak well yet, understanding what others say lets you take part in conversations. Without good listening skills, you might feel left out and stop trying.

3) Listening gives you the right “mental pronunciation.”
When you read in a new language, your brain “hears” the words in your mind. If you haven’t listened enough, you might imagine the wrong pronunciation, making speaking and understanding harder later. Listening early helps your brain learn correct sounds and improves your pronunciation naturally.

Why is listening the easiest skill to practice?
Listening doesn’t need special effort or conditions. You don’t always need someone to talk to, and you can listen while relaxing or doing other things. There is lots of interesting content online—movies, series, YouTube videos, music—in almost every language. This makes listening a fun and easy way to practice regularly.

The main idea:
Start practicing listening as soon as possible. It helps your brain learn language naturally, supports social interaction, and builds good pronunciation habits. Plus, it’s easy to do because there is endless enjoyable material available at your fingertips.

---

###############

###############

C1:

---

Listening is the most crucial language skill to prioritize early in language learning, and it is also the easiest to practice extensively. This is because human brains evolved primarily for oral comprehension long before the advent of written language. Spoken communication developed alongside the evolution of Homo sapiens hundreds of thousands of years ago, whereas written language emerged only around five thousand years ago. Consequently, infants naturally acquire listening skills earlier and more effortlessly than reading or writing. This evolutionary background also applies to second-language acquisition, as early humans likely developed oral comprehension skills first when encountering new languages.

Listening skills are essential for initiating social interaction, which neuroscience research shows is necessary for effective language acquisition. Engaging with native speakers socially accelerates learning, but this interaction depends fundamentally on understanding spoken language. Even if speaking abilities are limited, the ability to comprehend others prevents isolation and fosters participation. Therefore, strong listening skills are the gateway to meaningful communication and overall language progress.

Another key reason to emphasize listening early on is to develop an accurate “mental pronunciation.” Reading without sufficient listening input risks ingraining incorrect pronunciation patterns in the mind because people tend to mentally vocalize written words based on their native language’s phonetics. Listening helps form correct auditory representations of words, which later improves speaking and comprehension. This prevents the difficulty of unlearning bad pronunciation habits later.

Practically, listening is the easiest skill to practice regularly. Unlike writing, which demands effort and motivation, or speaking, which requires conversational partners and confidence, listening can be done effortlessly anytime—while relaxing with movies, music, podcasts, or YouTube videos. There is an abundance of engaging content in most languages, making it accessible and enjoyable. Listening does not require special conditions, and it can be integrated seamlessly into daily life.

In summary, because the brain is wired to acquire listening first, social interaction depends on comprehension, and mental pronunciation must be formed early, listening should be prioritized at the start of language learning. Moreover, its ease of practice and abundance of available content make it a highly effective and sustainable skill to develop for long-term language mastery.

---

###############

###############

C2:

---

Why Listening Is the Most Crucial and Accessible Skill in Language Learning

Listening should be prioritized early in language acquisition because it aligns with how the human brain naturally evolved to process language. Spoken communication predates writing by hundreds of thousands of years, making oral comprehension the foundational skill humans develop first. This evolutionary background also suggests that second-language learners benefit most by focusing initially on listening, mirroring how early humans acquired new languages through oral interaction.

Furthermore, listening is essential for social engagement, which neuroscience confirms as a critical catalyst for effective language acquisition. Even learners with limited speaking ability can participate socially if they understand spoken language. Without adequate listening skills, learners risk disengagement and isolation, severely hindering their progress. Therefore, cultivating listening proficiency fosters meaningful interaction and accelerates overall language development.

Another vital reason to emphasize listening early is the formation of correct “mental pronunciation.” As we read, we internally vocalize words, and if this inner speech is based solely on the learner’s native language phonetics, it entrenches inaccurate pronunciation habits. Regular listening exposure helps the brain develop authentic phonetic representations, which improves both comprehension and speaking accuracy over time. This synergy between listening and reading ensures learners internalize correct pronunciation before bad habits solidify.

Practically, listening is also the easiest language skill to practice extensively. Unlike writing or speaking—which require motivation, effort, or interlocutors—listening can be integrated seamlessly into daily life. Entertainment media such as movies, series, podcasts, and YouTube videos in the target language provide endless engaging input without demanding extra effort. This accessibility allows learners to absorb large quantities of natural language effortlessly, which is vital for mastery.

In sum, listening is the cornerstone of language acquisition because it taps into our brain’s natural design, enables social interaction, and shapes accurate mental pronunciation. Its ease of practice through abundant, enjoyable content makes it the most effective starting point. Learners should therefore prioritize listening from the outset to build a strong foundation for all other language skills and long-term mastery.

---

################

MORE INFO => LINK

Listen to Southern Drawl first=> and, yes, this is English 😉


Understanding real spoken English took more than just test scores — it took listening, time, and a bit of Texas.

B2:

When I was studying English at university in Vienna, Austria, I was offered a soccer scholarship at Midwestern State University in Texas, which I accepted. To prove I could follow university lectures, I had to take the TOEFL test – and I got a perfect score.

However, when I moved into the dormitory at MSU, I found myself surrounded by local Texans and their way of speaking – the Southern drawl. It sounded like they were speaking with a mouth full of chewing gum, and although it was English, I had a hard time understanding them at first.

Over time, though, my ears and brain adapted. I eventually understood them better and even started speaking with a Southern accent myself.

Conclusion: To really understand and speak a language well, you have to listen to it regularly.

############

---

B1:

When I studied English at university in Vienna, Austria, I got a soccer scholarship from Midwestern State University in Texas, and I accepted it. To study there, I had to take the TOEFL test to show I could understand lectures – and I got a perfect score.

But when I moved into the student dormitory at MSU, I had some problems. The local people from Texas spoke with a strong Southern accent, called the Southern drawl. It sounded like they were talking with chewing gum in their mouth. They were speaking English, but I didn’t understand much at the beginning.

After some time, my ears and brain got used to the way they spoke. I started to understand them, and I even began to speak with a Southern accent too.

Conclusion: To understand and speak a language well, you also need to listen to it a lot.

---

###############

A2:

I studied English at university in Vienna, Austria. Then, I got a soccer scholarship from Midwestern State University in Texas, and I said yes. Before I went, I had to take the TOEFL test to show I could understand classes. I got a perfect score.

When I arrived at MSU and moved into the student dormitory, I had a problem. The local people from Texas spoke with a special accent, called the Southern drawl. It sounded like they were talking with gum in their mouth. They spoke English, but I did not understand them well.

After some time, my ears and brain learned to understand them. Later, I also started to speak with the same accent.

Conclusion: To understand and speak a language well, you must listen to it a lot.

###############

A1:

I studied English at a university in Vienna, Austria. Then, I got a soccer scholarship to go to a university in Texas, USA. I said yes. Before I went, I took the TOEFL test. I got a perfect score.

At the university in Texas, I lived in a student room. The people there were from Texas. They spoke English, but with a different accent. It is called the Southern drawl. It was hard to understand. It sounded like they were speaking with lots of gum in their mouth.

After some time, I understood them better. I also started to speak like them.

Conclusion: To speak and understand a language well, you must listen a lot.
###############

Listening before speaking helps you learn faster, or,
why listen to soundfiles?

When you learn a new language, listening is very important. At the beginner level, you should listen a lot every day. Listening helps you learn the sounds, words, and sentences. You hear how people speak in real life.

Listening is more important than reading at the start. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and your brain. When you listen, you hear the right way to say words. You hear the rhythm and speed of the language. Reading does not help you hear these sounds.

If you listen a lot, you remember words and phrases more easily. Even if you do not understand every word, you will understand more and more. Your brain learns the language patterns. This is how children learn their first language. They listen for a long time before they read or write.

What about speaking? Speaking is important too. But if you speak too early without listening enough, it can be hard. You might say words wrong or use words in the wrong way. Listening first helps you speak better. You copy the right sounds and sentences.

If you only read or learn grammar, it is hard to talk to people. But if you listen often, you feel more confident to speak. At the beginner level, it is best to listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning. It helps you learn fast and well.

________________________

Vocabulary:

• a soundfile: a computer file with recorded sounds or speech
• a language: words and rules people use to talk or write
• to listen: to use your ears to hear carefully
• important: something that matters a lot
• a beginner level: the first stage of learning something new
• a sound: something you can hear
• a sentence: a group of words that tell a complete idea
• to hear: to notice a sound with your ears
• to speak: to say words with your mouth
• an eye: the part of your body you see with
• an ear: the part of your body you hear with
• a brain: the part inside your head that thinks and learns
• a rhythm: a pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
• speed: how fast or slow something happens
• to remember: to keep information in your mind
• easily: something you can do without problems
• to understand: to know the meaning of something
• a language pattern: a usual way words and sentences are made in a language
• enough: as much as you need
• wrong: not correct or not right
• to copy: to do or say the same as someone else
• grammar: rules for making sentences in a language
• to feel confident: to feel sure you can do something well

####################

Multiple choice, one answer correct:

part 1: 1-16

part 2: 17-20

---

1. What is a soundfile?
   a) A computer file with recorded sounds
   b) A book with pictures
   c) A paper with words
2. What does to listen mean?
   a) To close your eyes
   b) To use your ears to hear carefully
   c) To speak loudly
3. What is a sentence?
   a) A single letter
   b) A group of words that tell a complete idea
   c) A color
4. What is an ear?
   a) The part of your body you hear with
   b) The part of your body you see with
   c) The part of your body you use to write
5. What is grammar?
   a) A kind of food
   b) Rules for making sentences in a language
   c) A place to read books
6. What does to copy mean?
   a) To sleep
   b) To say or do the same as someone else
   c) To run very fast
7. What is a brain?
   a) Something you wear
   b) The part inside your head that thinks and learns
   c) The name of a city
8. What is important?
   a) Something that is very small
   b) Something that matters a lot
   c) Something that does not matter
9. What does to speak mean?
   a) To write a letter
   b) To listen carefully
   c) To say words with your mouth
10. What does to remember mean?
    a) To keep information in your mind
    b) To forget something
    c) To eat food
11. What is a language?
    a) A kind of animal
    b) Words and rules people use to talk or write
    c) A type of music
12. What is speed?
    a) A kind of fruit
    b) A type of dance
    c) How fast or slow something happens
13. What does wrong mean?
    a) Very good
    b) Very old
    c) Not correct or not right
14. What is a rhythm?
    a) A color
    b) A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
    c) A kind of food
15. What does enough mean?
    a) More than you need
    b) Less than you want
    c) As much as you need
16. What does to feel confident mean?
    a) To feel scared
    b) To feel tired
    c) To feel sure you can do something well
17. What is an eye?
    a) The part of your body you use to walk
    b) The part of your body you see with
    c) The part of your body you hear with
18. What does to understand mean?
    a) To not know something
    b) To know the meaning of something
    c) To forget something
19. What is a beginner level?
    a) The last stage of learning
    b) The first stage of learning something new
    c) A very difficult stage
20. What does easily mean?
    a) Something impossible to do
    b) Something very hard to do
    c) Something you can do without problems
    
    ___________________________

---

Answers:
1a 2b 3b 4a 5b 6b 7b 8b 9c 10a
11b 12c 13c 14b 15c 16c 17b
18b 19b 20c

#####################

###################

---

Match the word with the correct definition:

Words:

1. soundfile
2. language
3. to listen
4. important
5. beginner level
6. sound
7. sentence
8. to hear
9. to speak
10. eye
11. ear
12. brain
13. rhythm
14. speed
15. to remember
16. easily
17. to understand
18. language pattern
19. enough
20. wrong
21. to copy
22. grammar
23. to feel confident

---

Definitions:

a) The part of your body you see with
b) Rules for making sentences in a language
c) A group of words that tell a complete idea
d) A computer file with recorded sounds
e) To say words with your mouth
f) Something that matters a lot
g) The first stage of learning something new
h) The part of your body you hear with
i) To use your ears to hear carefully
j) To keep information in your mind
k) Not correct or not right
l) How fast or slow something happens
m) The part inside your head that thinks and learns
n) To do the same as someone else
o) A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking
p) Words and rules people use to talk or write
q) To know the meaning of something
r) To hear sounds with your ears
s) The part of your body you hear with
t) As much as you need
u) Something you can do without problems
v) To feel sure you can do something well
w) A sound that you can hear
x) The first stage of learning a new language

---

________________

Answers:
1d 2p 3i 4f 5g 6w 7c 8r 9e 10a
11h 12m 13o 14l 15j 16u 17q 18x 19t
20k 21n 22b 23v

###################

Find the word that is explained by the definition:

---

1. A computer file with recorded sounds: ________________
2. Words and rules people use to talk or write: ________________
3. To use your ears to hear carefully: ________________
4. Something that matters a lot: ________________
5. The first stage of learning something new: ________________
6. A sound that you can hear: ________________
7. A group of words that tell a complete idea: ________________
8. To hear sounds with your ears: ________________
9. To say words with your mouth: ________________
10. The part of your body you see with: ________________
11. The part of your body you hear with: ________________
12. The part inside your head that thinks and learns: ________________
13. A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking: ________________
14. How fast or slow something happens: ________________
15. To keep information in your mind: ________________
16. Something you can do without problems: ________________
17. To know the meaning of something: ________________
18. The first stage of learning a new language: ________________
19. As much as you need: ________________
20. Not correct or not right: ________________
21. To do the same as someone else: ________________
22. Rules for making sentences in a language: ________________
23. To feel sure you can do something well: ________________

---

_____________________________

Answers:

---

To feel sure you can do something well – to feel confident

A computer file with recorded sounds – soundfile

Words and rules people use to talk or write – language

To use your ears to hear carefully – to listen

Something that matters a lot – important

The first stage of learning something new – beginner level

A sound that you can hear – sound

A group of words that tell a complete idea – sentence

To hear sounds with your ears – to hear

To say words with your mouth – to speak

The part of your body you see with – eye

The part of your body you hear with – ear

The part inside your head that thinks and learns – brain

A pattern of sounds that repeat in music or talking – rhythm

How fast or slow something happens – speed

To keep information in your mind – to remember

Something you can do without problems – easily

To know the meaning of something – to understand

The first stage of learning a new language – beginner level

As much as you need – enough

Not correct or not right – wrong

To do the same as someone else – to copy

Rules for making sentences in a language – grammar

#######################

True or false:

---

1. Listening helps you learn sounds, words, and sentences.
2. Reading is more important than listening at the start.
3. When you listen, you hear how people speak in real life.
4. Listening uses your ears and your brain.
5. Reading helps you hear the right way to say words.
6. If you listen a lot, you remember words more easily.
7. Children listen a long time before they read or write.
8. Speaking is not important when you learn a language.
9. If you speak too early, you might say words wrong.
10. Listening first helps you speak better.
11. If you only learn grammar, it is easy to talk to people.
12. Listening often helps you feel more confident to speak.
13. At the beginner level, it is best to speak more than listen.
14. Listening is the first step to learning a new language.
15. Listening helps you learn fast and well.

---

____________________
True: 1,3,4,6,7,9,10,12,14,15

########################

Complete, words below:

first – hear – easily – language – important – speak – brain – grammar – remember

When you learn a new language, listening is very __________, especially at the beginner level.
Listening helps you __________ sounds, words, and sentences the right way.
It uses your ears and __________, and helps you learn the rhythm and speed of the language.
If you listen a lot every day, you ________ words more __________ and understand more, even if you don’t know every word.
Speaking is important too, but it is better to listen __________.
Listening helps you __________ better and feel confident.
Reading and __________ are not enough to speak well.
Listening is the first step to learning a __________ fast and well.

______________________

Correct version:

When you learn a new language, listening is very important, especially at the beginner level. Listening helps you hear sounds, words, and sentences the right way. It uses your ears and brain, and helps you learn the rhythm and speed of the language. If you listen a lot every day, you remember words more easily and understand more, even if you don’t know every word. Speaking is important too, but it is better to listen first. Listening helps you speak better and feel confident. Reading and grammar are not enough to speak well. Listening is the first step to learning a language fast and well.
#################

Interview – complete, words below:

Rhythm – brain – first – listening – more – too – beginner – sentences – language – wrong

---

1. Q: What is very important when you learn a new language?
A: Listening is very important.

2. Q: When should you listen a lot?
A: At the __________ level.

3. Q: What does listening help you learn?
A: Sounds, words, and __________.

4. Q: What parts of the body do you use to listen?
A: Ears and __________.

5. Q: Is listening more important than reading at the start?
A: Yes,___________ is more important.

6. Q: Can reading help you hear the right sounds?
A: No, reading does not help.

7. Q: What do you learn when you listen a lot?
A: __________ and speed of the language.

8. Q: Do you understand more when you listen a lot?
A: Yes, you understand __________.

9. Q: Is speaking important?
A: Yes, speaking is important__________.

10. Q: Should you speak too early?
A: No, you should listen _________.

11. Q: What happens if you speak too early?
A: You might say words __________.

12. Q: What is the first step to learn a __________?
A: Listening is the first step.

---

###################

Correct version:

---

1. Q: What is very important when you learn a new language?
A: Listening is very important.

2. Q: When should you listen a lot?
A: At the beginner level.

3. Q: What does listening help you learn?
A: Sounds, words, and sentences.

4. Q: What parts of the body do you use to listen?
A: Ears and brain.

5. Q: Is listening more important than reading at the start?
A: Yes, listening is more important.

6. Q: Can reading help you hear the right sounds?
A: No, reading does not help.

7. Q: What do you learn when you listen a lot?
A: Rhythm and speed of the language.

8. Q: Do you understand more when you listen a lot?
A: Yes, you understand more.

9. Q: Is speaking important?
A: Yes, speaking is important too.

10. Q: Should you speak too early?
A: No, you should listen first.

11. Q: What happens if you speak too early?
A: You might say words wrong.

12. Q: What is the first step to learn a language?
A: Listening is the first step.

####################

ADDITIONAL LINKS, TEXTS =>

„How my ears and brain learned to speak Texan English“ (B2, B1, A2, A1)

---

Why read texts, do exercises, listen to texts? (A1,A2,B1,B2,C1,C2)

##############################

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL on topic:

Additional information:

LINK 1

LINK 2

LINK 3

LINK 4

######################

Simpler text:

When you learn a new language, listening is very important. Beginners should listen a lot every day. Listening helps you learn sounds, words, and sentences. You hear how people speak in real life.

At the start, listening is more important than reading. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and brain. When you listen, you hear how words are said, and the rhythm and speed of the language. Reading does not teach these.

Listening a lot helps you remember words and phrases. Even if you do not understand everything, you will understand more over time. Your brain learns the language like children learn their first language—they listen a long time before reading or writing.

Speaking is important too. But if you speak too early, it can be hard. You might say words wrong or use them in the wrong way. Listening first helps you speak better because you copy the right sounds and sentences.

If you only read or study grammar, it is hard to talk to people. Listening often helps you feel confident to speak. Beginners should listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning and helps you learn faster.
##############

Even simpler text:

When you learn a new language, listening is very important. Beginners should listen every day. Listening helps you learn words, sounds, and sentences. You hear how people speak.

Listening is more important than reading at the start. Reading uses your eyes. Listening uses your ears and brain. Listening helps you hear the right way to say words.

If you listen a lot, you remember words and phrases. Even if you do not understand everything, your brain learns the language. Children learn this way too.

Speaking is important, but it is better to listen first. If you speak too early, you can make mistakes. Listening helps you speak better.

If you only read or study grammar, it is hard to talk. Beginners should listen more than speak. Listening is the first step to learning.
##############

For beginners:

When you learn a new language, listen every day.
Listening helps you learn words and sounds.
You hear how people speak.

Listening is better than reading at first.
It helps you say words correctly.

If you listen a lot, you remember more.
Speaking is important, but listen first.
Listening helps you speak better.

##############